The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1872-01-18

Biennial MESSAGE
Of Samuel Merrill, Governor Of
Iowa, Delivered Wednesday.
January 10th 1871.
Continued from last week.)
The euccess Of the humanixing and
sievatins infi1sac.s ss the prison has
bssn most gratifying. The act of 1857.
providing, - reward for good
behavior, . spscifed diminution of the
term II punishment, has an excellent
effect upon the conduct OF prisoners.
Every convict is Of course anxions for
~ early . termination of his
imprisonment n pDssibie. and will
naturally do everything, and leave
und0ne nothing, that will tend to
hasten his release. This natural
inclination increases to anxiety as the
peried Of deliverance approaches, lest
he should lose tue reward already
earned. I attribute the admirable
order which prevails 1t the Penitenti
ary largely to the beneficent workings
Of this statutory provision. The
revival Of the Bundsy.school . few
ysars ego has besn another Ell lien.
agency for good aud the libary. the
deprivation Of the privileges Of which
10 one Of the motes Of punishment,
does It's share towards the betterment
of the prisoners. A julicious enlarye-
ment of such t,eneficent infia-nces In
we'll worthy the consideration Of the
enlightened legislator. In this tiirec-
tion, would suggest the establish
mont Of Al evening school. under the
charge Of competent instructor. A
rasding-room might also be introduced
- an additional reward for good
belavios. It cannot be doubted that n
part Of the time between work hours
aud bedtime might he very profit bly,
spent In reading aud study. resulting
in great benefit. aud leading in many
cs~es u, Thorough reformation. Thus
the state, while holding every man to
strict account for his crime. wOu Id yet
place It in his pnwer to return to
%ciety better inan. The subject Of
introducing these accessories. as
reward for gNd behavior. | heartily
cssmmsnd to your early aud favorable
action.
The suffice. of prisons aud prison
.ii-cipline, has attracted much s,ten-
ion Of late, - tnncs. -" that /. has
been deemed advisable to hold n
national convention to- ca slider the
subject. Accordingly u convention
met at Cincinuaii. Ohio. in the mouth
f October. 1870. To this body |
ieputed the Warden of the Peniisnti
sry to represent the Stat. nf Iowa.
The deliberations of the convention.
which was very largely attend
ID, and whose sitting- were p-otracted
through several days. were Of the
most Interesting character, and
brought out much valuable informa
tion upon the vAriotis subject connect-
III with the management Of prisons.
On the 3ist day Of leceMher, 1874
the prrs~nt cOntrnct for the mai, body
Of the prison labor will expire. Prior
10 that time. would suggest that
inquiries be Instituted for the purpose
nf ascertAining the best mnte of utii,z-
ing the latsor of the eonvicts. with re
gard to both the financiai and reform
atnry aspects Of the question aud
would recn inmend that commission
be created empowered to investigate
the whole subject OF prison nanage
ment. discipline, aud employ "yment, rs
well A. the means for eflecting the
largest amount Of permanent benefit
to the convicts; such commission to
report to the next session Of she Gen
erai Assembly.
II IL stipulated in the contract for th e
prison labor that the StSte shall furn
ish the necessary chop ytOin. Some
times aimee the Contractors huiit =
foundry smi an additional shop.
The.e additions to the prison convent
ences were needed, aud consent wss
given by the State authorities for
their erection, the contractors to await
M appropriation by the General As
.embly for their reimbursement l
recommend that such appropriation,
to the extent of The amount found due
the contractors, b. alaIe 1t y"ur pre-
sent session.
The matter Of anording increased facilities
for emigrants coming TO the West, A. well s
To pro:sc: them from Inn positions. furnished
the occasion for . n ttionai convention. that
met at Indianapolis. Indiana. Nov %. ls70
At this convention, y states. 2territories
and t;le District Of Columbia were represen
ted Iowa by several members of the Board
II linn igratinn. its Sec'y. and Louis A Ochts
rhe Convention adopted resolutions iayor
ing legislation by Congress IL prevent Sbus
% and fraud and protect the true interests
OF the emigrant: requesting the opening u
negotiations with foreign countries SO rs u
secure joint Jurisdiction npon emigranl
ships; condemning all schemes. combina'
tiO0s and monopoii~s oppressive to eini'
grants; favoring \ federal Bureau of emi-
gration:" aud declaring for the abolition q
all capita taxes On em.sran's
THE NEW CAPIroL-rh Hat Of the last As
sembly providing for the erection Of new
state Capitol appropriated slfO.000 for com
mencing the work. The Commissioner
having charge Of the IN after, In accordance
With q call issued ny me In ursuabce 10 ths
act. held their first meeting May -. 1870
one Of their nrst aud most important duties
was adopt . suitable plan for the building
After visiting snd examining several build
ings for like purpose IN other states, and 1
careful examination and aum parisOn OF In.
plans submitted. they were able to adop
| one when com b.nes to An eminent de rec
I the requisite eie lnents OF convenience, tast'
| and beauty. and yet the cost Of whIah shA
| not ex .eed the aXimum amount nxed by
law-sl. 900.
ing great responsibility. was the choice -
suitable material for the foundation, T.
this end. most OF the principal quarries IL
| the state we're visited. and samples submit
| ted to practical and sci. niific tests. AIthu
| these einvestigationS established the fact ths
oar State IN supplied with AN sbuLdanc Q
| good building material. yet Is wAs soon rs
| certained that only few quarriss were sui
nciently developed to supply 1t once. Is fss
n needed, the quantity Of stone require
| for such work. From the large number q
competing qnarriss. . judicious choice wa
very difficult. think the Commissioners