Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-17
where there is not = comfortable bed

where there IL not 4 comfortable bed
or Q cozys chair.
The County Jail Problem
There are more than 400 prisoners
In our county jails. The two greatest
defects in our County Jail system
are association In idleness and un-
restrained communication Of prison.
ers. l honestly believe that some Of
the Jails are ideally arranged as
criminal finishing schools for the
flrst offenders. Conditions will not
be materially changed until the man
agement and control Of all county
jails is vested In the prison commits
sion and the expense OF their main
tenance Ii borne by he State. The
conditions at the Reformatories are
different to those at the county tails
only in degree. There are $50 per-
sons in custody of the industrial
schools and refqSmatories.
Il have been asked to express an
opinion in reference to the recent
changes that have taken place at the
State prison. For II years I have
been intensely interested in the man
agement of correctional institutions,
40 WIG NioANC0 oOitiO "a kuC LAk SSSk
prisons in the country. I.have also
closely observed the prison policies
of the United States Army and Unit
ed States Navy. With the little
knowledge I. have secured by study
and observation as a basis for my
opinion l am pleased to heartily en-
dorse most Of the changes effected by
the commission. I am not opinion
ated in my views Of the most radical
changes that have taken place, and,
do desire to walk in the light of a
better program for the salvation of
the men confined at Thomaston.
Regarding Payment Of Prisoners
Il hope the plan to pay wages 10
the prisoners will not mean the eS-
Establishment of a new department in
our State government. l fear. how
ever. that il the pay system is APP
proved by the coming Legislature,
careful supervision over families of
prisoners by experienced female so
clal workers will necessarily become
a part of the prison program II the
rights of the children are to be prop
erly protected. believe that with
minor change in the present Mothers
Aid law the prisoners families could
be best cared for through the depart
ment of Mothers Aid.
III the men at Thomaston should
receive wages for their labor | thor
oughly believe that the men at South
Windham and the women at Show
hogan should be given the same con-
sideration. In fact, believe the wom-
an who receives her discharge from
the Reformatory for Women has the
greatest claim upon the State and
society for financial assistance. The
State Is under some obligation to help
the girls and boys of our industrial
schools secure an average financial
backing with which to begin life as
citizens Of our commonwealth.
You may be interested to learn
that the board lived within the Leg
islative appropriations this last year.
To be sure. we have drawn upon the
contingent fund for the care of chill
dren but the towns and cities have
paid into the contingent fund as re-
endorsements for the board and care
of children about $4,000 more than
was transferred to our account.
Mothers Aid Department
"There is growing interest In the
of Mothers Aid. More.
than 500 mothers receive a monthly
allowance. This enables them TO
keep their children with them. II Is
a recognized fact that the mother ~
the best person to supervise her
children. The average allowance is
$29.59 per month. There are about
1000 children in the homes of moth
ers who receive State aid. The great
problem with which we are now con-
cerned Is making allowances within
our appropriation which Is $1,000
for the present fiscal year. This rs
supplemented by like amount from
towns and cities. There are 100 APP
proved applications on the waiting
list. Many of these cases are very
urgent but we must wait until there
is more money available. In the
meantime these families must suf-
fer or become paupers.
1.-THE big work for which we have
striven in each and every family is
to put it on its feet as speedily as
possible. The average number of
cases dismissed each year is 06. This
proves the effectiveness of this form
of aid. 1t does not breed paupers
but rather 1t helps families to help
themselves.
Importance of Work Among Chill
dren
you have listened to most en-
cellent addresses by Hon. Charles
and others. They have stressed the
growing Importance of their work.
Great and wonderful as are the re-
suits of consistent work among the
population of our penal institutions.
L ~ q n y, i,t
convinced that the most worthwhile
work among the children who have
been committed by the courts into
our custody. 1t may be safely esti-
mated that seventy-five per cent of
our 100 children were headed for
the penal institutions of Maine. 1t Is
a glorious task to properly train a
child so that he may become a use
full citizen of the commonwealth.
Our desires for our children are:
L. That the child shall have every
opportunity to develop normally,
both materially and spiritually. =.
That the child who Is hungry shall
be fed: the child who Is sick cared
for: the backward child brought for
ward; the hayward child led back:
the orphan and the destitute taken in
and succored. >. That in time OF dis
tress the child shall be first to re-
ceive aid. You may think that policy
Is generally practiced. / doubt IL. q.
That the child shall be equipped to
earn his living. and protected from
all exploitation. Maine Is the only
State in the Union that sends It's
wards to the higher institutions OF
learning. We have students in the
special preparatory schools. normal
schools and Mason Institute. They
,oL L. Y,r pr-l