The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1897-01-15

ment TO their charter passed by the leg
islature OF 1893. by which they were
brought under the provisions of the
general law taxing railroads at present
rates: but that act has now become a
part of their charter. and can be al
tered or amended only under the same
provisions as the charter itself. Gener-
ally speaking. railroads are suffering
financially about the same as other
kinds of business, but the burden of
taxation has been increased on all 9TH
err kinds of property Notwithstanding
the reduction in income, and there
seems to be no good reason why rail-
roads should not share in the increased
burdens.
If there is to be no change in the
principle of levying taxes, the present
tax law is operating better than any
OF its predecessors, and in such way
that no radical changes would be de-
sirable. 1t is understood that the tax
statistician will have some amendments
to offer in the manner of assessing
property. but nothing. as i understand,
involving the general principles of tax
alton.
In connection with the question of
taxation it might be proper to state
that the bill passed two years ago pro-
viding for q clearance sale was, after
careful consideration, not permitted to
become a law for want of executive
signature. Upon consultation with the
auditor general I ascertained that in
the seven clearance sales previous to
the adoption of the present system. only
$4,000 had been received for lands sold
by clearance sales. In his opinion much
more would be obtained without making
these sales. Experience has shown the
wisdom of this decision, because up to
this time under our present system
more than $4,000 has been received.
There has also been large amount Of
land homesteaded.
State Prisons and Penology.
The prisons of Michigan continue to
show improved results in discipline, re-
formation and cost Of maintenance.
That they can be made, in the aggre-
gate. self-supporting, is not probable,
though, under favorable conditions. the
one at Jackson should be. The annual
net expense of keeping prisoners for the
biennial period ending June 80. 1896.
at Jackson was $21.55 per inmate; at
Marquette, $147.61 per inmate, and at
Ionia. $75.32 per inmate. For the bien-
NAL period ending June 80. 1894. the net
annual cost per inmate at Jackson was
$4.56: at Marquette, $219.36, and at
Ionia. S215.34 While the cost of main
tenance has been somewhat larger at
Jackson, it shows vast Improvement
at Ionia and Marquette. This has been
brought about by change of methods,
and by much more efficient manage
ment than heretofore. The prisoners
have come much nearer earning their
own keeping. The state account sys-
tenn has been employed mainly at the
Ionia prison, while at Jackson and Mar
quette the prisoners have been en-
ployed under contract. During the
past two years but few convicts at Mar
quette have been employed in product
i've industries. and for a considerable
period the cost Of maintenance at jack
son was increased by the long roll of
idle convicts. The dull times make 1t
as difficult to employ prisoners profit
ably as 1T does free men. In many
prisons throughout the country it has
been found very difficult to find any
employment.
OF the parole system Governor Rich
says the law has been in effect but
little over a year, during which time
seventy-one convicts have received its
benefits. OF this number 1t has been
found necessary to retake and return
TO prison, for violation Of the rules gov
erning their parole. only four. Three
of these were returned for using intoxi-
eating liquors to excess. and the other
for burglary. Governor Rich contin-
ues:
The law providing for the transfer of
prisoners from one prison to another
was wise legislation. A law should
now be enacted requiring judges to
sentence all first offenders, except for
murder and other aggravated offenses.
TO the prison at Ion!a; and then should
they prove refractory, or not subject to
reformatory influences, they should be
transferred to the prison at Jackson or
to the one at Marquette, as circum-
stances may require. Those now serv-
ing at Ionia, for second or third Of
lenses, should be transferred to Jack
son.
In no other way can there be any sue
cessful separation of the prisoners
First offenders should not beplaced in
confinement with second and third
termers. and in many other respects
their treatment should be different. II
law were passed providing for
marked distinction between the sem
fences to be given to those convicted Of
first. second and subsequent offenses.
and courts required to take account of
that state Of facts at the time of the
sentence, 1t would be a healthful pro-
vision. For first offense, unless it be
an aggravated one, a short sentence
would seem to meet the demands of
justice. For a second offense II should
be at least double that for the first,
and for the third and subsequent con-
viction the sentence should be of still
greater length.
Private Corporations.
The compilation of the laws author
ICED by the last legislature has been
made, and Is ready for publication
whenever the legislature authorizes Il
to be done. but before this is done, I
desire to call your attention to the fact
that there ara over 300 private corpora
ton acts on the statute books. Proba-
bly, fifty acts could be combined In one,
and the bulk of the statutes reduced
at least volume IL this were done.
There Is also serious question wheth-