Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1872-04-25
Our Des MOines Letter.
Dies MONIES, April 20, 1872.

lies MONIES, Nprll ~, 1917.
Mr. Eaitor:-The Commissioners
OF Legal Inquiry suggested 20 the
l4th General Assembly the proprie-
ty of leaving tho jury to decide
whether an individual, convicted OF
murder in the first degree, should
atone FIR his crime on the gibbet or
60 to prison for lite. The suggestion
was so we'll entertained that those
who deem the gallows a relic Of a
defunct civilization, determined to
make vigorous efforts to blot from
our Statutes the sections that enjoin
a resort to 1t as punishment for the
highest felony. Often an incident
will bring about result, (which
neither reason nor tho better feelings
OF humanity could accomplish. The
impending execution Of Stanley, in
Story county, has done more to hur.
ry up the doing away ,oith the hangman's
calling in Iowa than all the argu.
ments its most earnes. and clog uent
advocates could conjure up agains t
the horrid usage. The House, to its
honor be 1t recorded, by a very large
majority, emphatical!y pronounced
against the strangling of another hui
man being within the borders OF the
State. With its usual Inconsistency,
the Senate passed a resolution in IA
vor of an unconditional repeal Of the
law which tolerates it, and before the
sun had set that very day refused to
follow the enlightened and progress
sive sentiment of this age. 1t &C.
cepted an amendment to the House.
bill, comforting on the jury the pow
err to say death, or Imprisonment tor
life. Probably this is all that can be
attained now.
On Monday OF this week, the Sen.
ate passed bill to authorize the
Township Trustees to forward the
poll-book to the county seat. It re.
quires it to be sent up within two
days after general or special cleo.
ton, and allows the same pay and
mileage to the carrier thereof as a
grand Juror receives.
House-fle ITS provides that id any
civil township where one.third of the
legal voters shall petition the Trus.
tees to submit the question to the
electors, whether they desire the sub
school districts to become Independ.
ent districts or not. that they shall
order an election to determine the
same. In case majority shall de-
eide in the affirmative, then each
sub district shall become an indie.
pendent district, and shall be en-.
dowed with all the rights and powers
now possessed by such districts
This innovation was loudly demad.
ed IN many parts of the State two
years ago, but Superintendent Kis.
sel and the committees on schools in
both Houses fought and defeated the
measure. Strange to say though
the recommendations of these COM
mittcbs this year were adverse to the
principle of the bill, it passed the
House; and on Tuesday the Senate
followed suit. Many OF our best cd
ucators are alarmed at its tendencies.
They regard it as retrograde step
q virtual return TO the old law, rt-
pudiated solely because the poor ru.
raj districts were unable to keep up
schools sufficient number of months
each year. II such should be the
, onsequence then the county must
% taxed to equalize the privileges |
If the youth Of the townships. AS
Don as the Legislature shall be con-
,inced that the rich and poor child.
en- Of Iowa are placed by this law |