The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-10-24
THE FEFTEEN-YIIAR LAW.

Secretary Hart is to incorporate some
new ideas with his next report concerning
prisons. He agrees with Warden StOrdock,
of the penitentiary. that some number of
years should be made the limit for life i'm
priSOnment. In short. to abolish life i'm
prisOnment, making it fifteen years with
good behavior, would occasion a radical
change in the law throughout as the SEN
tence for manslaughter now is twenty years,
if the court have such opinion. He takes
the position that it is fair that some prOvi~
sion for pardon or parole should be made in
the nature of encouragement to man who
goes in expecting a living death. Secretary
Hart also believes the Oregon law Of fifteen
years the proper statute and will commend
it for adoption in Minnesota. The next SEES
Sion he says. promises to see much at
tempted legislation on prison matters.
There are several life men in Saltwater
who have been good prisoners and he thinks
should be given another chance. He will
cite the fact that some weeks ago the Off
Gals of the Ohio prison allowed over 100
life men the privilege of holding cOnven-
ton to discuss methods of bringing about
parole law to their benefit. or at least to
have an allowance of money for OVerWOrk
and good time which the shorter term GRIM
inaIs are given.-PinOneer Press.
The above suggestion bears upon its face
the appearance of mercy tempering justice,
and would. no doubt so operate in certain
cases: but it would be well to take into con-
sideration the prime object of imprisOn-
ment and apply it to each case. If man
past middle age should be imprisoned for
life, fifteen years would be life, and when
we consider that the average service of life
men is only about eleven years it would be
but just that we ask the question. why
make uniform number Of years a life sen
tence? Such a term to a vigorous man
under thirty years of age is endurable, but
how about the man past fifty who receives a
like sentence? How about the young man
under twenty who, imprisoned before the
age of mature developement. wastes away
under the confinement and is a physical
wreck in a few years after Imprisonment?
He may have been reared in ignorance. and
under a proper training might be fully edu-
Gated to moral responsibility in three years.
Would you say he should be made TO serve
the same time as one who, after living under
circumstances which leaves no excuse for
burning for revenge, or from low and brutal
instincts takes the life of fellow man?
No, fixed number Of years cannot be made
to fit all cases. 1t might serve. as the law
now stands to relieve the Executive of the
responsibility Of granting pardons, but there
IS another remedy for this defect which is
not only a remedy for the defects Of exist
ng laws and customs. but is broad enough
10 cover all mistakes which courts and iures
may make as we'll as q remedy for the
mistakes they have made. This remedy
a is \ BOARD OF PARDONS.
LATER.
In yesterday mornings issue there ap-
peared an interview with ii. H. Hart, sec
rotary OF the state board of charities and
corrections in which occurred slight inaccli-
racies. Mr.. Hart. while not being in favor
of placing tifteen-year limit on life sen
fences to the state prison, believes there
should be an advisory board of pardons to
assist the governor in investigating applica-
tons for pardon or Communication of SEN
tence. and that each case should stand on
its meritS.-PiOneer Press.