The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-07

| be required 10 eve certificate OF
efficiency and of good conduct. when dis
charged These thinss viii enable a con-
Wet in rart at feast, to overcome the
prejudice AGAINST his class. and enable
! MIN. if worthy. 30 start life anew. But II
| be is turned loose upon society. with no
/ kuowle,lee of business. the master OF no
trade. ignorant of any useful cmuloyment
what rs 10 become of him2 There is a
universal prejudice against him. Society
excludes him: he knows nothing Of busi-
ness: be has "a living to make but no
friends. no means, ana no employment.
Ha is subjected asaiu 20 temptation be-
[ cause OF his helplessness. and he is forced
| bv his necessities o. make war on society.
1 and as "a natural ult he becomes worse
than he was befor his punishment
youths IN Prison.
There are in the Virginia Penlteniary
I'D, vcuno persous who are under the age
/ "a tu.entv-ona wears. How many there are
I fr tho common iails Of the country / have
| MOT been able t1 ascertain. a number Of
tbarn have ovcrv natural qualification 10
/ become useful citizens 81 properly trained
and educated. Wucr can be done during
/ their confinement that when liberated
| they may De able > obtain employment
/ ON account of fUeli efficiency. then you
may hone f0r rcf0f nation. The Superin-
fondeuf should euofaFor To- find employ
manf for such ae ar can recommend as
useful laborefs and employees. and thus
alta tbon in securing business and a home.
Tro plblc will in this way lind out
] fte,- ueafiInoe-. ana its demands will
gi,a then, emr.oy11cnt. Thus viii the
moor outIaw learn % feel kindly towards
| rhceo r,ho ernuI0v p % and give him food
and clothing and teach him that there IS
soroefhiug vet for hil. His life will begin
anew. and from beirg convict ne may
become "a useful man aud society VIII no'
suffer by his prese Ice. This cannot De
toua bv lhrustng lim out OF prison,
where he had 1000 ana rdlment ana
place 10 sleep. aud DIsting him upon the
uurriendIv world. Wsere he has nothing.
He is at eumity wish the world; has no
mower for waeing war iu a legitimate way;
ID unable 10 support himself. and there
fore his necessities have made him
'awless human te Who is despised by
those who might ha been his friends.
A Remtdy.
10 should be requi "a by law that the
various occupations and trades. useful TO
inc paopI-. should be taught 20 those who
are sent 10 prison. so that when they are
liberated with a tihcate Of efficiency
| and good behavior We m0y have some
ground 10 believe that. while society has
I
unfortunates. the criminals have been
improved by learning 10 become useful
during their terms Cf iinprisonment, ant
Viil see that the Chastisemeat which has
been laid upon them was for their own
GOOD. and they may learn 10 love the law
whose iron hand has inflicted the punish
mcnt. We must ende4g0r 90 stop the war
between the criminal and society There
is only one way by which this can be
done and that is hy bringing them in
contact with each other. when perhaps
selfish considerations may make them at
first acquainted. and then friends. and
when society sees that the poor convict
Is useful and convenience or be may be
n necessity then DC win forgive his past,
and become friendly towards him. ON the
other hand when the convict sees that
society is not his enemy. but is giving
him employment and supporting him,
he may forget the past and feel assured
that the hand that punished him was not
nfriendlv. and that the prison house was
the school in which D. was trained 20 be
q useful man. and To- him a blessing in
DISGUISE 10 such a .esult all the aims
and ends of the Peuit-ntiary should tend.
Hope Should he '- iGt1 .ae breasts
of these unfortunate people, that they
may be brought 20 see that the world IS
not their enemy. but will aid them if they
are worthy as quickly as 10 punished
hcn whom they Dere criminals.
fr. ro a rar'ons.
III the Legislature would pass a law
allowing llt Governor t0 grant conditional
pardons GO the criminals in the Peniten-
riary and I'm the jails Of the Common
wealth. when in his opinion it would be
eXpedient 60 DO so, Sc would Doe productive
of good results Let the Executive give
to amy deserving convict or prisoner In the
iaiis or penitentiary "A furi0ugh or
ticket-0f-leave, based upon the condition
0f his demanins himself or herself as
sober peaceable, Industrious and law
abiding citizen. and ou the failure OF such
convict or other prisoner 90 comply, the
party should be arrested and required 90
serve out his term il the penitentiary or
the Jail. and no credit should be given
for that portion Of the term OF sentence
for which the prisoner was released on
good behavior. It will be an incentive 10
good conduct. and the fear Of a recall
win have 20 tendency tO restrain them
when induced 20 go astray.
Criminal Expenses.
our criminal expenses are enormous,
and are increasing. The decision in the
Court Of Appeals In the case OF Miller
yr. the State (ssth. Va. Rep. p. 6lS de-
cidel in January. 1892 restricting the
jurisdiction of Justices has added to
this Increase. IL ls now more than ever
source of important inquiry. and some
remedy should be provided to diminish
these expenses.
In 1850 the criminal expenses were
S7s9L4 in 1870 i97GG26. in 1880. S27s.-
1859; I'm 1890 So6i s5i.j1; in 1892, $3l5 7Z751
in 1893. S32l ,527.Ji.
1 have carefully considered this ques-
ton in my message to the General As
sembly in December, 1891, and after due
consil ration adhere 20 my opinion then
expressed, and am now satisfied II the
Legislature viii adopt tho remedies then
suggested, &c will result In q dlminution
of these expenses. 1 again recommend:
l. That we pay attorneys for the Com
monWe8lth fixed salaries and that all
criminal expenses be apportioned be
tween cities and counties and the State,
according TO wealth and population.
3 Make the party who causes need
less prosecution pay the costs.
d. Require the Superintendent OF the
Pcnltentiary 10 send for convIcts.
4. Enlarge the jurisdiction Of justices,
as soon as the new amendments 20 the
Constitution are adopted.
The reasons for these recommendations
you win find in a former message.
l have endeavOred TO get the exact
number Of such cases from the Clerks
Of the County and Corporation courts.
So iar as they have responded. the re-
port shows that q greater part Of the in-
dictments found are unnecessary. IL only
the guilty were indicted ana tired. the
criminal expenses would De reduced 10