Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-12
The Anamosa Penitentiary May Be
Transformed Into a Reformatory.
TO Be INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL
Trades Could be Taught Nomination
ofC. T. Hancock by Dubuque Re.
publicans-The Fifty first
Ioxya,s Return.

transformed into a reformatory such
as some of the eastern states have es-
tablished and found to be so success
full in dealing with the criminals who
have not become hardened to all good
influences or honest ambitions-in
short, to those who are not habitual
criminals. The plan would be to put
into this institution the convicts on
short sentences for first offenses and
to send there in the future such con-
victs as these and who give promise of
leading a better life providing they are
supplied with the opportunity to earn
an honest living. The institution would
have a school in which the elementary
branches would be taught and would
have various industrial features in
which trades would be taught. An age
limit would probably be put upon the
convicts sent there. In other states it
is usually those between the ages OF 16
and 30.or IS years. They are given an
indeterminate sentence, so that it de-
ponds upon the convict himself when
he is released. Ii he makes progress
both mentally and morally and learns
a trade by which he can support him
self he is then released, his release de-
pending upon che judgment of a board
whose duty it is to be informed in re-
gard to the merits of all the convicts.
Under this plan the p~enitentiary at TT.
Madison would continue to be 4 prison
and all hardened criminals and long
1ime men would be sent there. The
convicts now serving sentences would
doubtless be required to serve out
those sentences, but they would be i'm
,mediately classified il this plan should
be adopted and the short time men
would be turned out much better pre-
pared to resume life with a fair chance
of success than they are now.
*#%
1t will be necessary to provide some
kind of shops for the Anamosa peni.
Tertiary during the next two years.
The work on the building will be COM
pleted before hat time and the con-
victs will be left idle unless some pro-
vision is made for their employment.
Some means will be found to make
them at least partly self supporting, so
they will not be a burden on the tax
payer. So far the policy of the state
has always been to hire the men ont
by contract to some manufacturing
concern. There has always been seri-
GUS objection in Iowa to the state en-
gaging in any sort of manufacturing
business on its own count The risk
is great and success cannot be expected
without the employment of first class
expert managers. At first it was
thought that q binding Irvine plant
might be established profitably and
without much risk or large Investment
at the Anamosa ~penitentiary, but in
vestigation shows that The state would
have to invest more han a quarter of
q million dollars in this enterprise, as
it would be necessary 10 do as the
state of Minnesota has done. carry a
large credit ccoun with customers.
The dealers are unable to pay cash be-
cause they cannot always get cash
from farmers who use the Irvine. So
h manufacturers are obliged 10 ex-
tend credit for a large majority OF their
product. 1t is altogether unlikely that
the board OF control will recommend
putting i'll a binding twine plant at An
amosa. There is another objection to
doing this besides the heavy investment
VIZ tiiag - TX Iise OlHIuhllg
all the machinery rendered useless by
a new invention which will obviate the
necessity of importing the raw materi-
al from Manila, as must now be done.
The %convicts in the Fort Madison
p~enitentiary have not all been en-
ployed during the past year, but ar
engagements are now being made for
the employment of about $50 men con-
yicts on a new contract and when that
deal is closed the c~onvicts in that pris-
on will be kept as busy as they can be.
Charles T.. Hancock, member and
former chairman of the republican
state central committee, was yesterday
nominated for state senator by the re-
publican convention of Dubuque coun-
ty. If Mr.. Hancock accepts this nom
i~nation, and it is presumed that he will,
It being too late to nominate any other
man, he will make a right lively cam
paign in a democratic county and his
election would not be at all surprising.
In such a city as Dubuque personal
popularity goes a long way toward
success in an enterprise like this, and
there is where Mr.. Hancock is strong,
though for some reason the Dubuque
Times has not been friendly to him for
some time.
The Fifty-first Iowa regiment will
not stop at Honolulu on its way home,
but will follow the current which
takes the east-bound steamers GOO miles
north of Honolulu. The boys will not
see a thing but salt water after they
leave Yokohama until they arrive in
San Francisco. That has been the ex.
perience of other soldiers returning
from Manila by that route. Adjt. Gen.
Byers thinks the regiment will arrive
in San Francisco about October II OF
is, as all the conditions appear to be
favorable for the best time. 1t is still
uncertain whether the regiment will
have its mastering out work done on
board ship, SO it can leave San Francis.
co in a few days, as soon as its accounts
are settled. If this has not been done
it will be doubtful if the boys can ge,
home in time to vote, for if they have
elected to be mustered out in San Fran
cisco it will take several weeks to d.
that.