Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-11-05

out that prisoners now have pud-
dings, cakes, doughnuts and pies,
which they did not have before Thi;
change was inaugurated with the
dedication of the new buildings there.
The Prison Menu
Senator Hinckley made a compar-
ison of the bill Of fare at the prison
with that of other Maine State insti-
tulions. showing that at the prison
they have meat or fish IA times a
week and hash twice: at the refor-
nsatory for men they have meat or
fish only eight times a week: State
school for boys, meat or fish four
times a week, and hash once: refor-
raatory for women, meat or fish five
times a week; State school for girls,
hash twice; school for feeble minded,
meat or fish nine times a week.
Prisons Financial Situation
Going into the financial situation
at the prison, Senator Hinckley call
ed attention to the fact that the en-
tire appropriation made by the last
Legislature for the present year, $685.
600 had been expended up to Oct. 2S,
and that there was an overdraft of
more than $4,000. His attention was
Immediately called by Councillor Fol-
some to the fact that when that
statement was prepared, there was a
bank balance of more than $500 to
the credit of the prison which was
not included in the statement, and
Councillor Linnell pointed out that
there were accounts receivable to tie
prison Of more than $4,000.
Commissioners Hichborn, Hastings
and Gay We're all on the stand and
testified that the first they knew that
the warden had been taking proyis-
ions from the prison commissary and
not paying for them, was during the
hearing; also it was during the hear
ing that they first learned the deputy
warden was having his meals at the
prison.
Commissioner Hastings qualified
his statement by saying that he knew
that after the fire it was necessary
to have the deputy warden inside the
walls all the timet and that he was
having his meals there at that time.
He had also discussed the matter of
free provisions with the warden but
had never authorized him to take them.
He felt that they should go free to
the warden. He did not believe that
another man in the State could have
secured the results in reconstruction
for the State which Warden Eaton
had.
Commissioner Gay told the council
that there was a stock of probably
$4,000 worth of harnesses on hand
at the prison. He would not advise
sacrificing them in order to get ready
money. He would hold them.
Commissioner Gay declared that
after a thorough investigation he was
convinced that discipline and condi-
tons were very good at the Maine
State prison. MIR. Gay who was made
commissioner last April, stated at
the investigation that, as q result of
conferences with Governor Brewster
at which time the governor told him
he was fearful about conditions at the
prison, that discipline was slack there.
he visited the prison three or four
times unannounced. AS a result of
what he found there his Judgment was
that the governors fears We're with
out foundation.
At the afternoon session Warden
Eaton was questioned briefly regard
ing women convicts employed at his
home and he declared the only ones
employed were Marie Roberts and
Gertrude Baker.
Governor Brewster then declared the
hearing adjourned.