Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-06

The large amount wbleh 10 appropEi-
assd ~ the legislature for thelr main
tensnes, speak highly for the people
of this state. WHO have 90 generously
contributed of their means for eduea-
ti1nal Institutions. wnsen stand second
10 none IN the country. No state or
country ever dealt more generously oy
the unfortnnates WITHIN her bounds-
rles than has Michigan. Her prisons
and reformatory institutions are
abreast of the tines.
Notwithstanding this simost unpar-
alleled provision for the unfortunate,
further provision IN me directions
Is urgentiy needed now. The present
accommod atoms Tor insane are made
quate 70 meet the demands OF tbs I'M
fortunate class, aud IL will become
your duty 10 provide additional ae-
commodations for their care. The
feeble minded and eplleptics should al
50 he provided for.
While additional accommodations
for the classes just noted are urgently
needed, We have a surplus OF prison
room, nor IL it probable We shall need
II all for some time 10 come. Tho
question whether the inmates OF the
upper peninsula prison may not be
transferred 10 the other prisons and
THIS establishment at Marquette trans
formed into an asylum tor the insane
- worthy OF your c nslderation. Be-
sides, the saving IN remodeiinR this
building instead OF building another 10
the reduced cost of Weeping prisoners
when there are several hundred over
that where but one hundred are kept
=. -. - an
PRISON At Marquette Is to be- continued
II will soon he necessary TO have shop
room and machinery in order to en-
pioy her inmates. This is already pro-
vided at Jackson and Iouia.
Are All Needed
These institutions are all needed, and
are worthy of the care and support OF
the people Of the state. But they are
at the same time numerous, expen-
sive and increasing family. demand
ing the support of the state. Their
numbers increase from year to year,
and those established are gr wing in
population and their needsare Increas-
ing. While every absolute need
should be supplied, yet, IN view Of
their numbers and multitudinous
wants, the sane care should be exer-
cised IN making appropriations for
their support that practical man
would exercise in ms own business, so
that dollar in value Is received for
every dollar expended. Things not
not absolutely needed may safely be
postponed until they are needed. In
other words, ii IS not necessary &c fin
ism them all this year. as Others will
come after US to care for their needs as
they arise.
For many years the government and
control of our Institutions has been by
boards for each institution, who have
either served gratuitOusly or for a
moderate per diem compensation when
actually employed In the performance
of their duties. In the case of the re-
gents of the university aud the state
board II education = constitutional
provision prescribes their powers and
| duties and fixes their compensation.
Durng the more than fifty years this
system has been in operation in the
state each year has given additional
evidence of the wisdom of our prede-
cessors in establishing il. Two years
ago the law was changed, and all the
institutions. except the asylums for in-
sane. were placed under the charge of
two boards. This system has been on
| trial but two years, and 1t 10 claimed 10y
| It's advocates that IT has not had far
trial. That there is come force in this
( claim | do not deny. The boards are
now composed of some of the very best
citizens of the state, who have given
their best efforts for the benefit of the
/ inmates Of the institutions under their
control.
Now, as 20 the benefits derived fron,
the change. After paying the salaries
there has been no saving in the expense
Of supervision. Il have not been able
| TO learn of anything done by the new
| board for the benefit of the institutions
or their inmates that could not Oh
would not have been done by the old
| boards, and in the nature of things
/ they could not be as familiar with the
control and management OF the sew
! eral institutions as the old boards would
with the one institution. l think a
| system of boards whose members serve
| without compensation except expenses
/ has more to recommend II than any
/ other. Experience has shown that
members become acquainted and inter
ested in the Institution under their
charge, and they give the matter q
/ psinstaking care which cannot be pur-
/ chased with money, and is second only
| 10 their interest in their own family
/ and home affairs.
Insurance and Sentences.
In view of the number of institu.
/ tons and their liability TO loss or dam
age by fire | respectfully recommend
that provision be made To meet such
az emergency without calling the leg
| islature together, by providing that the
governor and board OF auditors can au
tnorIze the repair or rebuilding of any
such institution, and providing the ne
&, cessary means therefore. TINS is the
more necessary from the fact that the
4 state carries no insurance. In the case
Of the damage To the Eastern asylum
the toafd was atle to rebuild on &C
count Of surplus earnings on hand
But for this Il would have been neces
sary to- have called the legislature TO
geiher. Had the loss occurred to AM
/ other institution an extra session of tn,
legislature would have been unavold
. able.
Since the adjournment of the legis
/ lsture the supreme court has decided
that the Indeterminate sentence law Il
I unconstitutional. The same act In
1 cluded the parole law. Among those
most experienced IN the management
of prisons these two features are C n
sidered absolutely essential TO success
/ ful prison management, the theorj
/ lad down being that for the counts
! Sion of crime minimum amount Of
punishment should be imposed by tn,
/ court. and this no power should b'
I gwen % reduce or mitigate. After tina
less rigorous imprisonment depend