The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-30


WOMEN OUT IN FORCE
At the hearing on the Proposed Re-
formatory, Age OF Consent and
Protection to Young Smokers.
Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Jan. 29.-The women came up
to the capitol In great force today, and in the
room Of the judiciary committee there was O
big hearing that attracted larger audience
than any other hearing in the building. But
though the little stified committee room was
fuller of spectators than usual, 1t was not 4
millionth part so full of tobacco smoke. Not
a cigar was seen. The ladies present were
Mrs. l.. M. N. Stevens, Mrs. Geo. S. Hunt, oi
Portland; Mrs. 4. M. Blanchard, of Lewis.
ton; DIR. Mary Bates Stevens, OF Auburn
Miss Elizabeth Yates, Of Long Pond; Mrs
Hannah j. Bailey, Of Winthrop, Mrs. Robert
Lord. Of Kennebec; Mrs. G. A. Quinby, OF
Augusta; Mrs. Judge Baker, of Hallowell
Mrs. 4. Rowell, Of Hallowell; Mrs. w. G.
Sargent, OF Augusta, and Anna Sargent
Hunt, of Augusta.
The first subject for hearing was the es-
tablishment of a reformatory for women
The speakers were Mrs. Hunt Mrs. Bailey
Miss Yates, DR.. Stevens, Mrs. Blanchard and
Mrs. Stevens.
They argued that there is class of women
the industrial schools, the temporary home
and the jails who are not cared for and who
should be cared for. Their position they
maintained and fortified with an abundance
Of facts and narratives Of personal expert
ences. Some of the pleas were eloquent, and
evidently made an impression on the com
mittee.
Major Z. Rowell of the Industrial School
of Hallowell. spoke after the ladies had fin
ished. He favored the plan of a reformato.
~.
Hon. Sllas Hatch of Bangor, said that tw Z
and four years ago the finances of this State
were not In condition to afford the Institu-
ton. But now he thought this was changed.
With State tax OF two and three-quarter
mills on the dollar and one thar after this
year can be reduced to two mills on the dol
lar, 1t seemed to him that the financial con-
dition of the State does not stand in the way
of granting the petition Of these women.
Mr.. Libby asked IL Mr.. Hatch had made
any estimate as to the cost.
Mr.. Hatch thought $4,000 would be the
cost for the first year.
The committee, however. seemed to think
that this would be very small sum to begin
on.
Mrs. Hunt here said that the ladies intend
ed to come up every year until the reforma-
tory should be granted. SO they might as
well surrender 1t at once.
Here Mr.. Manley and Mr.. Talbot said they
should like to see the ladies every year, so
they thought 1t might not be best to make
the appropriation at once.
Mrs. IL. Nj. N. Stevens said she thought
there was practical need Of the institution.
She showed list Of the female prisoners in
the county Jail Of Cumberland county for
1885, There were sixty-five OF them. Some
Of them were in unmber of times; and one
OF them had been almost regular frsquenter
OF the Jail for the last fifteen years. She
said that she had found in the Cumberland
Jail daughter, her mother and her grand
mother who had drifted along from Calais TO
Portland. If the grandmother had been
placed in ref0rmatory institution she had
no doubt that the three would never have
brought their evil influence into Portland.
After several other instances, Mrs. Stevens
closed by saying that she felt sure that Ii
was for the intererts of the State and Of the
good people Of the State, as we we'll as for
the outcasts that an institution be provided
for such women as had been described.
The next question before the committee
was the petition for the raising Of the age of
consent. Mrs. l.. Nj. N. Stevens said that
Mrs. Margaret Il. w. Merrill of Portland,
who was at the head of the committee who
home by illness. She herself would ven
ture few remarks in behalf Of the measure.
Two years ago the legislature raised the age
from ten to thirteen years. The petitions
that are now coming in ask that the age be
raised to eighteen years. Mis-. Stevens felt
that the request was not unreasonable.
Mrs. Hunt made brief but eloquent and
touching plea for higher limit than thirteen
years.
Mrs. Stevens of Lewiston followed. She
thought eighteen was certainly young
enough.
Mrs. Fl. j. Bailey at this point arose and
said that while she was sitting in the judici-
ary room today, she heard a man come in
and plead for a law to protect a woman's
property until she was 21 years of age. Mrs.
Bailey wanted to know II girls virtue
should not be protected as well as her prop
erty.
The petitions for law to prohibit the
selling or giving of tobacco or cigarettes to
minors was called up next; Mrs. L. M. n.
Stevens spoke in behalf of the measure, cit
ing instances to show the desirability Of
such legislation. Miss Yates also advocated
it, giving statistics to show that it was both
desirable and practicable.
At the close of the hearing, Mrs. Stevens
said she hoped the committee would be as
good after the women were gone as they had
been while they were here.
Senator Libby asked here IL Mrs. Stevens
thought this legislation would be Of any
practical value.
II do" she said. 81 see boys using tobac-
co in the place where live. l know where
they get it. They buy 1t Of Mr.. Andrew
Hawes, whom you all know. He is an hon.
est man, and would not sell 1t to them If II
was against the law"
Du yUu uOb luluk that parental lDUueQcc
should do what you ask the law to do?"
Il would not undervalue parental disci-
pline, but that does not do all IL should" re-
piled Mrs. Stevens.
rs not that the trouble?"
THAT may be. We are trying to get the
parents up to their duty; meanwhile we wish
to get the law"
Here discussion arose between Messrs.
Libby, Walton aud Heath.
Mr.. Libby thought legislation would not
be effect i've. BE thought 1t would put law
on the Statute book that would compel a
storekeeper to judge of the ages of children
in way that he should not be compelled to
do.
One of the ladies thought the storekeepers
could tell ages as easily as the car conduc-
tors.
Mr.. Libby wanted to know why the wom-
en- did not advocate law to punish children
for smoking, by parental discipline when
possible and by the State when necessary.
He thought that would bs moving on a true
principle.
Mrs. Stevens said she should be willing to
see the law made that way. All that they
wanted was something to save the children.
Here the hearing closed.