The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-12-13
IMPORTANT LEGISLATION.

iic DItSS "a aux NtttIC hCIA SClCltII COh-
cedeS that no question will come before the
next LEGISLATURE Of Minnesota of greater
importance than the prison Problem"
Not only is it important 10 the state that
the inmates of the prisons contribute to
their maintenance as a matter OF economy
and for the prisoners health vi mind and
body, but there are other grave cOnsidera-
tons in the solution of the problem which
demand the attention of the law makers.
The state board of Correction and Chari
ties have looked farther into the intricacies
of facts than the mere surface consideration
of self evident truths and their recOmmen-
datiOns will no doubt receive due attention.
Here are some of the recommendations:
In reference to the state prison and st. Cloud
reformatory-That an advisory board of pardons
be established. consisting of the attorney gen.
eral and four members, person to be nomi-
mated by each district judge of the state. from
which nominees the judges OF the supreme court
shall appoint the board-not more than three
members to belong to the political party.
That an annual Appropriation of $4,000 be
made to the prisoners aid society to be organ
iZcu uHuoi scC. II OI Cudp @Vo VI Tie BeueIdl
of 1887; said appropriation to be used for paying
the salary and expenses of the agent of the soce-
ty and for its Office expenses.
That the prison warden and the superintendent
of the st. Cloud reformatory be authorized to pay
the good conduct fund from receipts from the sale
of manufactured articles or from receipts of con-
Wet labor at an average of 10 cents day to each
man for each working day, the difference in rate
to no hoS od fbo OH of tbo
formed but upon the good conduct and willing
disposition of the convict.
That the parole system, with the system of
grades and marks, be extended to prisoners serv-
ing their first sentence in the state prison.
That brison school be established at saltwater;
that the prison warden be authorized in his dis
erection to retain portion of any prisoners good
time money on his discharge for not longer than
six months to pay the sun. in installments.
The board of pardons and parole system
combined, will work radical change in the
prison system of the state. Under the new
order of things, should the Legislature
recognize these most humane recommends
,tiOns. the poorest man in the prison. re-
CARELESS of friends and influence, will re-
.ceive the same consideration, and his claims
for pardon will be given as thorough
attention as the most influential and
wealthy. The board of pardons should be
so thoroughly beyond influence as to place
every applicant for clemency upon the
merits of his case. 1t would be but just to
all that application to them be restricted to
the applicant himself. and the facts as they
are learned upon investigation. Then will
the prosecuting attorney, the Judge and the
prosecuting witnesses recognize that abso-
lutte justice is possibility. and they will
no longer hold the liberty of every man in
prison in their hands. Then will the GRIM
inal law cease to be a collection agency and
be made to serve its true purpose-the
publication of society. No greater injus-
tice can be imagined to the inn
prisoned than to allow his enemies
to dictate when he shall be lib
Grated, and this the present system does.