Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-01-10

reduced 10 tho minimum. Yet the state
must receive compensation 10 defray the
expenses incurred in their detention. Other
wise IL will fall heavily upon those who
toll by way OF increased taxation. After
giving this sub ect much attention | am
impressed with the belief that prison labor
does not compete with free labor 70 the ex
tent that is popularity supposed; because
the materials to construct prisons are pre-
pared by free labor; food and clothing are
produced by free labor. Free labor super
intends institutions and shops. Free men
are employed as chaplains, physicians,
teachers. keepers and guards. 10 is doubt
ful whether in an economic view the pris-
ons do not give to free labor nearly as much
employment as they take from it,
AGAINST THE DETROIT HOUSE OF CORRECTION.
There are various coniectures in relation
10 the cause for the present reduction in
the number OF our prisoners In 1887 the
legislature passed n law relative to the con
hnement OF convicted persons in the De
troit house OF correction. II provides that
any court of criminal Jurisdiction shall
have power to sentence any male person
convicted for the first time of any otfense
with certain eXccptionSI punishable by
Imprisonment, to the Detroit house of cor
rection. The court has held that provi-
SION OF this act, taken in connection with
section 975i Of Howell's statutes, denies TO
justices or the peace the right TO sentence
persons convicted OF OffenSeS 10 the mouse
of correction at lonia.
To meet this objection the repeal of act
a, session laws of 1857 and the amendment
of sectisn 9i5i of Howelfs statutes is rec
commended as well as an enactment of
well guarded law that will authorize justices
OF the peace TO sentence under certain cir
cumstance to lonia, aud perhaps to the
branch at Marquette. We have established,
or are trying TO establish, q system OF pris
on mAnAUnmnnf nnlp. control of state IL
thorities, and il seems better that we should
send state prisoners to state institutions.
And again, we have the buildings, and the
expense per capita is reduced by the
increase of nun bers.
If practicable, our % female state prison
ers in the Detroit house of correction
should be placed in the state institutions.
IL is possible that our prisoners may be
classified, placing the hardened and con-
f1rmed criminals in one institution Then
m Ke one of them more of reformatory-
between the reform school and the prison,
the other prison taking those of a more
medium character between these two eX-
tremes.
GUBERNAToRGAL JOKE.
OF all the complaints made against the
managers OF institutions in management,
partisanship is one of the last and least.
a majority of one of the important state
boards has for years been composed of gen
tlemen attached to the minority political
party in the state And yet the fish propa-
gated under direction of this board are
found TO be strictly non partisan in their
character. so with the work Of all our
boards.
THE REFORM SCHOOL AND INDUSTRIAL HOME.
Unusual efforts have been made to Sc
cure homes for the boys sent 10 the reform
school and these efforts have been crowned
with great access. a larger number have
been released and placed in homes during
the last year than in any previous year
since its establishment. Homes are more
readily found for them az Che character of
the boys that go oGt is M - perfectly IN
derstood.
Industrial home for girls is an outgrowth
of the civilization which distinguishes the
age in which we live. Some of the prob
lens connected with the care and control
of this class of girls have been solved.
They have availed themselves of the oppor-
tunities afforded them by this home, and
many of them have gone out TO honor
homes of their own, while others are doing
credit to themselves and the institution in
the homes Of others. There is no longer
difficulty in finding places for the good girls
in the home.
IONA ASYLUM.
Every dictate of reason and humanity
requires the maintenance of the separate
asylum for insane criminals The one at
lonia is now crowded beyond propriety or
comfort; some out C. must be provided
Two years ago l earnestly recommended it's
removal to some more favorable point, and
the conversion of the present institution
into prison for females. / hope that no
money will be appropriated to extend the
building where now located. The most
feasible plan that now suggests itself is for
the state 10 procure a proper site within a
short stance of the present institution,
a fNsal lgl hail a 81.
the harmless inmates.
i INSANITY INCREASING!
The increase of insane persons in our
several asylums would seem 10 indicate a
rapid growth in insanity, but close investi-
cation will satisfy the enquirer that this is
more apparent than real. People well ad
vanccd III years, with failing mind and
strength, pccvish and frctful, perhaps,
whom no one would have thought of calling
insane - years ago, are now sent 10 the asy-
lum. Many of them can receive more com
lortabe care and treatment there than they
could in their homes. Perhaps il is as well
or better that they should be there, but il
accounts, in part, for the rapid increase In
asylum population.
HEAVY APPROPRIATIONS
In the appropriations made for 1887 and
1898, G6,OUO was appropriated for the sup
port OF state patients and the payment of
icers 81 the asylums. While this was
quite largely in excess Of the amount ex-
pended for the purpose, yet no other item
added 50 much To the taxes of these two
years as this sum. About three fifths of
the 2,400 patio in the different asylums
are supported y the state 1t will not be
..ecossary, even with an increased number
OF patients in these institutions, to raise so
large sum as the estimate of 1887. A bet
ter plan, in my judgment, would be to esti-
mate the amount required for each asylum
and appropriate it, or SO much of il as
should be needed, to thai purpose. There
has been reduction in the charge for the
support of all patients Of II cents each per
week during the last two years.
TIDE UNIVERSITY.
The board of regents has submitted a
memorial giving detailed statement of
needs for the next two years. The special
appropriations suggested aggregate s2l0-
2o9 The permanent appropriations made
under existing laws are 100000, making a
total OF 49,! ,2>9. Every intelligent citizen
OF Michigan shares in a common pride in
this great educational institution. All de-
sire to $ &c 1t prosper, but there is no deny
ing the fact that it's constantly increas ng
demands are somewhat DISTURBING 10 our
people. While its benefits are appreciated.
there is yet common belief that they are
not equally distributed. The taxes for its
support are paid under sort OF mental
protest Nelrly or Quite one half Of its