The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-02-12

portunity for self. improvement. is about all
that can be done during the term of i'm
prisonment. All this depends on the char
acter. integrity and intelligence of the
warden and his subordinates. There is no
one who has given prison conduct any
study but must admit that advancement has
been made in the treatment of these unfOrt-
unateS, and doubtless will still be ad-
vanced under the vigiant Investigations
now being made by phlanthrOpists. =.
The board of inspectors. in their last report.
recommended the creation of a board Of
pardOns. Experience confirms this body in
the wisdom of their recommendation. We
therefore can do no better than quote pOr.
tiOn of that report. with few changes. for
the organization of such body, and urge
its creation:
For many years. the board of inspectors have
felt the need of some way to relieve the governor
of frequent opportunities for executive clemency.
which from the pressure OF his many urgent duties.
preclude his giving each case the necessary per-
sOnal attention to the facts to guide him to an in
tslligent conclusion. thereby delaying action for
the lack Of such knowledge Of mertorious cases,
and preventing prompt consideration, under the
present system. Especially is this the case with
persons even, whose guilt may be doubtful,
good behavior enttle to clemency. who may be
unfortunate as not to have influential friends
to urge their claims to the notice of the proper
authorities, This injustice arises from the lack of
an authorized body to whom the appeal might be
made with the certainty of a reasonable and speedy
investigation of all the circumstances connected
with the applicants claim for pardon commuta-
tiOn Of sentence. AS q remedy. we would suggest
the proprety of the creation of board to be
known the board of pardons consisting of
three persons. and, for the purpose of removing
the body as far as possible from any political in.
fuence, we would lodge the appointing power of
this body with the supreme court of this state.
and that not more than two of them should be of
the same political party. and whose appointments
should be for three years each, after the first
board. which should be for one. two and three
years; vacancy to be filled as time expired, aud
such persons only should be appointed as are Ca
pable of taking testimony, weighing the evidence,
months. at the Office Of the prison, to consider
such cases may be deemed by them worthy of
cases. a record Of which should be kept, the find
ing to be certified to the executive a guide fer
his action. We feel this would relieve the ex-
ecutive Of much embarrassment and promote his
more efficient inspection of penal institutions,
from which he is now deferred by almost over
whelming demands of the inmates to get his at
urged to this BY the thought of the creation of
more state officers, but this is outweighed by tho
thought of restraining the liberty Of even one in
nocent or deserving person."
The attention of the board having been
called to the increased cost in the conduct
of the prison by your excellency. they made
some investigation in accordance with your
request, and find some reason can be given
for this appearance of increased cost inas-
much as it has required more guards, the
men having been worked in smaller details.
with higher salaries to the officers. and
rough work for the cOnvicts. making harder
wear on their clothes. This also applies
somewhat to the food of the inmates. We
feel that plenty of good. wholesome food
for them, without waste, is the best econ
Omy.
WARDEN'S REPORT.
My official connection with the prison
dates from August Sd. 1889. so that 1 can
only speak from personal observation of the
history of the prison for the last fiscal year.
The population OF the prison two years
ago was 437; one year ago July 31st. 1889.
the number was 44O. During October.
1889, seventy five (75) men were removed
to the state refOrmatOry at st. Cloud. of
which number ten were afterwards returned
to this prison. The number at this time is
S14. The combined population of the two
institutions is now rather less than that of
the prison alone one year ago. notwith
standing the increase in the population of
the state at large. 1 notice in looking over
the reports of former years, that it has sew
eral times happened that the prison pOpula
Jon for given year was less than for the
year previous. 1t might be interesting and
profitable to trace the increase and decrease
OF crime, independent Of the general and
rapid increase in the population of tho
state, but this would be out of place here
and will leave that work for others.
When l came here the wardens residence
was unfit for occupation. very damp. and
entirely without ventilation. In accordance
with your instructions put on a new roof.
The back part of the house was built into
the earth, up to the windows; this I dug
away and put in some ventlators at an ex,
pense of about five hundred dollars ($5OO).
done mostly with convict labor, and it is
now very comfortable house. l have put
in new revolving oven at cost of about
ono thousand dollars Isl, ,000), of a suffi.