The Portland daily press., 1889-02-21
YESTERDAYS DOINGS AT AUGUSTA.
The House Votes Against the Wom-
ans Reformatory Bill.
Prison Labor Gives the Senators
Something Ito Talk About
After which They Indefinitely Post
pone the Measure.
special to the Press.l

AUGUSTA. Feb. 2O.-The bill to establish a
Woman's Reformatorv came up for discus
sion in the House this forenoon, there being
two reports from the judiciary committee,
one for it signed Shy Senator Heath and
Representatives Wiswell, Barker, Manley
and Stearns and against it Senators Libby
and Walton and Representatives Peakes,
Talbot and Fogg.
The consideration Of this bill called forth
a very atle debate that occupied the whole
forenoon. Mr.. Barker, of Bangor, led off,
explaining the plan upon which the institu-
tlon was to be conducted. The supervision
and government of the institution would be
vested in a board of managers of seven per-
sons majority of whom would be women,
and all of whom would be appointed by the
Governor. In charge of the institution would
be placed woman superintendent or matron
at a salary.of $500 year, who should be
responsible for the custody of the inmates
and the preservation of the property of the
institution. The institution would he used
exclusively for women, and all sentences of
females should be thereto; and in addition
to the penalties hitherto authorized by law
OF larceny, intoxication or disturbance,
might in the discretion of the court be sem
fenced to the institution for term of not
less than six months nor more than three
years. Also all female criminals now in
confinement, except such as are i'll or under
sentence Of death if there should
be such, would be transferred to
the reformatory. The managers of
tue ref0rmatory would determine what
measures should be adopted respecting the
welfare and reformation of the inmates, and
would have power to indenture, discharge
on conditional probation any inmates not
committed for the crimes of arson, burglary,
forgery, manslaughter, assault with intent
TO XII, > highway robbery, counterfeiting or
abortion. The managers would cause the
inmates to be employed in useful work, and
especially in the making of clothing and
other articles needed by the inmates of the
State prison, the jails and the reform
schools. Suitable persons would be en-
ployed to instruct the inmates in common
s e IN pdesrS aqa Se b %ae ls% in
pirate $25.000 for the establishment of the
institution and further sum of $1,000 for
the expenses of the institution up TO Jan. 1,
1891: Mr.. Barker dwelt at length upon the
needs Of such an institution for the reclama-
tion Of fallen women who cannot now be
always come worse morally than when
they go ia. The result is that the courts do
not sentence them, and they are left to go at
large, falling lower themselves and corrupt
ing the youth. Mr.. Barker's sentiments
were applauded.
Mr.. Peakes Of Dover answered Mr.. Bar
ker Mr., Peakes said he was not on the
sentimental, but the practical side of judg-
ment and discretion. He believed in con-
sidering this question, as IL really was, as
question to be viewed by judgment and not
by sentiment The question was not wheth-
er the condition of fallen women was de-
plorable, oflthat all were convinced; but
whether such an institution as asked for
would do anything to remedy that condition.
Mr.. Peakes did not allow any men to AFRO
gate to themselves all the sympathy and
chivalry towards the opposite SEX But this
was not question OF sympathy or cbivalry.
1t was o practical question. How many
women were there in Maine who would
need such an institution? Mr.. Peakes gave
the number Of commitments of women in
the county jails for term of years. They
were.