The Saint Paul globe., 1899-02-12
WILSON PAROLE BILL.
A Correspondent Who Believes 1t a
Wise Measure.

Correspondent Who Believes 1t a
Wise Measure.
To The st. Paul Globe:
There are ftty-six life convicts In the state
prison at Saltwater. This number will In.
crease as our population Increases. Any plan
looking to the Improvement Of this large num-
Der OF criminals OF that class ought to have a
patient hearing. In proportion as they in
cline towards good or bad. they affect the en-
tire prison discipline.
OF this large number OF lifers some will die
within five years after commitment; greater
percentage within fifteen years. and few
only pass the twenty-year limit-the average
prison life being not over thirteen years. II
those who are physically and mentally strong
enough to retain reason and pass the twenty
year point. have conducted themselves as
to become benelciaries under the bill. the
ordinary dictates of humanity demand that
they be recognized. and be given, at that late
day. an opportunity to still hope for a chance
to die as free men. No good purpose would
be served by Withholding that hope from such
men. and 1t must be observed that. by no
means, will all of those who live past the
tweDtyyear limit be entitled to parole; 1t
would give all convicts of that class, how
ever, something to hope for and look forward
to- Each may have an object in life. II he
will
inner l1lS act, Inc line OF COnQucC Oh every
such prisoner would be improved, and the re-
formation OF a much larger proportion than Is
now possible would be accomplished. Con-
trary to general impression, the effect Of the
act would be to lengthen. rather than to
shorten, the average term OF life prisoners,
and to tighten the hold OF justice upon per-
sistent criminal. Its natural effect would be
to relieve the pressure on the pardoning
board; that board would have ready an
swer to all but very exceptional cases. to wit;
The statute points out and provides a course
which you may follow and work out your own
release ask no favor OF U.S." This would be
a conclusive good and ample answer to nine
tenths of the petitions OF lifers for pardon.
This plan Is automatic. The convict IL
obliged to earn, by good conduct. the leniency
he receives. On the other hand. he Is sure
to receive what he earns by that good con-
duct. 1t would werk like unto the grading
Of prisoners, In which the convict stands in
the grade tc which his conduct entities him.
The adoption Of the parole system to con-
victs who are sentenced for term Of years
has proved marked success. See the war;
den's remarks on that subject In his last re-
port. The possibility OF parole and kindly
assistance to regain a foothold among honest
people is a great incentive to faithful per-
formance Of duty, resulting in marked I'M
provement in prison discipline. II the plan Is
productive Of coed results when applied to
eonvicts for hxed term of years. why may
it not be well to apply the principle to the
life prisoner. who has for twenty years la
bored with diligence and fidelity? There are
few lifers who will live to reach the twenty
year point:
The convict who goes into prison under sem
tence of twenty twenty-five or thirty years,
practically gets longer sentence than the
ons who goas for life, the lffer cannot sur
vlve an average fifteen years In prison. Still,
thu convict under sentence of q long term,
may be paroled simply because 1T Is for Q
fixed term. d meaningless distinction.
The English rule is to discharge life pris-
oners at the close of twenty years Of service,
without regarding special merits. I would not
advise this. but would extend the possibility
of parole and discharge to the lifer who dur
ing period equal to the average life of man.
conducts himself in an exemplary manner.
By this means we would cut off the pardon Of
many 1ifers who obtain 1t through political
influence. and not their merits.
Politics has had too much to do with grant
ing and refusing pardons. Within twenty
years three lifers have been pardoned after
service OF but three years, at four, one
at four ard one-half. three at five. six at six,
three at six and one-halt. two at seven, and
three at eight. and up to twenty-five
years.
The reformatory board at st. Cloud has
and for ten years has had authority to pa.
role lfers who may be transferred to that in
stltution, after twenty-one years OF service at
Saltwater under practically the same pro-
visions as the Wilson bill. except that the
Wilson bill is more stringent in requiring a
good record for twenty years. See sec 1 e01.
General Statutes 1894 passed in 1882
In England the paroled lifer may go abroad
II he chooses. The proposed change in our
statutes would only conform to that custom.
George NJ Bennett
ST. Paul, Feb. H. 1899.