Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-11
EATON RESIGNS
Continued from Page One


the suspended employees and that
Warden Eaton did not look at the
matter in that light, is set forth in
a statement given out by the prison
commissioners announcing the resig-
nation of the warden.
,. Probable Retirement Deputy
AS the deputy warden is appointed
by the warden, it is indicated that
Deputy Warden Lawrence j. Colgan
will not remain in his position when
Warden Eaton's successor takes Of
flee. While the prison commission
crs had nothing to say last evening
regarding candidates for the position
of warden except to declare that no
one had been decided upon to fill the
Office, it is rumored that the names
of former Chief of Police Ervine
Watts of Portland and +. Maurice
Fish of Hallowell, State parole off,
GER will figure to a considerable ex-
tent when the prison commissioners
come together next Monday.
Statement by Prison Commission
The statement given out by the
board of prison commissioners last
evening setting forth the matters
which led to the resignation of
Warden Eaton, is as follows:
Nov. 10, 1923.
After lengthy and friendly con
ference between the Governor and
Council and the Prison Commission
ers, and 1t appearing to be the de-
sire of Governor Brewster that the
Warden OF the prison restore to their
positions the several guards and ov-
erseers which he had laid off at the
beginning of the investigation, the
same was presented to the Warden
for his consideration, the employ
ment OF the men being, under the
law, outside of the jurisdiction of
the Commission and exclusively in
the hands of the Warden.
Mr.. Eaton firmly believed that to
take back the men would destroy his
control and entirely disrupt the dis
c1pline OF the institution. The Com
mission expressed the opinion that
there might be some of the sus-
pended employees whom it might be
advisable to reinstate. Mr.. Eaton,
however, declined to accede to this
view, and rendered his resignation as
warden to take effect as soon as his
successor is appointed and qualified"
HENRY H. HASTINGS.
CHARLES S. HICHBORN,
PH1NEAS II. GAY,
Commissioners.
The Prison Financial Situation
The Governor and Council had no
statement to give at the conclusion
OF yesterdays conferences, but in an
informal way Governor Brewster met
group OF newspaper reporters last
evening ana while declining to dis
cuss the matter of the warden ana
Jn
or the suspended guards he spoke at
some length upon other phases of the
prison situation, especially in regard
to its financial condition,
IL is apparent that many Of the
points brought out in the prison in
Vestlgation are to be the subjects of
further consideration when the Gov
erhor and Council hold their next ses-
sion on Tuesday. Nov. II.
Governor Brewster declared himself
III IaVor OF the proposition of the
conVlcts working upon the State
highways and he believed that the
Councll favored the proposition. Dur
ing the months when the roads are
being constructed this would furnish
work Tor many of the convicts and
during the winter months it might
be advisable to employ some of the
prisoners in the task of keeping the
highways clear for travel.
The Governor expressed himself as
being greatly interested in the pro-
Ject, adoptd by 40 or the states of the
Union, of Maine entering into the
furnish one kind of goods manu-
featured by the prisoners to those
other states and buying from those
states the articles made by their
convicts. For instance it was
pointed out that convicts in Massa-
chusetts are now employed In max
Ing auto registration plates which
arc said to be very satisfactory. I'm
der the agreement, if Maine should
decide to enter. Maine would buy its
plates from Massachusetts
ana sell to Massachusetts and the
other participant states some other
article OF goods which might be pro-