Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-17
STATE HOUSE.
Annual Report Of Prison
And Jail inspectors.
First Bulletin on the Investi-
gation Of Dairy Products.
Indiana Refining c.. Increases
Indiana Refining c.. Increases
Capital Stock.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting of Governor and Council
Thursday, Feb. "a, at 10 A. Nj.

men, pers Of which are c. A. Leighton
of Thomastcn, Edward p Mayo of
Fairfield and Frank H. Hargraves of
West Buxton, which has been submit
ted 10 the Governor and Council. states
in part as follows:
Your inspectors have performed
their accustomed duties in the inspec-
tion of the county jais during the past
wear and made such recommendations
as, in their judgment seemed necessa-
ly.
"One of fne principles adhered to has
been hat all able-bodied convicted vi
olatCrs If the laws of the State shall
be made to work. and not be allowed
10 pass their time in SlOthful idleneSS;
which is q source of decentralization to
those industriously inclined and a gra-
tifcation to those whose only desire is
to vicicusly waste time. One should
be allowed to work as a safeguard and
preventative, and the other should be
made to- work as a punishment and
corrective, the employment to be along
industrial lines if possible. but if this
is not feasible under local conditions,
or from the small number of the pris-
oners. then they shall break stone for
the benefit of the highways.
In the pursuance of this principle
the inspectors have urged the enlarge
ment of those jails not provided with
the roor. and conveniences Of employ
ment. 1t is With pleasure. that we can
report that in four counties there have
been. or are being built, substantial
and commodious Jail additions. This
I'll
counties in the spring.
"These Jail additions will provide
means for convenient and systematic
employment of the prisoners and for
more cell room.
'In some Of our jals the lack Of cell
room is menace to the health of those
confined in them and may we'll be con-
sidered shameful: and, we believe that
we are justified in adding disgrace
to those counties in which they are
situated
"The increase in population. which
in some sections has been considerable,
has brought with it. as would be eX-
pected. an increase in criminality. The
future may hold much for the proven
ton of crime. and for the reformation
of the criminal. but it has been IN to
this time almost an egligible quantity,
and there is no reason to suppose that,
for an indefinite time, the OVer-crOWd-
ing of our jails will not be a factor to
contend with. The question is. force
full one and demands attention. The
accommodations for women prisoners
are especially Inadequate.
Your inspectors believe in the strict
est discipline for law breakers. that
especial privileges shall not be allowed,
society require that tho DEGREES of our
judges l." implicitly enforced by those
to whom that duty is entrusted; all of
which may be done without losing
sight of the fact that the criminal is
Il mar and entitled to rational and de-
cent treatment that whatever he may
have of worth and goodness shall not
be Utterly crushed out. Many of them
are first offenders and often suScepti-
Die to good ur bad treatment. With
this in view one of our rulings has been
against the practice of the feeding of
prisoners bY means of dish of food
pushed through an aperture in the low
er part of the cell door, to be eaten on
their cots, or as best they can. in a
darkened cell. This we have COnSd-
cred as uncleanly and tending toward
deterioration. In it's place we have
recommended that the prisoners be
| fed at tables. as is the custom at the
State prison. which is cleanly and
economical, as we'll as humane and de-
cert
1--WE are pleased to report on this.
| that "a bic sorry jpa has hpaD will he
installed in all the larger jails. and
changes made in the smaller ones,
81 he aim of your inspectors is to
bring about a higher level of condi-
tons in the housing and treatment of
prisoners. definite system in ques-
tons of employment. diet. clothing and
sanitary affairs in the hope that our
| iails may not continue to be schools of
| crime. but rather corrective and refor-
NATIVE.
The inspectors speak of the States
prison as follows.
There are now 209 inmates of the
prison; SO were received during the
year; "A We're discharged by expiration
of sentence: three were pardoned by
the governor and council: there We're
no deaths; and ~ insane prisoners
were transferred to the building for
the criminal insane at Augusta. The
largest number of convictS at any one
time during the year was 22s. the
smallest number in the prison at any
ono time was 2O9 and the daily average
for the year was 21S
The total cost Of running the depart
ments and the maintenance and care
of the prison and prisoners amounted
TO $50, 931. AZ while the profits of the de-
nartments have amounted to S2e,19l SIS,
making the net cost to the State for
ruuing the institution Ss.139Sl.
"Warden Norton deserves great
deal Of credit for the showing he has
heen able to make while the changes
incident to reconstruction have been
going on, making it impossible to work
the convicts to the same advantage
they naturally would. The stock of
manufactured goods on hand are up
to-date and the latest designs. The
small stock on hand shows him to be
alert in keeping up with the times and
producing the merchandise that are ex-
acting public demands. The goods
have been disposed Of to reliable firms
and no losses have been made during