The Meeker herald., 1897-01-16

sir monthA
The policy Of the present state land board |
sssrd soards In some respects. particularly con.
eernins the sale Of lands.
The present board has deemed It Wise 20
rem sons. One, because Of the necessity OF
securing water upon the lands before all Of
Of other lands. in which event the state
lands would have value only for pasturafe
purposes. Second, because such sales sale ,.olI would
regions, resulting in development OF those
sections, and the payment to the state OF
The selling Of stnte lands in large bodies
to corporations. or for speculative purpose
has been avoided BY by me present ec. DSsan ,snn,
companies which have bought them; In
every Instance after an equitable settle
uient
State PenItentiary.
state institutions are next referred to.
| In regard to the pcnitentiary the governor
says:
The management Of this penal institution
has been eeon9mical, humane @ ana ,1a smihsns a,,h
prison population has been reduced loI per
cent, being 36.0s cents per diem; The cost
| lslt} 94 was s20T. 1876, to which must be
added a deficit incurred amounting to sl2.-
SSH For the presen. ike 3 pefaod, "a ths Sich STs
| si60 0579.14 came from appropriation. This
sum has, under the careful; economical and
/
conduct the institution without a deficit,
although the average daily population mas
increased 5.G5 per cent, and the ea.ninEs m '
decfefsefn m very materially: owing .s 10 tne
Ttirely of lime and brick and stone. The de-
crease s In cost has been Ssi2 2G % per day r or
diem per man. for provisions, has been 81
cents.
| to conduct under the present management
| nevertheless the welfare of the prisoners mas
been carefully regarded. and the food; cloth
| Ing and care fully up to the standard. The
saving has been made through careful buy
| lag strict economy In the use Of the ar
tleles bought, better prices obtained be. be
| cause of prompt payment by the state for
goods received, and the lower prices which
generally prevail; but the chief saving ,nl mas
| / wish to recommend for your considera-
tion the remarks of the warden on the en-
| and the harsh conditions that exist for
them after their discharge.
RI radIcal lea iy ana prompt Hr ref"rm ' is needed in
| legislation concerning the management OF
the penitentiary In the matter of employ
ment of prisoners. AS at present conducted
in this respect, the pententlary is burden
npon the states revenues OF more than
\ steady Increase of cost for the maintenance
Of some $50 prisoners in practical idleness
to the serious detriment of the prisoners
themselves, physically. mentally and NOR
ally.
Among the causes leading to crime. prin-
clpal one Is the lack Of training TO work;
sary to gain livelihood. To this class the
pelltentiary should take the place OF the
early training not received in this direction.
Men cannot reform In ideness Aside
from the question of cost 70 the state, which
choose, as immaterlal,, or not Of sufficient
importance to bring about reform. there
are other features which must in justice
Importance. Again, what to do with the
discharged convlcts is serious question.
| | am Informed that Colorado Is one OF
two states that does not manufacture mar
ketable goods In prison. Many states derive
a profit annually from the labor Of their bel
Sing prison % alone. received $4,000 in 1895,
he eSnaes ycdsd
ols.7s during one term. in making brushes.
harness, shoes. trunks, etc. During the pc.
has cost the taxpayers sl.9o4,534s2. This
does not include the cost of other penal In
Ip spite of eccnomisal adm,nis.r"s.SSn ,nsI t1Sn
Conduct the peniientiary. tie reformatory
at Buena Vista Is an expensive institution.
the average cost per diem per capita being
$1.18 as against $0.3G;!S at the penitentiary,
more than three times great.
II this institution is to be continued. IN
view of the increasing number. and the evil
results following upon their presence, some
means should be found to prevent hardened
: criminals from being sent TO the reforma-
tory, as Is now TOO frequently tHe c:lse. a
i few of this class demoralizes the other in.
mates and affect adversely the efforts at
reform.
:: A satisfactory remedy for the evil men
toned could be found through sentencing
; all who are convicted of crime to the peni-
=, tentiary, suspending sentence upon those
l.. who are Intended to be sent TO the reforma-
tory, during good behavior. or by authority
r being given to the warden or commissioners
Of the penltcntiary, upon the approval of
q the governor, to transfer to the reformatory
: the class OF prisoners who are proper In
mates Of that Institution.
, The number Of conyicts now confined here
Is about 100, the number sentenced having
r speedily increased since the completion of
the cell house, and the improvement in the
: management.
The Militia.
In referring to the adjutant general,
= Governor McIntire says;
, At the first call for troops the entire ma
Z tlonal guard went 10 Leadyille The max
= imum number at first, including those en-
. listed At that time. was about 1900. At this
: there comprises 81. officers and men.
For the first seven days the total cost was
g s2,so0 per day; the next thirty-one days,
: $500 per day; the next thirty days, s1.55j
per day; the sas next twenty-one %sl I days. up t.
does not allow for the deductions to be
made as above Indicated: recommend that
. state. suggested in the adiStant "s senerai's ne AZ
: report. be made. The law concerning the
Y national guard should be symmetrical and
. within itself.
: cannot close the consideration of this
Z department without adding a word to ex
j. press my appreciation Of the high quality OF
5 the national guard of Colorado. It is moi
: only credit to the state, but is SO conspic
! uous for Its efficiency. its discipline. 1t,
I courage and Its endurance that /, as its
j. commander ln,chief. am proud of 1t and it
n service, and as governor of the state, rep
l. resenting the whole people, take this oppor
tunity Of expressing ny pride and gratitude
l. Tho Game LAWS.
4 Concerning the game laws the governor
n remarks:
While our laws may need something in tn,
=, way of amendment, the trouble Is not witt
= the game law, but with the enforcement o
u !, It. This Is largely due to insufficient mean
: and partially to misapprehension on til,
). part of the community generally and th
! county authorities in particular as to th
!. sphere of the game warden.
" The fact Is lost sight OF that the distric
. attorney, sherins and constables are all no
= only empowered to act. but required to d.
n 80 In their respective places. The existenc
= Of authority in game warden leads tn