St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-07-28

used by his predecessor, but were in
some respects more severely admins
tered.
The committee, however, is of the
opinion that while these severe punish
ments were justifable to
Secure Discipline
at the opening Of the new warden's ad-
ministration, they ought to be and can
be safely modified in the directions rec
commended by Warden Garyin in his
testimony; and we recommend that
they be so modified.
First-That the claiming Of men to the
door be continued only during working
hours.
Second-That when men are chained to the
cell dor the hands be placed not more than
breast high, instead of the height OF the
chin.
Third-That a plank be provided about
14X7S inches, raised on cleats an inch thick,
for men to sleep on when in punishment to
prevent injury from sleeping on the floor.
Fourth-That punishment be inflicted
hereafter in the separate building known as
the solitary and built for the purpose, in
stead of being in the cell room as at present.
Fifth-That portion of the prison and the
yard be set apart for keeping the ''crank"
class separate from the other prisoners In
order that their vagGries may be INDUCED
in and their eccentricities may be overlooked
without demoralizing the rest of the pris-
oners.
Conditional PardOns.
The committee concludes with a most
important recommendation. 1t is that:
The governor can improve the discipline of
the prison and at the same time obtain par
tial relief from one of the most trying or
deals of his executive. work, namely, the con-
sideration of applications for pardons.
The legislature of 1889, enacted law (Gen-
-rNE1 flaf,1
ing that the board of managers may canse
any prisoner or prisoners confined in the
state prison. who is serving out his first SEN
tence in the state prison, TO be removed to
the refOrmatory under such rules and regu-
latiOns as the board of managers of said state
reformatnry and the board of managers of
the state prison, in joint session, shall pre-
scribe Such convicts, when transferred TO
the state 1eformatory, are eligible for parole
like other inmates OF the state reformatory.
SeventyfYe cOnvicts were transferred
from the state prison at saltwater to the
state reformatOry at St. Cloud in October,
1889 Ten of these were subsequently re-
turned to Saltwater.
The law has since remained imperative
because of the lack of room at the st. Cloud
reformatOry, although it was clearly the in
tention OF the legislature to extend the bene-
fits of the parole system to the state prison
conYicts. as is now done in the states of Ohio,
New York, Kentucky. Wisconsin and South
Dakota.
The state reforma.ory is now full, and can
not possibly have additional accommoda-
tons before the fall of 1893.
We respectfully recommend therefore,
that the governor make this law operative by
adopting a system of conditional pardOns for
state prison convicts of the class included i'll
the law, such pardons to carry conditions
similar to those attached to paroles from the
st. Cloud reformatory; and to be issued only
to such tirSt-term men as comply fully with
such regulations as the governor shall lay
down; the governor to prescribe regulations
similar TO those laid down by the parole laws
of Ohio and New York as to marks earned,
grade attained, ETC., and to require in addition
the certificate of the warden and four man
ayers that they believe that the convict, if
discharged, will lead an upright and honor
able life; no such convict to be released until
honorable employment is found for him out
side
We recommend that the governor. I'm the
said regulations, prohibit the board of man
ayers from entertaining any petition or hear
ing any argument from outside parties for
the parole of any convict, and that he him
self refuse Their eater to entertain any petit
ton for the pard on of any first-term convict
except on the ground of innocence OF the
crime for which he may have been convicted.
There will be no need of petition for par
don for first-term convicts, since they can
earn their way out on their merits