The Portland daily press., 1885-01-22
A Reformatory for Women

"a nC1OKLldJOIy 4OI w OuQ0us
This Legislature will be asked to do many
things involving g. ants of money aid; some
of them worthy, and some no doubt not to
be seriously considered.
But there is one proposed measure, which,
while 1t originated with comparatively few
persons, and these mostly ladies who have
made the helping of their own sex a special
study, will enlist the active sympathy of all
the people of the State who have ever noted
the faithful and patient work done in this
behalf, and 1t will, as it deserves, command
full hearing in committee aud an intelli-
gent discussion every where.
This is the proposition to establish Re-
tormatory for women, not unlike some now
in operation elsewhere, and concerning which
proposed measure much work has already
been done by way of having it fairly cons i'd
cred. At present there is no suitable pun.
ishment for thai class Of offeuces that fall
shortof being felonies-that is, that large
list of misdemeanors and crimes in violation
Of the statutes ou behalf of sobriety, morali-
ty and deceUcy. Il is bad enough that male
Offenders sra subjected to thirty sixty or
ninety days in jail, wth NJ heed paid to in
struction or systematic employment--fer it
10 already understood that the few work
shops connected with our 4ils may be short
ly given up, since W tn their short terms Of
imprisonment the labor cannog be made
prof aba But it is much worse that wom-
en should be subjected to this wholly made
quste system of punishment, which takes no
account of reformation and which, in point
of surrounding aud employment is utterly
inconsis ent with an eniigh ,ened pn bic poll
cy. The victim Of an unfortunate habit, or
the subject of vile practices, If woman,
must either be at large or be given over to
short Jail sentences that answer NO really
good end; since there is now no offset to the
disability that attaches to the fact of the i'm
prisonment. The prisoner comes out at the
end of the thirty or sixty days, and must be
thrown upon the streets again with no help
and no hope, it may be. She is not only the
most helpless and pitiable object In the com
munity, but she is the most dangerous one.
Society cannot let her be at large, and it is
little less than barbarous to subject her to
the frequent short terms of Jail imprison-
ment, wherein are neither the advantages of
instruction nor employment. Nor is there
now any classification, oversight or disci-
pline. A little occasional menial work is
given to her, and that is all. Such condi-
tions and surroundings Of imprisonment of
fer no hope to the individual, and ne safety
to the community.
1t s to remedy this that the proposed Re
formatory is asked for. We suppose a bill
will accompany the petition now pending
before the judiciary committee, but we have
no knowledge of its details. II is measure
that will not readily end favor with tax-pay-
ers, 1t may be, and may not come up in 3
form that can be approved by the Legisla-
ture. But it surely demands the patient
and most serious consideration of the
thoughtful men and women of the State.
And If suitable and sufficient building
could be found to accommodate the class
contemplated 1t ought not to be very costly
undertaking to provide separate reforma-
tory institution where might be honestly
tried the experiment of reciaimlng, or, at
least, better caring for, what is now every
where regarded as the most unpromising
class of our unfortunstes and criminals. The
beginnings should be cautious, and no great
first cost incurred. The institution would
be new in our system, but not new either In
principle or practice elsewhere. We
commend the matter as well wor-
thy of practical consideration at the
hands Of che Legislature. The fact remains