Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-24
Gevsrner ana Cer..,,

Inc Governor and Council were in ...:
yesterday. petition was received o.
ior the pardon Of VIM. H. Boothbv Of po.,
'ahd' who was convicted of larceny a, :.
september term, 1884, Of the cumh.,,.-.
county Superior Court, and .en,ero.a :.
years imprisonment.
mr. -. oC. O'Donoghue, member ~ ~.
board of trustees of the Reform Scboo, 49,
secretary OF the board, his signature M. h,u
ing been appended to the last annual rsno,.
mace oy his four colleagues, for several ,e..
sons, yesterday presented somewhat ,sn.,hu
minority report to the Governor and g.,
Gil. He does not concur in the two vo., 81.
or In the erection Of any barrier for the de.
tention OF a boy in the Reform Scboo,
longer than is absolutely necessary. So soon
- boys conduct entities him to the n,;v;-
lege' and that he can be properly cared TO,
AZ MS nome or in the custody of his guardian
" 10 1or the best interests of the boy and b.n-
ent OF the State that he be permitted tn lava
the school on trial. 1 dissent, he savs f,on,
the recommendation advising an arrangement,
VI the law for the recovery of the
tax of 81 imposed from c;t;a.
ana towns for the maintenance of ;,x.-
nile offenders. Touching the subject of food
furnished the inmates there is, agree with
my colleagues, room for Improvement and
believe more diligent supervision of tho.e
entrusted with the supervision of the food tn
be advisable. disapprove of the practice
OF taking down a boys name with the loss of
rank simply becaus he may have whispered
70 an associate at meals, inaudlble hevond
the limits of the table. Some spooest;on.
are made relative to the Chair shops, sewing
room and mechanical shop. In regard TO
the officers of the institution he believe, thu +
more OF the superintendent's time NAV be de-
voted to closer supervision of the affairs of
the school, much of which is consumed AL
most daily in making purchases, etc. in the
city of Portland. system of purchase and
delivery under the contract system is ad.
vised. Mr.. O'Donoghue considers religious
instruction at the school at considerable
length. He incorporates letter into his re.
port from Bishop Healy of the Catholic
church to the board of trustees of the school.
under date of October llth, 1885, IN which
the Bishop expressed dissatisfaction with the
treatment the Priest received at the school
and complaining because ''the teacher of NOR
ais" is ''insulted" by "watcn being kept IN.
der the supervision of one of the officers in
his most confidential and sacred commun,cs-
tions,' and asks for his 'rights." Mr..
O'Donoghue regrets very much that his COL
leagues have refused to grant the rights asked
for. He cites numerous public institutions
in other States where provision has been
made for the instruction of Catholic inmates,
and makes an exhaustive argument support
ing the claims of the Catholic boys (about
one-third of the inmates) of the Reform
school to worship God in accordance with
the dictates of their conscience, quoting nu-
merous theories to support it. He recon-
mends that the law be changed so that 10
years shall be the minimum age at which q
boy may be committed to the school, instead
of 8, as AT present. ADD that orphans of this
tender ages withou; nome, be sent to q
Catholic orphan asylum, when of Catholic
parentAge, and when of Protestant to Prot
estant institution.