Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-12-25

the rooms d quite impure and consequently
| deleterious 70 health e. we'll ~ comfort. Es-
pecially Il this the case in the school rooms,
In which there are no adequate means of OBJ
tanning fresh air. except by opening the win
dows, which. If done, current Of cold ar
sweeps directly down upon the heads Of the
boys, often producing colds and sometimes Sc
we're sickness, and even this means OF obtaining
relief from the effects of vitiated air, 10 not
/ available during the evening sessions of the
school, for the draft from the windows fire.
quently exfineuishes the lights. An expendi-
| ture of four or i've hundred dollsrs would
doubtless secure satisfactory ventilation.
In addition 10 this want of better ventils-
ton in tine building there is an important
need that the main sewer. from the building
TO its outlet, should be put in such con-
dition that il shall not, IS at present, poison
the atmosphere in lis neighborhood with its
foul and pestilential exhalzti0ns. Beginning
at the building. the sewer extends some
thirteen hundred feet to its outlet, which is
into an open cesspool in the field, the stencil
from which is at times very offensive. When
the wind 10 In certain direction its foul air
and poisonous gases are forced into the
building to the great discomfort and danger
I'd the health of its inmates. just how this
great annoyance may be removed or reme-
died do not feel competent TO decide, but,
that some means should be devised to accom-
plish this end is beyond dispute. and it is to be
hoped that the legislature will give thought
tul attention to this subject.
STEAM HEATING.
The steam-heating apparatus of the build
ing is not sufficient to keep it warm, or even
comfortable in very cold weather. Only q
part of the room can be warmed at the same
time; to warm the dormitory sufficiently tor
the boys TO sleep in. the steam must be turned
off from rooms occupied by the officers and
EMPLOYEES of the institution. To obtain the
heat az now distributed through the building,
il is necessary to drive the furnace far beyond
the point of economy. Another boiler, of
about twenty horse power,is very much need
ed: with such an addition, the vhoie building
when necessary, could be warmed and made
comfortable throughout. An appropriation
of two thousand dollars would enable the
Trustees to procure new boiler and make
such additions and changes in the radiators
as would furnish sufficient heat for all the
rooms.
COTTAGE OR FAMILY PLAN.
am of the opinion that it would be for the
best interest Of the inmates of the school to
divide them into classes, or families. Boys
between the ages Of eight and thirteen years,
committed for truancy or for slight offences
against law ought not to be associated with
those older or more confirmed in criminal
ways. for they are dangerous companions for
the young and less hardened ones. Many of
the boys are sentenced by the courts to the
Reform School for offences which if commit
ted few years later in life, would be pun
ished by imprisonment in the State prison,
and boys of that character exert pernici0us
influence over those younger in years and
less hardened in sin and vice when brought
into that intimate association with them which
is unavoidable under the present system in
this institution.
If 1t is worth the labor and cost which
our State have assumed in the endeavor
to save hayward boys from ruin, it
surely Is wisdom to use the best attainabe
means to accomplish their reformation. l
am aware that it is not to be expected tina all
the boys sent to a reformatory institution for
violations of law will become reformed and
make good citizens even under the most care
full and conscientious training and care of
those under whose control they are placed;
nevertheless, the State should discharge it's
whole duty to this unfortunate class, of
whose instruction and training it has assumed
the responsibility during their minority or con-
hnement, in the Reform School, and is there
fore morally bound to adopt all proper and ju-
dicious means to make its guardianship prove
q blessing to its wards-to so train and edu-
cate them, that they shall be prepared to be-
come good and respectable citizens after they
leave the institution. 1t is generally conced-
ed that the family" or cottage plan" 10
among the best yet devised for bringing the
inmates more directly under the constant care
and ;nksr oil g. IL
and thus enable them to become personally
interested in each member of the family"
and to adopt such measures for thsir reform
rs will be best adapted to the peculiar needs
Of each individual.
Hon. w. w. Bolster. a member of the VS.
iting committee, has given this subject much
thought and attention and has personally ex-
amined like institutions in other States, and
to his report respectfully refer you for val
liable information in regard to this important
subject Should the legislature deem it ad-
visable to adopt the family PLAN" no doubt
an appropriation of nine or ten thousand dol
lars would be required for the erection and
furnishing of suitable buildings.
ALTERNATIVE SENTENCES.
During the year 1888 quite a number of
the boys were anxious to be remanded to Jail
to serve out their alternative sentence rather
than remain in the Reform School during
their minority, but the past year only few
such requests have been made to the COM
mittee. The bows seemed more ambitious to
earn their freedom by good conduct and
strict compliance with the rules of the School
than to accept their alternative sentence Of
two or three months in the county Jail.
In my report of 1888 l suggested such
change in the law relating to the sentence of
juvenile offenders by the courts. to the Re-
form School, as would enable the court to in
crease the severity of the alternative sentence,
or to take from the court the power to i'm
pose one. My reasons for such q change in
the laws were given in my report of last year,
and still entertain the same views in rela-
ton to that subject as therein expressed.
Conclusion.
Without wishing to exceed the authority
conferred upon the visiting committee, BY the
law of 1888, l respectfully suggest for the
consideration of the Executive Council, that
al appropriation should be made by the leg