Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-04

nights | do not see how il was possible tc
avoid actual suffering IT, them. The change
that gave the pris0ners their pre- sent modern
ard comfortable quarters was certainly a
most needed one"
do the mcD appear coDte ntedf'
Yes. for the most part they act as II they
had determined to make the most of the stu
alton. The greater part of them go about
their work with apparent cheerfulness. The
discipline of the prison is kind but firm
Every one Of the inmates knows that if he
conducts himself properly he siil be treated
With the utmost kindness, by the prison
officers. Another incentive to good beha Tor
is the remitiing from the sentence of Ger
tain number Of days in each month for good
behavior. This is a great incentive TO all the
prisoners and does very much to maintain
without trouble the good order and strict dis
ciplne of the institution. On the other
hand every inmate of the prison knows that
any infringement of the rules will be prompt.
ly punished and will add so much to the
length Of his sentence. /. is this fact per
haps which does more than any thing else
DO you think that the labor at the prison
has any injurious effects on any industries in
the State by coming into competition with
them2'
Il confess. | do not see how this can very
we'll be. | saw great many articles man
ufactured in the prison, and do not con-
slider the prices for any of them low enough
To make disastrous competition with any
mandatory of similar articles anywhere in
the State. The work in every case was
first class. There was nothing cheap, or
poorly done, and prices were asked accord
ingly. For my own part. am inclined to
regard this talk of competition with convict
labor so far as it applies to our own State,
"a nonsensiCal in the extreme. do not be-
heye there is any manufacturer in the State
who is appreciably Injured by competition
with the labor in our States prison. In the
fret slace, rs | have said, the prices asked
for goods manufactured at the prison are
not low enough: in the second place, Massa-
chus, It's and not Maine furnishes the market
for large part of them. and then again the
number of work men employed in the manu-
faeture of any one thing is rot nrse CROUCH
to make anything Ike competi ion in great
State ike ours containing SO many consum-
ers The work done at the prison il wholly
OF that character which can h's he done by
hand, hence the total output is OF nearly as
large ~ it would be. it there was large
plant nth extensive machinery There are
about l5l inmates at the prison. Taking
from these the sick and those
too old and intrm to work
| should doubt very much if W. would have
left. at the highest estimate, more than 1870
able to be IN the shops OF this number
some twenty are employed about the prison
outside of the shops This leaves Us no
vofker. Then there are twettty-eigb, over
seer. and master workmen who if not en-
Moved in directing the labor in the pri.on
would be manufacturing on their ou n &C
count outside. Taking out the number of
the.. ov,r-e, RS leaves us Mt the highest esti-
mate only about 50 men Who could possibly
come into comm. t,tion viii. outside workmen
and these are divided among SIX trades
about ui,eteen men to each y. rartment II
would he .afa tn So say perlaU. that not
more than ton of these could be cslleI er.
nsriercr1 wn,kmen NV for sny man TO
maintain that ten men an, rire arrreniice.
,narpfar,n,iry goods which are sod Mt fair
prices. and largely disposed Of in another
STATE. can materially iiiure BY compel ton
any similar industry in State - large as
Name seems Ia me decidedly absurd
How does the work OF these men COM
pare With that of outside voIkmenf
well" replied the Doctor with smile
They didn't seem to me 10 work with the
same vigcr aud snap that We might expect in
men working by the job sui they were
very industrious and kept steadily at work
There was. of course, no talking. and | did
not see any i1lng"
DO you believe the workshop an essehusi
adjunct % the prison'
Yes. decidedly so To keep men win
sentences ofIumes extending over many
years, confined all the time IN little mario"
a curse would tend TO convert tue PRISON
INTO an insane ssy lnm' BESIDES tha', men
Nhose sentences expired would una mem
selves out IN the "or'n without any t''ue
us'e ieu no3'.' - -. -. 80 become
ouee "'ole nv 1''",,''" f"' NJ ,he ,orL-
"ka'" inmates Vi we lr.'."' ,ha c,;r,i-
suVp Is uo'ns yer! "u'u W ia j., ,.
IA. ptoo'sn' anu W 'uu','" - hs"naa-5