Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-01-04

soove It's present cost. In This coppoo,;o,
tion1 uus'le 10 10 commend the faithful, conscien
1,;, service OF the Honorable sydney III
BIRD Chairman OF the Council Commit ~. AZ
on Iuoilc Buildings whose eiticient hus;
Htss management and careful oyersioht n
contrih,,aa' 'ais OF the work have largely
10 so successful i result.
The State Pricon.
IL appears from the report of the Prison
~ spectors that there were IT, conyicts in
lne otate Prison, November Both. 1900 =
eecrease OF 81 during the preceding wear
20 were committed To- the Prison during
~ ~ Sear, ana u discharged by expiratio
Ii ~ sentehce three died, and one was par.
aoneu py the Governor and Council There
@nrr NJ me convicts in the Prison, of whom
lonr are women
ne large percentage Of short term pris
omJis .5 whose labor is not a sou~ce OF profit,
ana an. tEe restrictions of the law which lin
n.s the number employed in one class of
monnf.stay mann, stteatly eurtail the profits OF the
. "i'cturihg department. The total gain
/ S,nn- soouS manufactured last year was
soo''.I4 1t cost an average of nine cents
pr convict per day for the food consumed,
scnf s1H niade the total cost of raw material
| F or SlO6.G6 more than the profits
" "a. tne manufacturing department. In ad-
.@ition @ 10 This, the cost of fuel, clothing,
ihannp1ftlhs charS,pS convicts, stiDends given dis
chargcd convicts, interest, and other ex-
penscs. amounted to $40. .1j9o 10. You will
" ne asheu Tor an appropriate lion sufficient to
fh"s an an outstanding liabilities. and provide
| nrisa necessary running expenses OF the
Pi iinoh ~, ior the next two years.
lhe State cannot conduct a manufacture
ing business here with any degree of sue
| csss, unless IT provides sufficient working
| capltal 10 enable it to buy the necessary
nIa.eritis ht the very lowest price, and to
take advantage of every cash discount
ms IS matter which should have your
cartlui investigation, and | recommend
Sucn an appropriation is necessary to
enable the managers of this institution to
place Its affairs upon a sound business ba-
/ sis.
''1'U,'sna,ssv :..so.. -. -
| Aou will :e asked to provide for the es-
tdcllshinent and support of a Reforma tory
irlsoh Tor omen. 1t has been suggested
that a building. originally constructed by
Tue hlted States Government for Ma
val hospital. on an island near Rockland,
ahu winch has never been utilized for that
purpose; may possibly be available in this
connection. y bill is now pending In Con-
greSS which provides that this structure
snail be given to the State for this use.
lhere IS strong sentiment in favor of
such an Institution, among the friends Of
pAiIanthropic and reformatory work in our
! State, who feel that existing conditions are
neither in harmony with the spirit of pro-
gresSive civilization. nor calculated to pro-
duce the best results
1t is needless for me to dwell upon The
great benefits which would come from such
Retorm2tory. All must recognize the i'm
portance of doing everything possiuIe for
/ "
mere be cared for: and the State may well
foster movement which, while recogniz-
ing the need of every Just and proper
Stralnt, at the same time aims to make
them self-respecting and self-supporting
members of society
! submit this matter to your earnest con-
sideration.
The Reform School.
Upon recent visit to the Reform
School. | was convinced that the construc-
tion OF more cottages similar TO those al
ready existing is necessary to enable this
institution TO attain the highest degree of
efficiency. This would make possible a bet
Ter classification of the unfortunate boys
who are detained there. and wouiu greatly
promote their moral and physical welfare.
Today there are about sixty boys living in
TWO cottages whose conditions and sur
rOundings are all that could be desired. The
remainder, about ninety In number, are i'll
the main building. wn,,n affords greatly in
ferior accommodations, as very little
money has been expended on it Tor many
years.
doubt the wisdom of using this build
ing a dOrmitorv at all rhe cottage
plan has been demonstrated to be by far
the best for the welfare and improvement
OF those who are sent'to this institution.
Many of these boys are merely the victims
of poverty and parental neglect. and are
friendless rather than criminal. often
times being sent to the school on account
of truancy. or scme minor otiense scarcely
more serious in its character.
It is the duty of the State to do every
thing possible to improve the condition of
these unfortunate children, to encourage
them in right doing. and to lead them into
ways that will develop them into honest,
self reliant and useful citizens. Irrespect-
i've of the sentiment of humanity. the care
full training of these boys is in the interest
of true economy and sound public policy.
At comparatively small cost the main
building could be put in good repair, and it
is we'll adapted for schoolrooms, work
rooms and the general purposes of the in
StjfuTiOn. | recommend such aDprODria-
tion for this work as in your Judgment may
seem wisest and best.
Maine Industrial School for Girls.
The Report of the Trustees of the Maine
Industrial School for Girls shows that
there are 16J girls now under the care OF
this institution. OF these, 81 are in the
school. l. are out at board, A are working
for their board and Az are receiving wages.
1t will thus be seen that more than half
of the number are self-sustaining. The
ness and neatness, the laws of health, how
to do housework in all its branches, how to
knit and sew and make garments. and the
common English branches, such as are
taught in the public schools.
on the 9th of February last. Flagg-
Dummer Hall, which was destroyed by hre
occupancy, greatly relieving the crowded
condition of the other buildings. On May
24th. Erskine Hall was burned, together
with the small building 10 the north.
known as the Office, the fire spreading 50
rapidly that little Of the furnishings of the !
building or the personal effects OF the in |
mates could be saved. Insurance to the |
amount of S1l.6TJ.00 has been paid |
S66S7 30 going TO the treasury of the |
school, and Si9S1.J0 into the State treas !
ury This latter sum can become available |
for rebuilding only through an appropria- |
tion by the Legislature.
The burning of this building made - |
girls homeless. They were Immediately pro- !
vided for by being taken into other build |
ings and within three weeks - of them |
were placed in private homes. Board was |
secured for fifteen of them under twelve |
years of age at a price SO moderate as to |
Increase but slightly the expense of their |
care TO the State.
The policy of placing in private families
girls. who have committed no Of
fense but are unfortunate in having no
suitable homes of their own. has been fol- |
lowed to advantage in other States and
You will be asked for an appropriation
70 aid in rebuilding Erskine Hall. the
amount received for insurance being insult
ficient for this purpose. You will also be
asked to provide for further improvements
which seem necessary to put the institu-
ton in Il creditable condition.
The school Is DONG an important work. |
and its various needs WILL | am sure. re
ceive your careful attention.
Other Denartnrnts
The reports of the State Assessors, the
Railroad Commissioner, the Insurance Com
missioner the Commissioner of Industrial
and Labor Statistics. the Secretary of the
state Board of Health, and of other State
fhe various state institutions, will give
pnu in detail an account of their work and