The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-29
A DELICATE TRUST
How Will the Paroling of
Prisoners Work ?
CROSS VIEWS THAT CONCUR.
Police and Political Handlers of Crime
Agree That the New Law Is
Moral Experiment.

Beyond the general belief that the law
will permit the release of convicts under
certain conditions very little is generally
known of the new act.
In speaking of the subject yesterday
Prison Director L. j. de Pue threw consid-
cradle light on the origin Of the new meas
ure.
81 think there is considerable mIsappre-
hension abroad regarding the law" said he,
''and that much injustice has been done 10
the Board of Prison Directors aud incl
dentally to the Governor over our shoulder.
"As take it. the effect of the law will de-
pend upon the men In whose hands it places
the power to parole prisoners. That power
is placed in our hands as Prison Directors.
II we are conservative and faithful to our
trust the results will be beneficial; II not
otherwise.
Il said that criticism Is doing the Gov
ernor injustice in prOmuIgating the idea
that he wishes TO flood the country with
criminals only convicted after the expensive
operation of legal machinery.
1.-THE new law is very old in the older
communities of Europe, and has been in
successful operation in Ohio since 1885.
There is Prisoners Association in this
city, numbering among its members such
well-kn0wn citizens as Wendell Easton, w.
G. Ralst0n and the like. 1t was this asso-
citation when urged the introduction of a
parole system on the Governor. aud submit
TED a bill embodying il 10 the house Of legis-
latiOn. Senator Williams introduced it,
but it was thrown out owing to its very
complicated and mpracticable character.
According to that bill there should be a
separate board for adjudicatng paroles,
making probable conflict between the new
board and the existing Board Of Prison Di-
reci0rs. 1t was decided that such a bill
would be unconstitutional because the con-
\ rltoF E N1rfzr
Directors shall have full control of the pris-
oneTs.
"Our board then submitted the present
bill which is framed upon the successful
OHIO law adopted in 1885 and still in force.
Now, here ara some OF the points Of that
law: The board can make what rules it
likes for regulating the parole system; no
prisoner can be released under iparOle who
has previously been convicted of a felony
OF served term in a penal Institution.
by the second of these points you will
see that habitual criminals are deharTed
from this privilege, which is, in principle. to
be earned by merit.
''Then as to the boards rules, those in
OhiO-Rnd probably we shall adopt some
similar code-provide that no prisoner
shall be paroled who has not been In the
hrst grade continuously for period Of at
leas four months; also, no prisoner shall
be released on parole until satisfactory EVIL
dence is furnished the board Of managers
in writing that employment has been
secured for such prisoner from some re-
spOnsible person certified TO be such by the
Auditor Of the county where such person
resides"
There are other rules, of which these are
samples, and then the following order is is
sued:
OHIO PENITENTIARY AT COLUMBUS, O.
Parole Of Prisoner.
Know all men by these presents that the
board of managers Of the OHIO penitenliary, de-
siIiug 10 test lie ability of -, prisoner OF
said Institution, 10 refrain from crime, and lead
an honorable lie, DO, by virtue OF The authority
conferred upon them by law, hereby parole the
said -, and allow him to 60 on parole outside
the buildings aud incIosure OF said Institution,
but not outside tie State OF Ohio; subject, how
ever, 10 the following rules aud regulations:
l. he shall proceed It once 10 the place of en-
ploymeBt provided for him, viz: =, ana there
rem in, II practicable, for period Of al least six
months from this date.
2. In case he nnds il desirable 10 change his
employment or residence, he shall first obtain
the written consent OF the secretary OF said board
8. He shall, On the first day Of each month,
until his final release, according 10 law. forward
by mall 10 tile etary OF said board a report Of
himself, stating whether be has been constantly
under pay during the last month; and, If not
why not; and how much lie has earned; and
how much he has expended; together with a
general statement OF his surroundings and pros
poets.
4. lie SHALL in all respects conduct himself
honestly, avoid evil associations, Obey the law.
snd abstain from The use Of intoxicating liquors
d beverage.
5. As soon as possible after reaching his des.
tlBaliOn he shall report TO -, show him this
parole, and al once enter upon The employment
6. He shall. while on parole remain in the
legal custody and under the control OF said
board.
Z. He shall be liable TO be retaken and again
confined within the Enclosure OF said Institution
for any reason III shall be satisfactory 10 the
board Of managers, and At their discretion.
m nj nf gud in sFlr has l1F
and friendly Interest 10 the subject OF this pa
role and he need not fear or hesitate to freely
communicate With the secretary 10 case he loses
his situation or becomes unable 10 labor by
reason Of sickness, or otherwise.
DESCRIPTION
Name age, height; - weight, -;
comp eil%e Gsis OF .en ns5 ma dsis
when admtted.-; date OF parole; county,
- court, - occupation, i residence,
The Board of Managers:
BY, President.
-, Secretary.
"Of COURSE" added Mr.. de Pue. 81 do not
guarantee that our California rules would
be Identical with these in Ohio.
"But, in general way, all penologists are
agreed in recommending q system of parole.
Some action Is necessary for discrl M
mating between those who are criminals by
nature and those who,not bad at heart
have committed crime.
"a great many mothers have had a way
ward son, who, through evil associations,
has BEEN led in the impulse of moment TO
commit some deed which brings him within
the purylew OF the criminal law. If he is
taken and cast into State prison In
our present congregate system among men
whose greatest herois the greatest criminal
he is not likely to emerge anything but a
criminal at heart. But If he is encouraged
by the hope OF retrieving his error and Is
released under parole, be Is much more
TalU IN ct fui ~ EH6a tltaa rf
employer who knows him and under the
possibility Of recOmmitment than If dis
charged at the end OF his term After q
man has served his time he thinks he has
liqnidated every obligation; he grows hard
eBed, insolent, and leaves prison determined
TO beat the game and prey on society as
before, only with greater success.
III course / know prisons are not only
Tor reform, but also for punishment Still
think that reform Is good thing, particu-
larry feasible. too. with the young.
This bill increases our powers but very
slightly, If at all. Under Governor Marx
hams administration our board has passed
upon every application for Ii pardon and we
have refused nine-tenths Of them. We
should continue to be conservative, espe-
eially as we are not politicians, have no
pull to work and are serving the State
gratuitonsly for its best interests.
Governor Markham applied 10 Governor
Mckinley of Ohio for his iud Ement on the
WORKING oil the system In that Stale.
Governor Mckinley replied that it de-
pended largely on the board. If its MEM
beTs were free from political Influences it
would work well; IL they could be con-
Holled then the wrong people would be
released. This l think true.
"In conclusion, l would like to say
strongly that people misunderstood the
measure altogether, and when il is ex-
planned to them they acknowledge their
mistake.
I'VE are not compelled to release any
one II we think that step unwise for any
reason. No one whom we had any reason
to believe an undesirable character wonld
De released. / think We have shown that
In our refusal to indorse applications Orlpar-
don. For instance, Seneca SMalm's appli-
cation has been refused twice.
But the measure depends on the men, as
i said. If the people have confidence In the
board they can have confidence in the parole
law"