Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1902-01-17

executive council to assess railroads an
the aS assessment sns o Of ali other property in
July following. 1t does not contemplate a
eyson Ct ts VIII
| March, 1890, the railroads were assessed at
previous year, but in July following 1t was
found that real estate had been assessed
$22 go oo0 less than two years before or IN
sessed $2,5OO,OOO higher thar In 1890, ~
July 1t was found that real estate had been
The Twenty eighth general assembly pro
yided Tor the employment Of parole c ,l.,l,
IN the Office q the chief e1ecntiys; rms ms
prevail Of the policy which has grown mp In
the state OF granting conditional pardons;
have been able to Investigate to some eS-
tent the practical workings OF the parole
During the ten years prior to the COM
mencement Of my Administrations, In add.
tion to full pardons and communications Of
conditionally, most Of them IN the very re-
cent past. OF this number eight had been
returned under and h rave hasn
investigated, and their whereabouts, their
conduct, and their standing, have been care
isfactory reports have been received from a
ffty-three, and to these have granted Iuli
and unconditional pardon and restoration rest, lon
others were committed has not yet expired.
Eleven are dead or insane. Only meager
were secured from thirteen. Unsatisfa Glory
reports were received from fourteen. have
been unable to locate or get any f repE1nw
vicious lives. The reports received from
been granted were most gratifying. Several
wrote using lettcr-heads that bore their
names: Others were holding responsible and
houses and industrial corporations. One
was the incumbent Of an Official position Of
city cise Of nq more than 1oo 600
Many were reported to have become in
dustriouss citizens. and to have W. won the the
full confidence and esteem OF the COM
munities in which they reside.
Very few pardons and less commute tons
of sentence have been granted during the
past biennium; but, encouraged by the &C
ton of the legislature, ! have been quite
liberal In granting paroles; ana nave re
leased 2ol on conditions more or reSs heen
has been uron condition that; the recipient
evenings at home, absent himself from all
places where Intoxicating liquors are SOLD
or kept for sale, and report every fhi ang
| have a number Of benevolently, disposed
others. watch the conduct of paroled prison
ers and report their conduct to TINS ONCE
The result in most instances mas peeh very
able reports have been received from thirty
one, and they have been returned to serve
out the expired portions OF ths fto sentences ar
is unknown. Most Of these had but rev
months of their terms remaining. and they
lions imposed and the system Of survcil-
lance inaugurated might have helpful In
huence. The remaining l55 are dong t fia
s sSms 0t to t be thrown
could be written that would be as interest
ii in some Of these lives. have extended
terms t ns' would have expired, and Who have
acquitted themselves creditably 1t mas NOT
been % to-
a career of vice. but to sift out such as
appear to have been in sense accidental entail
innocent OF the crimes charged. A detailed
list. giving names of all persons to whom
y reasons Therefor is this day submit tied
to your honorable body as provided ~
statute. refer to the subject here as pre-,
re minany iee think additional egs
lation should be had, but l do not favor
the Parole system with
should have absolute Authority to release
at pleasure any one charged Wit with a less
and to return him to the pcnitentiary at his
discretion. The statutory provisions for
shortening the term because Of good good con on
governor to declare the same forfeited IN
case. the conduct Of the prisoner when 90, on
tinct from all others, and no plan can be
formulated with sufficient elasticity to meet
the requirements Of changed and ever
visions as distinguished from free exercise
Of an unrestrained discretion, 1t Is as easy
as-'for those of honorable and virtuous III
stncts. l have paroled several before they
have ever seen the pcnitentlary: ms !
have not done, however, except upon the
recommendation Of the trial judge and the
county attorney who prosecuted. There are
two quite distinct classes of criminals; the
one deliberately and permanently vicious.
the other to some extent the creature OF
circumstances, and no law can be made
don board to discriminate wisely. Mistakes
will be made at best. but on the whole J
ele in the haTe
turned several to the penitentiarE because
their early education was neglected; They
had never been taught to work, and when
released would not seek or accept employ
ment. They are now in the tool factory at
Fort Madison acquiring what they should
have been taught in youth.
The Investigations made by the bureau
of labor statistics during the last bennium
are of great Importance, and the report will
he found interesting and valuable. More
than 500 factories were inspected and the
facts ascertained and reported lead to the
needed provision FOR the inspection Of the
nearly 1900 other factories in the cities
sens The sanitary conditions of many Of
the factories examined is we'll nigh alarm
ing; and, think demand consideration by
this general assembly. The department
should be clothed with authority as ample
rs the mine inspectors. and 1t should be
made incumbent upon the commissioned TO
rrotect employees from Inadequate. heat and
dangerous machinery, and to enforce adc7
quate fre-escupes and wholesome sanitary
conditions.
The report shows that large number OF
children, some young as ten years Of
owa, and the faces Of many of them tell
n sad story Of overwork and over hours
The statutes OF this state already prohibit
tic employment of children under Ger
tain age In coal mines. Why not extend
restrictions MS to their employment in
hours is beneficial and therefore do not
object SO much to the fNct Of child labor
~, To 4 aud lucl ton. There