Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1901-06-14
NOTES FROM THE CAPITAL
Des Moines, June IA, 100,

superintendent at the SlaTlnua stuIc
insane hospital, has been elected sup
erintendent Of the state hospital at
Mount Pleasant, succeeding DR..
Frank G. Hoyt, who died last month.
The populist party state central
committee met in Des Moines and de-
cided not to hold a state convention
this year unless the democratic state
platform shall prove unsatisfactory,
and u. ged populists to participate Ill
the democratic caucuses. After the
meeting the following announcement
was made:
..After discussing the political sit
uation it was decided in view of the
platform as forecasted by the demo-
cratic state central committee favor
ing municipal ownership Of public
utilities and other pressing reforms,
not to call state convention, pro-
yided the platform of that party shall
prove satisfactory to our people. 1t
was the conviction of the committe
forcibly expressed that it is the duty
of every true populst, Jeffersonian
democrat and Lincoln republican to
attend the democratic caucuses and
state convention and help secure such
a platform as they can endorse and
won k for S. Il. Crane resigned as
chairman of the state central COM
mittee and John r.. Calrll of Abba,
Monroe county, was elected to the
vacancy.
A new Company A, Fifty-first regi-
ment, Iowa National Guards, is to be
formed. Authority for its organiza-
ton has been granted by Governor
Shaw. The old company is to be
mustered out, having failed to come
up to the requirements at the last
inspection. Among other faults
found by Inspector General Olmstead
was the fact that more than one
member showed evidence of having
been drinking on the night of in
spection. No man will be admitted
into the new company who is not pro-
vided with a certificate of character
which cannot be questioned.
The state board of control expects
to devote its energies to bringing
about the change of the Anamosa
penitentiary to reform school mod
eled after that of Elmira, n. Y. Judge
Robinson, in discussing the proposed
change, said:
The plan is in line with the theory
of today that criminals should be re-
formed rather than punished. 1t is
proposed to admit to the Anamosa in
stitution only criminals between the
ages of 16 and 80 years, and those sem
fenced to more than one year. The in
mates are to be given their freedom
at as early time as is consistent
with their good conduct. Their re-
Sc, 40 l,n ~, ln IF
role and after they have maintained
their good conduct for "a stated
period. their release is made perman-
ent. The records of the IGlmira insti-
tute, which is conducted in this fash
ion, show that so per cent of those
released on parole lead reformed
lives. The Anamosa penitentiary has
now about $50 inmates. The changes
in system would not necessitate the
construction of additional buildings,
but only new classification of in
mates"
The board is also figuring on the
establishment of q state COLONY for
ep:leptics. There are 200 epileptic pa
tients in the institute for feeble mind
ed at Glenwood, and about 500 in all
of the state Institutions. The epilep-
tic patient requires special treat
ment. What is good for other insane
patients is not beneficial for the cpl
leptic. He requires more exercise
and a different diet. Colonies for cpl
1eptics are being established in many
states, and they are recognized as the
best means of treating this class of
patients. The state board of control
believes the time has come for Iowa
to take this step, and will use it's in
fuence with the Legislature in this
An order has been made by the
war department and sent to the adj
jutant general of state troops which
is the first appraisement had OF a
change in the manner of apportioning
the funds to the various states. The
order is in the nature of a request
that the state military authorities
furnish to the war department the
entire number of officers and enlist
ed men in the guard and upon this
list the apportionment of the mill
tary funds will be made instead of in
with the number of con-
cressional districts. Iowa has had
in the past about the sum of S11 900
for the support of the guard which
was made on the basis
of the 100000 military appropriation.
The increase Of this appropriation
by congress to one million will make
Iowa's share about $27 900, which
sum will be sufficient to fully equip
the guard for the first time since
the state has had military organ
liza ton.
Jesse Hammond, Des Moines cigar
dealer, has been indicted by the
grand jury on a charge of gambling
and maintaining a gamtlin:: house.
The Indictment against Hammond is
traceable to the efforts of
Justice iris, who started crusade
against the slot machine early in
March. A number of other indict-
.nents have been returned against
other cigar dealers who continued
the operatio of machine gambling