Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-15
State Prison Resolves

The needs of the States prison at
ThumaSton were brought before the
| Legislature in three resolves. hearing
upon which was held before the State
Prison committee Wednesday after
noon in the Senate Chamber. The
first resolve called for an appropria-
ton Of $66, 600 for the completion of
the new cell block authorized by the
SVth Legislature.
lii the statement of facts accom-
pauyinG the resolve it is pointed out
that under the appropriation OF the
Last Legislature for the Improvement
Of the prison by the installation OF
. u new cell block. the building was
/ completed and one tier of cells was
| installed. This resolve was intro
duced for the purpose Of Installing
! the other two cells. The prison is
/ crowded and the Old cells still in use
are u,rsanitary, cramped and in
human, according TO the statement.
+ Hon. Matthew Morrill, of Gray, for
mer member of the State Prison
| commission. described the condition
of the Old cells as too horrible TO con-
! template.
| The conditions were also testified
! to b. Frank Ii. I!argraves of BuX-
| ton, of the Board of Prison commits
+ sioners, who stated that it is almost
| an outrage for Il man to be Kept in
| those Old cells built nearly 100 years
| ago. lie referred to the cells as Just
! caves il the stone. each being just
large enough FOR Il bed and for the
! prisoner 70 stand up by the bed. He
! said that prisoners ;n'e either upiift ett
! or depressed Ivy their surroundings
! and that from the humane point of
, view the ola cells should be taken
! out.
| l.. ID. Eaton. warden at the states
| prison, said that the only modern
. equipment in the old cells are cleo
/ tric lights. The old cells measure
each four by seven feet. The new
! ones already built measure five by
| seven feet. The 80 new ones built
I recently cost $33,1G0. He said that
| he had estimates for $4,000 to put in
: the new ccfls complete, this in addi :
tion 70 the general contract for IS. 900
+! which Includes cement work. plumb
i Ins. etc.
i Hon. Henry RI. Hastings of Bethel.
! chairman Of the Board Of Prison
! commissioners. stated that tha
! States Prison is d biz institution
! and as it is run il is an honor to
| the State and Il credit To the Prison
/ commissions.
f.; There Was no opposition at the
! hearing
The committee then took up the
! resolve asking for 5000 for the re-
pair Of outside buildings at the nris-
OH.
J Mr., Hastings pointed out that there
are about IL Of these buildings which
are IN nocd OF repair. practically no
/ repairs have been made OH them
since 1913. The BUILDINGS need
! ShnSlin% and painting. and several
need new underpinirgs.
/ Warden Eaton said that these
! hulidln"S arc tenements used By the
| prison employees and that they bring
| III something t. the state in the way
! Of rent. lie spoke of these buildings
as safeguards to keeping efficient
! h"'p at the institution, saying that
, there are not any vacant rents at
| Thoma Ston.
| Mr.. HASTINGS said that the great
i tr"uhle 1t the prison is to get Elf
| cient help. The guards who have 10
! he ont on the prison wall at 6 o'clock
| in the morning. receive only S23 a
week. These tenements which they
rent, are added Inducements for the
men 10 keep their positions.
, 40 opposition WAS voiced to this
resolve.
! The third resolve upon which hear
! ING was held called for an appropria =
| ton of SS9.S00 for each of the two
! coming fiscal years. this sum being
! made up Of: Personal services. $50
900: maintenance. 10000: and re-
! firing and pension;ng prison officials.
! $3,Soo
Mr. Hastings stated that the men
! are there at the prison and must be
! taken care of. and that the warden
Sdid there was not man on the