River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-01-21
not be lessened by failure to make the
proper provision for their support.
The Historfcaf library.

proper provision for their support.
The Historical library.
The legislature OF 1895 made an sppro-
priation for the erection OF an historical
library building. In which TO preserve the
valuable collections of the State Histori-
cal society. This appropi alton was made
in view OF the fact that the collections OF
the Historical society, many of which are
rare and could not be replaced II de-
stroyed. were In their present location IA
the capitol building thought to be liable at
any time to be destroyed by fire and be-
cause II was feared that the enormous
weight OF the society's library and collec-
lions upon the upper floors of the south
wing might endanger the walls of the
building. An additional appropriation Is
necessary TO complete this structure. To
leave # as II is would entail loss upon the
state. ! recommend. therefore. that an ap-
preparation sufficient to complete the his
torical Library building be made.
Charitable and Penal institutions.
The report of the legislative visiting COM
mittee. which will be laid before you. calls
attention to the urgent need for more
prison room in the state. In this connec-
ton ] desire to call to your attention the
necessity for the establishment of sol 2
sort of an intermediate prison. 10 which
first offenders may be sent. In spite OF the
greatest care which can be given by the
prison authorities, II is impossible, In
state prison like ours, where no distinc-
ton Is made between inmates who arc
first offenders and those who are known 10
be hardened criminals. TO reach reforma-
tory results, which should be one of the
chief objects of Imprisonment. The
crowded condition of the prison at wau-
pun makes clear the necessity for either
building an addition to the present prison,
or the erection OF a new prison. The situ-
alton, therefore, forces a consideration
and determination of this question of an
int 90 prf frs offapdarc nj
young convicts who are not yet beyond the
age when they can be reformed. Some
division and classification OF criminals is
urgently needed from a humanitaria
point OF view. Our state can i'll afford to
allow its penal Institutions to become
schools of crime rather than places of ref
ormation. In its report but recently pub-
lished the state board of control says upon
this subject:
1.-The board renews the recommended ions
of previous reports for a reformat tory for
first offenders. In spite of the reforms
which have been wrought in prison disci-
pline. the criminal who has been appre-
hended by the officers of justice for the first
time is thrown into contact more or less
closely with offenders to whom the prac-
tice of crime has become life profession.
His term of imprisonment is usually a
short one, hut II Is long enough to permit
of a schooling In which he shall learn new
methods of depreciation and new articles
of concealment. Society seems to be edu-
eating him at its own expense to acquire
skill whereby he can more effectually
prey upon the honest. Economic consid-
erations-from the narrowest monetary
aspect of the question to the most adj
vanced pathological conclusion-call for a
| criminals, and this can be accomplished
only when an institution is provided for the
less burdened class"
Home for Feeble Minded.
| The new home for the feeble-minded at
/ Chippewa Falls, for the erection of which
the last legislature provided, is about COM
| pleted. No provision has been made for
the furnishing of the buildings. and in
order that this new charity shall be made
| available at once, ! recommend that an
appropriation be made for this purpose.
Prison Labor.
The competition In the sale of products
manufactured by convict labor I'm the state
| prison with the same products manufac-
tured throughout the state gives rise in
some quarters to an increasing complaint.
| This is not peculiar to Wisconsin, but the
subject is receiving great deal of ntten-
ton throughout the country. II is not
| necessary for me to point out the injus-
| tice growing out of compelling honest labor
to compete with the forced labor of con-
victs. But the subject is a complicated one,
/ involving various considerations of great
1 Importance, and deserves the utmost in
Nestigation and thought.
Among the things to be considered IS
Involved in the question of prison labor
are the necessity for so directing the en-
! pioyment Of convicts confined In the vari-
Gus penal institutions as that each convict,
when his term OF sentence expires, may
have learned some trade. or otherwise have
/ fitted himself for earning an honorable
living: the necessity dictated by humane
/ impulses for giving employment to con-
victs rather than allowing them to be idle:
and the importance to the taxpayer of
making criminals self-supporting rather
| than a perpetual burden upon the state.
/ The first of these Is the most important.
An attempt has been made In New York
| to solve this difficult problem by con-
stitutional provision, and the laws of that
state may well be considered by your hon
orable body when the subject comes be-
/ fore you.
while considering the effect of convict
/ labor competition I'm our own state prison
with products manufactured in the state,
II may not be unwise to consider whe ther
legislation should not be enacted to pro-
tect the manufacturers and labor of the
state against competition with similar
| products made by the convicts of other
states.
The legislature of New York in 1894 passed
an act upon the subject which required "all
goods wares and merchandise made by
/ convict labor in any penitentiary, prison.
4
which convict labor is employed, In any
/ state except the state of New York. shall.
/ before being exposed for sale, be branded.
/ labeled or marked as hereinafter provid-
/ ed and shall not he exposed for sale in any
/ place within this state without such brand,
! label or mark" The remaining sections OF
I the act deal with details, and prescribe a
severe penalty for violation of its p-oVi-
/ sions.
/ AS the act deals with Interstate com
I sN.fN he
4 legislature can lawfully go In the exercise
\ of the police power OF the state.
/ | recommend the investigation by yGur
| body. either through one of your COM
/ mittees or through the board of control of
/ the results of the system adopted in New
York and other states. Such an investi-
/ CATION may very well be fruitful OF good
results. / commend the whole matter TO
4 your best thought and attention.
The Subject of Pardons.
The applications for pardons and COM
I mutations have so multiplied as to render
/ IL difficult for the executive. with the
other duties devolving upon him. TO give
I sideration which the exercise of so debate
I and great a power demands. With the
( lapse of years and increase of popula ..on,
/ il is not likely that these applications viii
\ diminish. either in number or importance.
The power 10 grant reprieves, commu' a
0
I all offenses except treason and cases OF
/ impeachment" is lodged by the conssitu-
! ton solely in the executive. or course. this
power cannot be lawfully delegated TO any
other person or tribunal without amend
ment of the constitution.
am constrained. therefore. to urge upon
/ your consideration the wisdom of so
I amending the constitution as to create a
/ board of pardons. in which, in conjunction
/ With the executive. or otherwise. this power
/ shall be lodged
The Question of APportionment.
/ 1t has seemed to me to be my duty to
I suggest for your earnest consideration
whether the constitution should not be
amended so as to more clearly define the
/ rules which shall govern the legislature
/ In apportioning and redistricting the state
4 into senate and assembly districts. | have
no reaS son whatever TO doubt that the pres
ent law is a constitutional one, but the
manner in which this important duty has
/ been performed by the legislature has
given rise during the last few years. to
I litigation, to threats Of litigation. and TO
/ charges and counter-oharges. for which
there should be no possible justification.
The supreme court. in decisions over
/ turning two legislative appointments as
Unconstitutional, has laid down the general
rules governing the performance of such
duty: but under the constitution, even as
I so construed. much is of necessity left to
/ legislative discretion.
There Is no power conferred by the con-
stitution upon any one of the branches OF
I the government Of greater or more far
reaching Importance than the legislative