Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-30
Habitual Criminal Act Introduced
in Legislature.
TWENTY YEARS FOR PROFESSIONALS
Provisions of the Act Introduced by
Carroll County Man-Drected More
Especially Against Bank Burglars
To Abolish Days of Grace.
Des Moines Bureau of the Courier.
Des MOineS Ian %.

uSS6 lS6iSidlOIS are, dlIGT dll, u
common clay. Mondays work is to
them apparently as distasteful as to
the person who finds his Sunday rest,
or unrest, has somewhat broken the
routine, and who takes up his inter-
rupted task with reluctance. The ad-
journed session from Saturday was re-
sumed yesterday afternoon to the min
ute by the presiding officers in both
bodies, yet there We're many vacant
seats and some stragglers. But
trains were late and travelling difficult
which may be held accountable, in
part. The work of the present week
will also be broken by the trip to &C.
dar Falls on Thursday, to inspect the
state normal school at that point.
Feel Sorry for the Janitor.
By the way, talking of normal
schools reminds me of a good story
told of one of the senators from the
southern portion of the state. This
gentleman, who was perhaps troubled
with insomnia-at least we will call it
that-was seized upon by an enthusi-
asst who advocated the conversion of
the institution at Knoxville into nor
NAL school. The senator endured the
dlAlSIiOh pCduItlutky ultll uC Was COIl-
fronted by large picture of the build
ing and told that it was absolutely va
cant, save for the janitor. Then he
saw his opportunity, though the i'm
pact Of the idea was almost too much
for his equilibrium: You tell me,sir,
that this building is unused and unoc-
cupied?" Only by the janitor, sena-
tor" replied the advocate. "And he
the janitor-stays in that big building
all alone?" asked the inquisitive law
maker. 'He does Then, sir, l am
in favor of voting to raise the salary
of the janitor. And it having dawn
ed upon the clericaLlooking individu-
al that he had wasted his eloquence,
he went away back and sat down.
Habitual Criminal Act.
In the house yesterday Colclo, of
Carroll, introduced bill for an act
defining the crime of the commission
of crime as an occupation, and pro-
viding the penalty therefor. The first
section provides that If any person
follow habitually the commission of
the crime Of burglary, robbery, lar
ceny of money and property exceed
ing $40 in value, and forgery, or either
Of them, as defined and prohibited by
the code of Iowa forsthe purpose of oh
tanning profit or property, as an occu.
patton, the 30 doing is a felony, and
he shall be imprisoned in the peniten-
tiary for term OF not less than TWEEN
ty years. Section 2 directs that on
the trial of any person charged under
the terms of the preceding section, the
state may offer evidence tending to
| chow mi uinfiNn nf Jafa do =
of any of the crimes named in the pre-
ceding section, in any other court of
competent Jurisdiction in this or any
other state where such crime is fel
ony. If three such convictions are
shown it shall be conclusive of the
guilt of the defendant, under the terms
of this act, but the defendant is not
debarred' from showing in his defense
that he has, reformed. Section 3 pro
vides that the photograph of any pris
oner under charge of crime shall be
taken. When the past history of any
prisoner is unknown the authorities
shall procure the taking of two views
of the accused, upon the border Oh
back of which shall be recorded an &C
curate description. One copy of this
photograph and description shall be
kept on record, and one copy sent by
mail to the sheriffs of all counties and
to the chiefs of police of the chief cit
les of Iowa, and by those officials also
placed on record. Copies may also be
sent to police officials of other states
not to exceed the number of fifty, as
the officer procuring the same may
elect. Any officer in the state who
may be able to Identify the party shall
forthwith send TO- the officer holding
the prisoner as full information con
corning the past history of the culprit
as he can furnish, and the costing Of
the photograph shall be taxed as par
Of the cost of the proceedings against
the culprit. The concluding sector
provides that the act being of in,me
date Importance shall take effect ant
be i'll force from and after its publica
ton.
This lengthy synopsis is given be
cause Of the fact that the measure i:
advocated by the bankers of the stat,
it being directed especially agains
those criminals who make a business
of bank robbery and burglary. 1t i:
also of interest because it raises
constitutional question, on which
point even its trainers are not abso
lutely clear. The puzzle is whether
after man has been convicted ant
suffered penalty. he is further liable
Does the penalty suffered wipe out tn,
slate as to his offending and plac
him as before in the eyes of the law
or can he, upon the commission of /,
new offense, be confronted with hi
past sins. 1t promises to give tn
lawyers problem, and if passed vii
doubtless be tested in the courts.
To Abolish Days of Grace.
Calderwood Of Scott yesterday intro
duced a bill abolishing the days O
grace, as now used in all banking &C
J counts. The object of this, according
to it's author. is to get rid OF some
thing which is obsolete and annoying
The necessity OF computing interes
for the three days can not readily b
defended, and those most intereste
are in favor OF the adjustment.
The senate also had a constitutions
question presented yesterday aftel
noon raised over an appointment to fl
a vacancy The query was at one
raised whether the chief executive ha
power to make such appointment whel