Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-10-13
Better Salaries Urged for
Men'S RefOrmatOry EmDlOyeS

| The Importance of paying reason
ably high salaries to employees of the
institution is urged in the annual re-
port of the trustees of the Mems Re-
formatory, Oliver B. Clason of Card :
ner. Leslie Boynton of Jefferson. Or
lando +. Frost of Belfast. Henry F.
Merrill of Portland and NJ. G. Smith
of Hariland, which has been filed with
the Governor and Council.
. With labor and salaries so high
i throughout the country. it is impossi-
: bic to hire men OF sufficient mental
/ ity to act as instructors and guides
70 the unfortunates without paying
salaries equivalent to what those men
might receive in professional or in
dustrial life on the outside" says the
report.
1T is better to have in an insttu-
ton one good man than half dozen
poor ones and it will be a saving to
the State in manhood TO provide
properly trained men for All positions
1T the institution" continues the re-
port.
ITO accomplish this we must pay as
high salaries for public service as in
private business.
"Inasmuch as the work of the board
is new and much study and care is in
volved in the building and organizing
of new institution. very few rules
and regulations have as yet been
adopted. most of the administrative
. work being left to the superintendent.
who keeps the Board well informed on
I,o
stitution. AS the institution progress
es. certain definite lines will be laid
down to follow. and it is the desire of
, this body to make a careful study OF
conditions in other states to have
Names new reformatory progress
sive institution.
1T has been found essential to
build a house for the superintendent,
and this is now under construction.
Larger quarters win have to be
furnished for the inmates before cold
weather and adequate sanitary con-
ditions provided for, as well as heat
ing and laundry facilities. A large
tool house should be erected for the
storage Of implements and for work
shops for the repair of the farm tools.
The erection Of these buildings by
the inmates is approved by the trus-
tees. but money will have to be pro-
vided for the material.
at the next session of the legisla-
ture an appropriation should be pro-
vided for an administration building,
heating plant. and sufficient build
ings for dwelling houses for the in
mates, these buildings to be con-
structed as fast as possible and when
required.
I'm all probability the work on
building and farming will occupy the
time of the inmates during the next
administration. after which some in
dustria1 pursuit will have to be pro-
vided for and care taken to place
this on a paying basis. so that the
men confined may realize something
from their labors to start them when
they are paroleh For tho time being
it is felt advisable to furnish each man
suitable clothing and a reasonable
amount of cash, together with a posi-
ton. when he is ready to leave the
institution. and carefully guide him
for some months thereafter to make
sure that he is going to make good.
The Board was very fortunate in
securing the services of Lieut.. Harold
r. Donnell. former Maine man who
has for the past few years been en-
gagged in institutional work in Rhode
Island, and later an associate Of
Thomas Mott Osborne at the naval
prison at Portsmouth. \. II. Lieut..
Donnell is doing excellent work at the
Reformatory."