Wichita eagle., 1889-01-10

|
/ suggest a careful investigation of this
subject to the end that the law-maklng
power may understand the necessities OF
the situation and make provision for them.
THE SUPREME COURT.
For many years past it has been impos-
| sible for the three Judges of the supreme
court to dispose of the large number OF
cases brought to that tribunal tor ma!
| adjudication. / called the attention or
the legislature to this fact in my messages
of 1885 and 1887 and at the last session OF
! that body an act was passed authorizing
! the appointment OF three commissioners
TO assist the court in the performance Oh
| its duties. These officers were appointed,
and am advised by the judges OF the
court that they have discharged all the
duties assigned them with energy and
ability. During the existence or the com
! mission its members have written opinions
/ in 362 cases.
The court, with the assistance of the
commissioners, decided 5Gi cases during
the past year. But the LITIGATION
coming to it constantly increases.
| During the year 1885, the new Gases nieu
numbered three hundred and seyenty-nlne;
| in 1886. four hundred and ffty-iour; III
! 1887, five hundred and elghty-Seyan; ana
! during 1888 six hundred ana nlnety-elght
! 1t is, therefore, apparent that the commls-
! sion must be continued after the eXplra-
| March 5, 1899. or some other method OF re-
| lief for the court must be devised.
Three other methods are suggested; TO
| increase the number of supreme court
judges. to create other appellate courts, or
to limit the cases that may be taken to the
supreme court upon appeal or error: Inc
method first mentioned can be adopted
only by constitutional amendment,
The legislature should give this subject
its considerable attention. The vital IN
portance OF prompt hearing and adjudi-
cation OF all causes VIII not be questioned.
The fact that three judges of the court OF
final appeal cannot possibly hear and de
termine the large number OF cases Drought
before them, is equally apparent.
THE STATE PENITENTIARY.
The reports of the directors, warden.
and other officers of the penitentiary, will
furnish you detailed statement of the
expenses. receipts, general condition ana
requirements OF that institution.
The Kansas penitentiary deseryedlv en-
JOYS a high rank among the penal institu-
tions Of the country. Strict discipline is
enforced, but harsh or cruel punishments
are never inflicted. The prisoners are sup
piled with abundant and wholesome food,
the tasks allotted them are not excessive,
and their health is carefully looked after.
The present warden has made many yalu-
able improvements in the prison, has dis
ability, integrity and economy, and has
won q deservediy high position among the
prison officials of the United States.
During the past four years appropria-
tions aggregating sol 4S1 nave been made
for permanent Improvements, including
q new dollhouse, insane ward. workshop,
reservoir, barn, and other minor build
ings, and putting in plants for electric
lights and steam heating The value Oh
these improvements, as made, including
cash OUTLAWS for materials and prison Ia
Dor employed, aggregates &2t3, go.
The operation of the coal mine has been
very successful. The output of coal has
steadily increased During the year ended
December 81, 1885, the total outI u WAS
l. 255. 2f2 bushels, valued at $50, 704G4:
while for the year ended December 81
1885, the output aggregated 1924 BUSH
els, valued at l21,24l. -. For the calendar
year 1855, the coal furnished the state in
situations, for public use, aggregated 3J3,-
733 bushels, valued at 81, 5O1.3i; while for
the calendar year 1888 the coal furnished
state institutions aggregated G5S.5S2 bush
els, valued at $40, 1904.
During the four years ending December
81, 1888, the total output OF the penIten-
tiarY coal mine was G, POS, 1913 bushels val
ued at 500, 9I6.G9. or this amount 204,-
120 bushels, valued at Si42, 800. 40 were sup
piled 20 state institutions; 4. l20. go bush
and y, los bushels valued at q, 153 81, were
furnished III payment for royalties on
coal lands.
The most gratifying fact connected with
the penItentiary, however, Is that the
number of prisoners when compared with
the population OF the state, has been
steadily decreasing for eight years past,
and that there has been an actual decrease
in the number in confinement III the past
two years. On the lst of January, 1870,
the state prisoners (flOt including United
States civil or military. numbered 2lS, one
for every l,61 inhabitants; at the
same date in 1919, the state pris-
oners numbered 435, or one to every
1,2i4 Inhabitants: in 1885, the number was
633, or one to every lob inhabitants; in
1885 he number was 613. or one TO every
i,SS3 inhabitants; and on the first Of Jan
uaTy. 1889, the state prisoners numbered
Sjl, or one to every 1921 inhabitants. On
the arSJ OF January, 1887, there were SO
STATE prisoners confined in the peniten-
itenUiary; on the first Of January, 1885,
there were sos; and on tine first Of Janu-
AIRY Of the present year, SCI.
The warden states, II his biennial report,
that more than sixty thousand criminals
are serving out sentences for telOuleS in the
United States, or about one prisoner for
every thousand iuha bitanjs. The same
ratio, in Kansas, would give our peniten-
tiary sol state prisoners. We have, today,
a total of only SOL, or not much more than
One-half the number Of criminals per
capita, reported Tor the United States.
THE INDUSTRIAL REFORMATORY.
The legislature of 1855 directed the
building of an industrial reformatory,
which was located at Hutchinson. A D.
preparations aggregating 100000 were
made in 1855 and additional appropriations
aggregating 100000 in 1851 The board of
commissioners having the building OF this
institution IN charge report that Il cell
house with fifty completed cells therein
has been enclosed; and the foundations
and one story Tor the office, guard room.
dining room. kitchen, boiler house and an
additional cell house. with their connect
ing corridors. have been built. The bien-
MAI report of the board gives full details
Of the progress of the work, with estimates
of the amounts necessary 10 complete the
buildings commenced, and make the in
stiUutIon ready fer The reception ana care
OF prisoners.
The general scope and de-
sigu of an Industrial reiormatory
is in harmony with the best thought ana
experience OF the aye. The penlteutiary
should be prison where hardened and
vicious criminals are punished Tor their
crimes and kept in confinement in order 10
protect society against their depred8tions.
The reformatOry Is q place where law
breakers OF a milder type, VINO are pot
naturally vicious or criminal, may be
properly punished for their misdeeds, and
at the same time reclaimed and reformed
10y wholesome instruction. Kansas has
wisely determined TO separate the two
classes of law breakers by establishing q
reformatory. and should carry out the
original purpose in view until the success
OF the experiment is demonstrated or lis
failure to accomplish the results aimed at
IS shown.
THE BOARD OF PApDONS