Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-18

pended.
The question, have nG doubt,
sents itself to you as It has tos
whether or not, when one of these
stitutions comes before the Leg
ture and asks for new approx
tion-whether or not the same
has not been covered by atner sir
institutions; and yet, we hAye no +
nite, exact information t0pguideS
judgment. .. e
The question also preseRts III
Whether or not three or four of 4
institutions, which are prasticaliys
ing similar work upon similar f
cannot be merged into one and TT
by reduce to an enormous nextents
expenses. But We have. as saids
fore, no definite information, no #
no exact facts upon which, to bass
intelligent conscientious jGdgmentg
Gentlemen of the Senatestif thisE
becomes a law, that "ConsuLnma
so devoutly to be wished3t will II
existence. Here will be board W
before the Legislature conyenes. 4
place before the Legislative allk
facts relative to all the private Il
public institutions of the. State. +
only that. but it will place before
Legislature all the information ar
the data which the best thought,
only in this country, but in Eu
can contribute to the discussion. II
think, Gentlemen of the Senate. Y
will agree with me that. irathis a.
does what | claim it has done In II
states, that it will he OF UNFOLD De
to the State Of Maine. From
economical standpoint it seems To
there can be but answer to this al
ton. It seems to me the argume1
favor of this bill is overwhelr
The state Of Nebraska saved II
the bill was enacted in that stateg
first year, $4,000 The state Of
saved, in the first year. 100000 ~
state Of Indiana saved $3.50 Z.
the state of Illinois saved SAL
Now, Gentlemen of the Senate, u
unreasonable to assume--ls it vi
to state that. if the board of CT
ties from an economica1 .standl
proved such an immense benefi
those states--reduced the eXpendi1k
nearly 81 per CENTS 1t unreasof
To assume that this bill will has
similar effect upon the expendia
for those purposes in the Stat
Maine. *
The present system of charities
corrections. if l may dignity 1t by Il
name, in the State of Maine, is, il
Judgment, illogical. crude, unss
tific, and ill-digested. Whether OF
the present system is wasteful e
cNtrava gant-whether or not it bl
graft and corruption, | leave for 4.
ers to decide; but that, in the Il
ment of all fair minded men-menI
are not Influenced by selfish consi
atlons-this system needs a radical
formation. | believe that air intellf
ard all conscientious men must IL
with me. II
Let Inc call Your attention, Ges
men Of the Senate. to the cond
which exists in the iails of the ST
In the iails of Maine there is moi
elimination between prisoners inn
ohcd or confined for different
fences; that is to say, 4 prisoner ii
is boun over and who rs iJnnocef
| the charge brought against him
VINO is in jail for petty larceny. OF
lntoXlcatlon, for misdemc af1ors-y
t1erc in Jail is obliged to asso
with prisoners who are IN there
felony and for unnameable cri
| Why. | have known down lin the
of Cumberland county. or Il no
tender Years who was confined in
| jail for intoNication, while there, \
| PEELED to associate with criminals N
We're in there for MURDER for ali
for adultery and for robbery. In \
or words, under the JAN syster
Maine at the present time. the ya8
Jalls instead of being correctional
stitutions, are simply ser1inariess
crime. i
Well, will any member Of this
ate contend that that system
Just and humane system; or will
not agree with me that the iail Il
TEN of the State of Main6 is a
grace to the State and a. bolt Il
the escutcheon. and the fan named
honor of our State.
DR.. Barrows. the International
pert on prison matters. In spB
delivered in Portland two'aweeks
said-and this will seem F.strangB
me who have read the luria page.
kennan-said that the prison sy!
today in Russia, the most despoticF
arbitrary government in the worl,
infinitely superior to the present
TEN of Maine.
And yet, Gentlemen Of the Sci
we have in the State of Maine q bs
called the Prison and Jail InspecE
Now. | ask >you, why is it that
board, which has been ia exist
for over a quarter of a century.
not called the attention of the s.
of Maine to that disgraeeful Coz
ton of affairs in the jails of-the ST
The truth is that reform. in order Il
effective, must always come from vi
out and not from Within. Men
are trustees of an institution are !.
centered-they are welded to 4
ldeas-they are intimateIx1 come;
with those Institutions; ana if
commence an investigation of
workings of those institutions,
then it would be an indictment
themselves; and therefore the disgrs
full condition of things which / Il
illustrated in regard to our jails
gone on from bad to worsaIg 1lntil
it is standing disgrace, and as !.
q menace to the fair name and ht
OF Maine. re-