The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1901-01-12

well OF the state, Provision ought to
be made for the care of crippled depen-
dent children, who. II admitted to the
Coldwater institution, might stand a
chance In life, while under the pres
ent law they are left to the democrat
izing influences Of the county house.
The Common school system.
In the common schools large ma
jority of the children are trained for
life's service. There are 100000 pu-
pills enumerated, and over one-half
million of them receive instruction In
the schools each year. The facilities
for giving to this generation the best
teachers possible should be strength
ened. The state normal schools, which
are now doing so much for the prepar-
alton of teachers, have not as yet been
able to supply all the demands made
upon them. Out of the 10000 persons
annually employed as teachers, fully
one-fifth leave the ranks each year to
engage In other pursuits, and the de-
| mand thus created Is not as yet suffi-
GENTLY met by the normal training ia
cilities already provided. The legisla-
ture should carefully consider such
recommendations made by the state
board of education as are intended to
aid school district officers to place in
the school rooms of the state, teachers
who are worthy to shape the destinies
Of the youth.
Prison for Women.
Your attention Is called to the sub
! ject Of state prison for women.
, There Is need Of prison or reforma-
tory for the care of the incorrigibles
whose presence in the Industrial home
! for girls exerts an injurious influence
/ upon others not so far advanced in the
/ ways Of wickedness If the incorrig-
ibles, could be cared for elsewhere,
there is ground for belief that the in
fiuence of the home in a reformatory
way would be materially improved.
| Additional argument for the establish
ment of the proposed institution may
be found in the fact that the state
now farms out the care Of women SEN
| fenced for violation of the criminal
laws. The proposition to establish a
prison for women Is worthy Of atten-
ton, because through favorable ac-
! tion the state will be taking n step in
the direction of further coping with
crime.
All things being equal, state institu-
tions should be required to purchase
their supplies in Michigan.
Supervising Architect
The ACCESSIBILITY of creating the Of
flee Of supervising architect Is sumbit-
ted in the belief that it will be bust
ness investment on the part of the
state which the circumstances will
warrant This officer should have con-
troll of the preparation of plans for
new state buildings and for all repairs
| and improvements. The state is grow
ing. and the needs Of its public instl-
buttons are keeping pace with the in
crease in population.
Fire Warden System.
There Is great merit in the PROPOSE
ton that the legislature should enact
law creating state fire warden sys-
TEN, seeking through such legislation
to prevent in part at least the enor-
nous destruction Of property annual
ly recorded for Michigan. If there is
merit in the saying that penny saved
Is penny earned, then there Is rea-
son for legislation which Is intended
to prevent the loss Of wealth to the
state. 1t is argued that an efficient
system of state supervision will aid In
keeping fire insurance rates at the min
mum.
The Forestry Problem.
Believing that Michigan cannot af-
ford to lose its numbering industry,
advise the legislature to give careful
attention to the work Of the forestry
commission, and enact whatever legis-
lation may be needed to bring about
the most beneficial results. The gen.
eral idea has been to take steps for
growing timber on abandoned tax
lands, now relatively worthless. 1t Is
of the utmost Importance, before
Michigan takes hold of the problem
of reforestation upon her lands, that
she have unquestionable title to them.
New York seems to have solved this
part of the problem effectually and sat
isfactorily. The commission will rec
ommend similar action with regard to
Michigan state tax lands. 1t will also
suggest methods of strengthening fire
and trespass laws, and will ask for
more authority in connection with
these two last important features of
the forest problem. The state is in
need of a distinct forest policy, and
this means the providing of the neces-
sary funds for Initiating and carrying
it out. There is no more important
problem before the state today, look
ing toward the future of the common
wealth, than the one the Michigan
forestry commission has been asked to
assist in solving.
Changes I'm Penal Laws.
The report of the state board of cor
Nrections and charities, dealing with
recommendation for changes in the
penal laws, Is worthy of especial con-
sideration The conclusion is inevita-
BILE that under the present laws scores
of convicts are annually discharged
from prison before there is any rea-
sonable evidence they are again fitted
to mingle in society. Under the SUI
preme court ruling 1t is institution
al to impose indeterminate sentences,
as was attempted under law enacted
l'y the legislature Of 1889. The con-
stitution should be amended. to permit
the rc-enactment of that law. The
legislature may profitably give its at
tention to the question of providing
for what may properly be called pa
role before sentence" system in use
inssome states, whereby first offenders
aretreleased on probation. Expert
eHce hns shown that the parole sys-