The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-01-08
PRIVATE CHARITIES.

PRIVATE CHARITIES.
There are fourteen private institutions
in the state, engaged wholly or partly
in charitable work, receiving aid in the
way of appropriations. The last legis-
lature made an appropriation of 500 to
each of them. for each of the fiscal
years ending June 3d. 1900 and 1901. The
average number of persons cared for
yearly in these Institutions is about l 900
and ranges all the way from nine, in the
Old Ladies Rest, to 420, in the Rescue
from nine, in the Old Ladies' Rest. to
more than 1000, in St. Margaret's hos
pital.
Some of these Institutions receive and
care for INDECENT persons without
charge others make a charge for all
who enter. Their purposes have 2 wide
range. from provisions for the care of
abandoned and neglected children, to
are doing much good, and the efforts of
these engaged in the work of conducting
them are actuated by sentiments of
charity and humanity.
Some of these institutions are wholly
charitable. others only partly so; some
care for many, others for feW-and it is
hardly equitable that they all should re-
ceive a like assistance from the state
They are worthy objects of aid, but it
should not be given Unfortunately
and in cases where aid is given it might
be we'll to require the recipients to make
annual reports to the board of charities
PENITENTIARY.
The number now confined in this in
stitution is OPS. 236 of whom are from
the Territory of Oklahoma and five are
United States prisoners, leaving the
number committed to the institution by
the courts of our own state, 7S4
The last legislature made provision
for the construction of a plant for the
manufacture of binding Irvine at the
penitentiary. This business was en-
tirely new, both to the warden and the
board of directors of that institution
and by reason of their lack of knowledge
the purchase Of raw material, it's manu-
facture into the finished product, and it's
distribution among the consumers Of
binding Irvine was attended with con-
siderable EN- barrasSment. NotWith-
standing such embarrassment, a reason
able degree of success attended the en-
terprise and the sale of the manufac-
tured product now on hand, at consid-
erably less than the present market
price would leave the revolving fund
unimpaired and enable US to continue
the manufacture of the product for an
other year with the advantage of one
years experience. 1t can hardly be said,
however, that the enterprise is beyond
the stage of experiment, and it remains
to be seen whether the state can sue
cessfully embark in a business of that
character. The board of directors and
warden are of the opinion that the eS-
adjustment of the binding Irvine plant
at Lansing has already resulted, and
will continue to result in supplying the
Kansas consumers with binding twine
at a much lower rate than they could
have obtained it without the estab lish-
ment of that industry.
In his report the warden suggests that
his duties in the management of the
prison require his entire time, and he
should not be burdened with business
responsibilities. The board of directors
recommend that the Irvine plant be
placed under a separate management,
with a capable superintendent in charge.
AS the state has invested nearly $780,
600 in the Irvine plant, these suggestions
of the warden and board ought to be
considered, with a view of placing the
management of binding Irvine under the
control of a superintendent, who could
devote his entire time to that depart
ment-
ment of the penitentiary on the LIST of
July, 1899, and soon thereafter it was
discovered that the coal shaft was in
bad condition, endangering the safety
and lives of those working in the mines.
Attention was called to the fact, and the
state mine inspector was requested to
make an examination of the shaft and
report it's condition He at once made
an examination. reporting that the
shaft could not be used without endan-
gering the safety and lives of those en-
gagged in the operation of the mines,
condemned the shaft, and recommended
that measures be taken to render it
secure. This involved recasing and re-
timbering the shaft. No provision haV-
pose, the executive council procured
loan sufficient to do the work, the cost
of which is fully set out in the report
of the warden. An appropriation will
be necessary to meet the cost of these
improvements
PARDoNs.
AT the last session of the legislature,
I requested that the law creating the
board Of pardons be repealed For some
reason this suggestion was not acted
upon: After an investigation. I was
convinced that the whole system of is
suing pardons had grown into a fragrant
abuse, and I declined to appoint mem
bers Of the board of pardOns. Two years
of trial has satisfied me that this power
can be more safely lodged with the ex
ecutive than a board of pardOns, and
now repeat my recommendation that
the law creating the board of pardonS be
repealed.
I suggested to the last legislature the
passage of a law establishing a parole
system at the penitentiary. The 1egis-
lature failed to act upon this suggestion.
After the adjournment of the legislature
an examination of the statute relating
to pardons convinced me that the execu-
tive might do something in this direc-
ton under the existing law The statute
provides that the governor may pardon
any person convicted in any court of
this state of any OffenSe against any
law thereof, upon such terms and con-
ditions as he may prescribe in the par
DON. The only question of doubt that
existed, was, as to the power of the -ex-
ecutive to recomrnit a person in case of
a breach of such conditions as might be
prescribed in the pardon. On the 26th
of May, 1899, the first conditional par
don was issued. The conditions pre-
scrfbed in these pardons are: First,
that during the remainder of his term
of sentence, the person pardoned shall
not frequent OF loiter around gambling
rooms or places where Intoxicating
liquors are sold: second, that he viii not
use Intoxicating liquors as beverage;
third, that he shall use all proper exer-
ton to obtain honorable employment,
and support those dependent upon him;
fourth, that he shall not commit any Of
Tense against the criminal laws of the
state; fifth. that he shall report to the