Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-06-21

perlences 10 the association.
One lesson which our belated census
has just brought to light has especial
usefulness at this time, as summarized
by the New York Tribune. It appears
that the number Of persons having gain
full occupations increased proportion
ately more than the population from
1880 to 1890, and over 81 per cent. But
the ratio OF increase was very different
in the different departments of industry.
The statement made public thus far
gives the total of persons employed in
agriculture, fisheries and mining as
9,Ol3,20l, but the number of coal miners
and quarrymen is separately given, leav-
ing about $4,000 for farming, fisheries
and the remaining and less important
mining. Practically the same occupa.
tons embraced in 1880 only 7,735,OOO
persons, and the increase was l,O32,OOO.
but this is only Is per cent in ten years,
whereas the increase in population was
24S6 per cent. On the other
hand, the increase in persons
engaged in manufacturing anG
mining occupations was from 3,S37,112
in 1880 to 5,091,669 in 1890, or 1,254,557.
This is 1921 per cent in ten years, and is
not only more than the increase in popu-
lation, but considerable more than
double the increase in agriculture. In
this one department, to say nothing of
others, the number of additional mouths
to be fed increased about 100000 more
than the number Of persons employed in
raising food, and in proportion increased
more than twice as much. All know
that it is in large measure the direct re-
suit of that American policy which
steadily encouraged for thirty years the
development of manufacturing and me-
chanical industries by protecting them
against direct competition with products
Of foreign labor. It is not the purpose
here to consider whether that policy was
in all respects wisely carried out, whether
the encouragement given to different
branches of industry was always wisely
apportioned or adjusted. The broad
fact that the consumers increased in
number in this one branch more than
the producers of food, and III proportion
more than twice as much, tells a story
OF the highest importance to agriculture.
ONE of the recently enacted statutes
of the state of Massachusetts is known
as the undeterminate sentence law, and
was passed for the benefit Of penitent
criminals, in the belief that such consid-
GRAFTON of that class Of malefactors
would be conductive to the welfare of
society. This law applies only to offenses
punishable by sentences to the state
prison. Two and a half years Is the
shortest term to which any convict may
be sentenced under it, and the Judge, in
passing sentence, may fix the minimum
at a considerably longer period. The
court also pronounces the maximum
sentence under the law, which varies &C.
cording to circumstances, as is the case
in all states. When the minimum SEN
tence has been served out, the board Of
prision commissioners examines the con.
vets record, and by that and other
means as%certains how he has deported
himself and what are the probable
chances of his making good use of his
time if set free. On the recommendation
Of this board the governor and council
may release the prisoner, but he goes
out with the remainder OF the full maxi
mum term hanging over him. II he
violates any of the conditions Of his re.
lease-and they are very stringent-or
if he breaks any law of the state, he
goes back to prison to serve out the re-
mainder of his maximum term, and the
period during which be has been at
liberty is not reckoned as q part of that
term. It is said the codes provide some
such a provision for North Dakota-an
adaptation of the English ticket of-leave,
which is a humane plan-and should
work much good-if properly applied.
MAJOR HALL, U. s. A., who has had