The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-01-10


present year, SOL.
The warden states, in his biennial
report, that more than sixty thousand
criminals are serving out sentences for
felonies, in the prisons of the United
States, or about one prisoner for every
thousand Inhabitants. The same
ratio. in Kansas, would give our peni-
Tertiary 1851 state prisoners. We
have, to-day. a total of only S61. or not
much more than one-half the number
of criminals. per capita, reported for
the United States.
THE INDUSTRIAL REFoRMATORY.
The legislature of 1885 directed the
building of an industrial reformatory
which was located at Hutchinson.
Appropriations aggregating $50, 900
were made in 1885, and additional
appropriations, aggregating 500, 600,
i in 1887. The board of commissioners
having the building of this Institution
in charge, report that a dollhouse,
with fifty completed cells therein, has
been inclosed; and the foundation and
one story for the Office. guard room,
dining room, kitchen, boiler-houSe, and
an additional dollhouse, with their
connecting corridors, have been built.
The biennial report of the board gives
full details of the progress of work,
with estimates of the amounts neces-
sary to complete the buildings COM
menced, and make the institution
ready for the reception and care of
prisoners.
The general scope and design
of an industrial reformatorY
is in harmony with the best thought
and experience of the age. The peni-
Tertiary should be a prison where
hardened and vicious criminals are
punished for their crimes, and kept in
confinement in order to protect socie-
ty against their depredatIons. The re-
| formatory is a place where law-break-
erS of mildeT type. who are not nat
urally vicious or criminal, may be prop
erly punished for their inisdeeds, and,
at the same time, reclaimed and re-
formed bV wholesome instruction.
Kansas has wisely determined to sepa-
race the two classes of law-breakers by
establishing a reformatory, and should
carry out the original purpose in view,
until the success of the experiment IS
demonstrated. or it's failure to accomp-
lish the results aimed at is shown.
THE BOARD OF PARDoNs.
The law enacted by the legislature
of 1855. providing for state board of
pardons, has proven very satisfactory
in its results. The board appointed
has been diligent in investigating all
cases referred to it, has made full and
comprehensive reports to the executive
and its findings and recommendations
have been alike humane and just.
The constitution vests the pardon
ing power in the governor, under
regulations and restrictions prescribed
by law" Section 314; chapter 81, COM
piled laws, provides that lin all cases
!, in which the governor is authorized by
law to grant pardon, he may grant
the same on such conditions and under
such restrictions as he may think
proper" A similar provision is EN-
bodied i'll chapter 10, laws of 1868.
No law has been enacted. however,
providing adequate remedies in case
the conditions on which pardon or
Communication is granted, are violated.
s The courts of several states have sus-
tanned the authority of an executive to
} enforce penalties fer the violation of
conditional pardons, even in the abb
sence of statutory provisions. Such
authority, however, ought to be clear
and definite. The legislature should
enact law providing that violation
, of any of the conditions on which a
pardon or Communication of sentence is
granted shall subject the person guilty
of such violation to arrest and return
2 to confinement under the terms of his
original sentence. and comforting upon
2 the executive authority to issue war.
: rant. directed to any sheriff. for the ar
2 rest anG return to confinement of the
r offender. Such Il statute would have q
/ wholesome restraining influence upon
law -breakers who are conditional J
y; pardoned.
! THE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT.
The present superintendent of inSur
: ance has, in preparing his annual re
2 ports. eliminated vast mass of state
/, ments and reports made to him by in
e surance companies, and has thereby
effected a large reduction in the print
ing bills Of the state. But he truly
2 SAYS that mot one fact of Importance
e has been omitted" All statistics ant
y facts of the least value or Importance
n to the public, are given in clear, com
t pact and systematic manner.
: The business of insurance is of sucl
universal interest to the people, anC
, has grown to such vast proportions
9 that the most stringent and compre
e hensive legislation is essential to pro
e tect the public against irresponsible
s companies, organized for fraud ant
$ plumber. A few years ago Kansas wa
e invaded by swarm of these swindlinl
/, insurance companies. some of then
incorporated under our own laws
others of alien origin and authority
/, Hundreds of thousands of dollars hav
y been stolen from the people of thi
t state by so-called insurance companies
Il that did not, and could. not insure
l. The only persons benefited
by such organizations are thei
y officers and agents who pocket
Il the salaries and commission
s. they receive and give nothing in re
b tnrn therefor Our laws should max
e it impossible for any insurance com
e pany to do business in Kansas unles
e it's ability to pay any and all losse
It was well established, and the integrit
y of its organization was equally unques
IS toned.
s. The present superintendent ha
IS waged an unceasing war upon thes
d fraudulent companies, and has drive
Y most of them from the state. Hi
s efforts to protect the people agains
them should be upheld by the legisla
l. ture. The suggestions embodied i
n ais report are commended TO your al
3, tention and favorable action.
Ie THE STATE CAPITOL.
d A contract for the foundations c
n the east wing of the capitol was let o
u the second of May. 1866, and thi
E. wing, partially completed, was oecJ
IS pied by the state officers on til
v tWenty-fifth of December. 1870.
was not finished, however. until earl
IS in 1873. The state issued and sol
IL bonds to the amount of $3.50, 900, I
y provide means for its construction
ie Its total cost, however, was $3.50. 900.
i In the summer of 1879 the buildin
AZ of the west wing was commenced, an
IL it was. though in an unfinished cond
~ ton, occupied IN the summer of 1SS
II 1t was completed in 1882, and COZ
!, S312, OO0-
"a Work on the central building wa
l; commenced in 1881, and its found;
ne lions were completed in 1884. Ear
. in the spring of 1885. work was begu
D, ON the first story, and the walls a
now finished to the height of Il
n fourth and last story. The cost of Il
ne central building, to date. has bee
Us S5I7. 600, and it is estimated that frOl
is 5000 to 500, coo will be required
at complete it.
n The remo.IeIinO of the east win
at Intending the senate chamber in "a
nd f--R r.oat 9IAn nOn ao fhnE tho, Ctrr,itr