The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1885-01-15

OleOrOer are clearly emitted to reimburse.
ment for the expense they thereby incurred.
purpose: The constitution clothes the exec.
utive with authority to grant sreprieves and
pardOns after conviction, for Offenses against
the state, except in cases of impeachment "
Chapter 119 of the General Statutes provides
that the governor may grant pardon upon
such conditions and with such restrictions
and under such limitations as he may think
proper. Cases are sometimes presented
wherein an exercise of executive clemency
would seem to be recommended by the best
interests Of the convicQ and without preju-
dice to public justice, if wholesome contli-
lions could be imposed. But to make the
provisions Of the chapter quoted practically
effective, an adequate remedy should be pro-
vided in case the conditions upon which a
pardon Is granted are violated. To that end
recommend an enactment to the effect that
| In case convict conditionally pardoned
shall fail to observe the conditions imposed,
he shall be deemed to have escaped from the
prison and become subject to arrest and re-
turn to confinement, under the operation Of
his original sentence. The decisions of courts
upon this subject assert the authority of the
executive to enforce this penalty in the alb
sence OF a statute, but doubtless an effort tc
do so would be contested Doubts NAV
therefore be settled in advance by a legisa-
tive enactment upon the subject The exist
enoe of such a statute would have restrain.
information thus conveyed that he could not
ignore the conditions upon which he received
and accepted his pardon.
REFORM SCHOOL.
This model institution maintains it's record
for efficiency in the important work fol
which it was established Unlike some OF
the reformatories for youths existing else
of it's work. Without walls or guards to re-
strain the youth in its charge, the manage
ment succeeds, by the moral influence it
commands, in exercising the needed control
over them, and with rare exceptions effects
their reform. Since it's establishment in
1868 it has graduated" over five hundred
boys and girls, most of whom have become
or give promise of becoming useful men,
bers of the community, instead of recruits
for the criminal classes, which would prob
ably have been their fate under the influence
OF their early life. The results accomplished
by this institution commend its management
to public confidence, and should command
for its work such recognition and support as
its continued efficiency requires. The re-
port OF the managers shows 1919 inmates
at the end of the last fiscal year. The ex-
pense for maintenance for the twenty months
ending July 81, 1884, was $47, 7OO95, of
which sum $23, 72S. 70 has been reimbursed
by the counties contributing to its popula-
ton. Appropriations are asked for current
expenses for 1885 and 1886 of $35 900 per
year, and for insurance and repairs $6 GOO.
The report also recommends an appropria-
ton OF $25, 900 for new building for q
female department. I doubt if the probable
revenues of the state will authorize this ex-
penditure within the next two years; but
aside from that consideration, the question
OF the expediency of a permanent female
department in connection with the present
institution deserves deliberate examination
The few females that are likely to become
inmates of the school in the near future may
be properly cared for under existing arrange
ments, but before steps are taken for per
may avail ourselves proftably of the expe-
rience and Judgment of communities that
have dealt with the question more fully
STATE PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The treatment and control of the pauper
and criminal classes give rise to questions
among the most important with which the
public has to deal; and the excessive rate of
the increase of these evils, as compared with
the growth of population throughout the
country, has become subject OF grave con-
Germ. Statistics show that the Increase of
pauperism and crime in the United States
has been 100 per cent greater than it's
increase In population within the last quarter
OF century, Measures that may prove
effective to check this growing evil have
long been the subject of earnest inquisition
among philanthropists and legislators Con.
s1derations OF economy and public security.
as well as those of humanity and morality,
suggest the adoption of whatever means
may promise to lessen these great evils that
prey upon society. AS it is a law of nature
that every species shall produce it's kind SO
In every community it is observed
that the ranks of the pauper and criminal
classes are largely recruited from their
neglected and abused progeny. The envi.
ronment of idleness, ignorance and vice in
which the children of such parents are reared,
must, in the natural order of things. give
direction and character to their future course
OF life. As matter of economy, a mere
question OF public expense, is it not the wiser
policy to rescue. if possible, these youthe
from their apparently inevitable fate, rather
than to provide expensive almshouses and
reformatories to be maintained at great cost
for their care while young, and prisons for
their restraint when they come to mans
to deal with this question would be the estab-
1shment of state public school, in which
the young children of dependent parents, OF
criminals, and the orphaned waits of society
may be gathered and reared under influences
and surroundings that will develop the
of them good citizens to contribute to
the benefits rather than the bur-
dens OF society. This is by no
means IN experiment Such institutions
have existed for years past in some of the
states, and their work shows most crafty
furnished by our state board OF charities and
corrections, regarding the organization. the
work and the results accomplishments schools
of this character as established elsewhere.
commend the subject to your thoughtful
consideration. If there should be hesita-
ton to act upon it by reason of the expense
OF establishing another public institution,
repeat. that, in my Judgment, it is recon-
mended by considerations of public ecoEo-
my, though the proposition also appeals to
fkNr, %l~~
manity and the general public good The
cost of maintaining and educating these
children in such an institution until thew
arrive at an age when they could be ap-
prenticed or indentured to their advantage.
would be less than the present average cost
of their maintenance in the poor houses. or
through the usual methods of distribution
OF poor aid in many of the counties of the
state. A requirement such as now applies
to class of the inmates of the reform
school. which provides for the maintenance
by each county of the children they respect
lively send to the institution, could properly
be made feature of its organization.
BOARD OF CORRECTIONS AND CHARITIES
Chapter 127 of the General Laws, 1883,
provides for the appointment by the gov
ernor of six persons, not more than three of
whom shall be from the same political party,
who shall constitute, with the governor. a
state board of corrections and charities. The
are to Investigate the whole system of pub
lie charities and correctional institutions of
the state, examine into the condition and
management thereof, especially of prisons,
jails, intirmaries, public hospitals and
asylums," and to examine and '.criticise all
plans for new jails and infirmaries" before
their adoption by county authorities. The
board Is also empowered, upon the order
of the governor, to ''invest,gate the man
agement of any penal, reformatory
or charitable institution of the state"
Though the act creating the board provides
for the employment of secretary at an
annual salary Of 81 200, and the necessary
personal expenses of the members in the
discharge of their duties, yet, by an evident
oversight, the legislature neglected to make
an appropriation from which to pay IT, 9 n.
Believing the work of the board as con-
templated by the act would prove OF great
public benefit, was reluctant to have the
experiment. fail for lack of means to meet
the expense therefore appealed to the
boards of management of the hospitals for
the insane and the state prison, for such
sums as they could conveniently spare from
their appropriations for current expenses.
to aid in maintaining the board Ny request
xUQ m n m fh0t