Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-11-05

unfit for men. Wardens and prison
inspectors have, repeatedly urged the
Of a power plant. At present
oyer ~ prisoners and three officers
work directly over the boilers In the
fire room convict labor is employed.
and two life men are on the force.
While everything is probably all
right the possibility in the ease is not
a pleasant subject for contemplation
The prison physician has repeated
lN called attention to the need of bet
ter conditions for care of tuberculMis
prisoners
Present conditions at the PRISON
are favorable for the spread of this
disease and the-only sufficient remedy
iadthf one suggested by theinprison
aRS sieiap stlfs,f tfatr7 eln-,,Yf 4aa
q The 4,arqie laNlaNHl be great fac
;te4 in the prisaR aiscipline and in
belRiHg men to regain their place in
society. 1t should be- extended to i'm
Guide life prisoners as is the case in
!he Federal prisons.
In some instances the family of
the prisoner suffers through loss of
support of the husband and father. a
greater hardship and punishment than
the prisoner himself. Some remedy
should he found fer such conditions.
In cases where excessive penalty
has been imposed, and where the pris-
ener has no funds or friends. Should
not the State furnish a lawyer to con-
duct pardon proceedings? A LAWYER
is provided in trials, why not at the
HIGHEST tribunal-=the Governor and
Council.
I'm feet would It not he well for a
LAWYER. employed and paid by the
State. to have charge Of all pardon
cases
political influence would ne lessen
ed just results more easily reached
and Governor and Council spared
many embarrassing situations Pris-
oners may we'll be pardened. or pafol-
I'd inst as soon as they are fiji for the
sbi5 3 'ls fnlis1e;asi Vested
lawyer after examining eeart records
arafJikfSn mcordss would be in "a
position to give Governor and Council
real Resistance in arriving nj safe
THE yard privilege has been of
of discipline 1t would be an excel
lent Dlan 10 have some arrangement
for winter recreat ion indoors. and if
the Sunday afternoons could be pass
ed-in part-out Of the cells, the priYi-
lege. with others, being conditioned on
good conduct, it would be well. The
year has been one of gain, and credit
is due 10 those who have made ii
possible.
I'm this connection mention should
also he made of EX-Warden Wiggin
and his devoted wife who. amid many
difficulties began the good work.
Charities and Corrections.
Hon. .iatthew G MorreH of the STATE
BEARD y Prison Inspectors. spoke a.
fellaWs
AIR. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
II gives me great pleasure TO be with
, YOU. tonight. and wish ! could tell yoN
something new about how to manage
tails. 7 am well aware and pleased
To know that you men. as well as wo-
men, can tell me more than it is pos
sible for me to tell you, as you have
perhaps. given the subject more
thought and investigation than l have
1t is not my purpose, at this time, t.
criticize the way and manner our 1alls
are managed, but to speak Of the jalls
and. the laws under which they are run,
and conditions under which the bus,
mess has been carried on. We All know
that there has been some Improvements
in the construction of jails, but it has
not Eapt pace with the improved con-
t,trit cit 10
public or private, not even barns for
cattle, horses, or pens for swine.
| am not as well informed about tho
construction of jails in other states, on
the laws that govern them. as ! wish
| were. | nave read about them. but it
is more satisfying and more correct
conclusions are easier reached when
we have more object lessons before us
as to their merits or dement's.
After looking over our State prison
and some Of our jails, / commenced to
think that their sanitary arrangements
and facilities for proper treatment of
prisoners We're not keeping pace with
the times and progress OF the present
day. or according to the wishes of the
people of our State. especially if they
should take pains to look the situation
over. as they seem to be doing now
am we'll aware, as most any aver
age citizen must be, that ii is deli
cate riece of work to say anything
through the public press tina looks
Ike disturbing old established nsti-
tutaons, but regardless of that fact, /
was driven by my thoughts to request
some of the leading newspapers of9ouI'
Stffte to publish some of my views on
the State prison. for which ]. thank
them fer complying. AS result, re-
cehez1 many letters from leading citi7
gems a1I over the State, endorsing my
Hp 10 now not one, Word
of criticism hast come to me, Through
the press 81. otherwise, The present
Governor. William I, Haines. also e2-
Governor Cobb gave their approval and
hearty endorsement of the sentiment.
that better conditions We're needed, and
that the people of the State We're about
ready fer them.
The old cruel iails and prisons are so
cons .ructed that even their aspect
might be terrifying. and appear like
what they ought not to be. Dark and
iisfnal places are passing, and viii con-
tinu-, to BASS until they are so con