Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-15

Hon. Edward W. w neeler OF BTuHS-
wick. member of Gov. Haines' Council,
"a student OF prison reform took the
subject fog his paper as IA member of
the Commission on Relief and Vel
fare work reporting Saturday morn
ing.
MIR Wheeler severely criticized
Names penal institutions system.
eayiug that since the State OF Maine
bee ame pioneer in adjustment of the
death sentence I'VE have made little
progress IN the Improvement of our
penal institutions" He declared We
have no classification of prisoners.
The amateur is brought into daily con-
tact with the hardened professional.
The first offender who has yielded TO
temptation. lives in constant associa-
fion with the most degenerate and de-
PRAYED. actually learning more of crime
and becoming more imbued with GRIM
anal thoughts and inclinations than be-
fore he entered the institution.
The Criminal.
He leaves the prison sullen and re-
sentful, deformed rather than re
formed. and the first offender becomes
The chronic offender. Reformatioi.
which II necessary for the protection of
society against future transgressions
g. impossible under such conditions and
when we realize that more than one
third 81 all crime is committed by those
who have served former sentences we
can appreciate how a decrease in the
recommiSsion OF crime affects the gen
cral problem OF preventing crime.
The problems of our penal system,
involve the physical conditions OF the
penitentilry. It's administration and
management, the proper education
treatment and employment of the in
mates and their iudiCious liberation.
At Thomaston.
our prison AZ Thomaston is anti
suated and needs extensive reconstruc-
ton. The cells are merely cubby- holes
In wall OF masonry containing less
than h1lf the air space required by the
tenement house law of New York for
each occupant of q building. An addi-
tion To the prison is now in process of
construction which will provide ninety
steel cells OF modern design nearly
twice as large as those now in use, and
with adequate sanitary conVeniences
This building should be extended al
once to provide at least one hundred
additional cells of similar design and
construction and the old cell houses re-
moved
AS the quantity of food which is
needed varies greatly with different in
hiViduals. the present method of send
ing 10 e1c' prisoner the same rations
To be eaten in his cell results in a
waste In some cases while other men
are underfed. The practice of taking
tho food To the cells which is made nee
essary by the limitations of the present
structure should be discarded and a
dining hall erected where meals can be
properly served. Better hospital facil-
itics are needed for the proper care
and segregation OF those suffering from
disease.
For New Adr,inistr alton.
The proper administration of the
prison requires more centralized au-
thority. The board of prison inspect
org and the parole board created by the
indeterminate sentence law should be
abolished and In their place there
should be created a prison commission
consisting or three or Ave members to
assume all of the powers and duties of
these two boards and TO exercise q gem
eral direction and control over the
state prison anc supervision over the
county Jails. The provision Of the law
which requires the three members of
the parole board to be chosen from the
Executive Council Is not only in con-
fiict with the Constitution but is an un-
reasonable restriction upon the free
dom Of selection to be exercised by the
Governor. As the personnel OF the
Council changes every two years the
State IL also deprived Of the benefit Of
experience, which comes from contin-
iuity OF service. and which Is essential
81 judicious discrimination is to be ex-
ercised In granting paroles.
Choosing Warden.
The Warden should be chosen by
the commission and serve during its
pleasure, thus taking this office out Of
politics. Just as we choose experts as
superintendents OF our schools. hospi-
tails and asylums. so should the Ward
en- Of our State prison be selected SOLE
iy because Of his training and fitness to
deal intelligentiy and scientifically with
the inmates OF penal and correctional
institution.
Handling Pardons.
Every application for pardon or
Of sentancs should ha re-