Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-05-09


make less the competition with free
labor, we will be most happy to CO.
operate in its enforcement.
The present commissioners have
given ~ the discharge OF their duties
more time than was ever before done
IN thu history of the state. At Joliet
One Of them has given all of his time.
and ;hr other two from u third to- a half
or their time.
frrious aud lncccn'ity Ct Sentences.
In conucticn with what Is said
about our pcni,entiaries | feel II my
duty to urgently call your attention to
the >uhjec. of pardons. and of the in.
equality of ocntences. growing out of
the present method of administering
our criminal laws. The present SyS-
tenn ~ having fixed. ironclad sen.
tpacc for each offensc. without regard
IL the age or character ,f the offender.
~ ~ the degree of his criminality. Il
Il rel:c Of birbarism. Under this sys.
tenn i; frequently happens that the
young are sentenced for long term If
Imprisonment because they happen %
b. poorly defended. or there Is a viz
ovou~ prose ,,ition. while the hardened
criminal. tired In another county. To-.
celvc, Il short term of Imprisonment,
fer the same oacnsc. because he hap.
peas ~ he well defended or thcr" IL
- weak prosecution. As each case is
tried ~ different jury 1t Is inipos.
s,blr to have system or regularity about
Il. Ny attention has been repeatedly
called 10 cases where boys not yet ~
years old were sentenced to the peni-
Tertiary Cor fifteen years. while scores
of hardened and very dangerous erin.
inals were sentenced for two or three
years for the same offense. ana were
then turned loose upon society. At
present all are turned ont of the prison
without reference to their ability to
maiatain themselves. 1t Is difficult for
n man who has not been in prison to
gc: work. and it Is Infinitely more diff.
cult for him who Is weakened by the
dcgradat!ons and humiliations of a
prison experience. If he tells where
hr last worked he Is jeered at and or.
dcrei away. lie Is obliged to- lie NJ
rhe start. If he gets work he Is found
out ana discharged. Sometimes he Is
hlackmai!cd. very frequently hc Is 1T.
orally forced back into crime. and
with this his hope OF an honorable life
dies Oft. At this point there Is born
70: society a desperate criminal. whose
bloody hand will always be near IT,
throat and when II thereafter shiverI
az the sight of his awful deeds. can Il
then Faithfully say 1t did not help
begc, him?
TIE entire system should be changed.
The court and jury should do nothing
except ascertain the guilt of the de.
fcaiant and simply sentence him tn
prison. and the release of the prisoner
should then depend upon clrcumstau.
COS. The young and those who are moi
yet hardened. who sinned In Il moment
% temptation or excitement. or IN \
moment of weakness. should be detain-
cd thc minimum length of time. anu
thrn released. but noe until after ON.
ployment and home has been found
for them. Experience shows that pris
Oh officials can get work for discharg
cl prisoners when the latter cannot
Vrc hardened criminal and those who
ARE nati;rli enemies of society should h,
detained tie maximum length of time
Til, system was strongly urged b!
my Immediate predecessor In Office. III
language more eloquent than Is AZ my
command. bu; I wish to urge 1t will
The same cIrncstncss.
Number Of Pardons.
During the twenty years immadi
ately preceding my administrator!
there were. altogether, 1868 pardon'
ana combinations granted. making ~
average of SO % par,ions and commu
;lt!oas for each year. Governor Cul
Ion. durin. the six years OF his In
.cumDency. granted AT pardons, or al
average of I4E.
During the two years Of my admin
l,,ritlon ! have granted Ia pardon
and combinations. being an averag
OF ~ per year. have thus fallen be
low the average In the granting u
p,rdons and combinations. On til
other hand. the number of prisoner
uni consequently the number of NJ
p.lcatlons for pardons have greatly IN
creased. We frequently receive frOr
three to five applications for pardon
day. and the work this entails Is $
great that Il cannot be properly n
tended 10 by one man. Besides,
many asses. this Is not the proper metl
cd Of getting relief. whereas. II prison
cgs were released under system {
parole already discussed. every pri
one: would stand on his own merits.
E.ttcr Civil Serves.
! would here suggest that there
urgent need of legislation In regard
the c,vi! service that will relieve exec,
tive officers, both State and municipa
OF the constant ana overwhelming In
portuniry for place. In a great sta
like ours. and In u great city like Oh
cage. this importantly Is 80 constant /
Z, test the powers Of physical endu
nncc. besides taking up 40 much tin
q, to seriously interfere with publ
business. Owing to the large numb
Of men WHO were out of e,nploymel
glc last two years having been especii
!y tryin. in ibis eg)ect. ] doubt u
wisdom o! system thar forever keel
tac same men on the payroll, for 1t
no, calculated TO produce the hishe
degree OF efficiency. Every execute
officer or head of department. wheth
STATE or municipal, being resyOnsilI