Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-01-23
FOR A REFOR MATORY
Senator j. M. Emmert to Introduce
a Bill.
WILL START THE BALL THIS WEEK

The Measure viii Be Modelled Along
the Lines Suggested by the State
Board of Contro--Some of the De-
tails.
Des Moines, Jan. Ex-senator J. M.
Emmert of Cass county will father the
bill for the establishment OF state
reformatory for men in Iowa and will
introduce measure into the legisla-
ture some time this week. Senator
Emmert introduced similar bill into
the last general assembly, but SO late
in the session that there was not time
for proper consideration and it never
came to vote The bill which will go
before the legislature this year will
differ in some respects from that OF
two years ago. 1t will be modelled
along the line Of the recommendations
made by the board of control in its re-
cent biennial report, and the general
impression among members of the as
sembly is that it will become a law.
The author OF the bill spent some
time today in the Office of the state
board of control, going over the first
draft of the measure. In speaking OF
the bill, he explained that one of the
changes from the measure proposed
two years ago was that pertaining to
the age limit at which prisoners will
be admitted to the reformatory. In
stead of from 16 to 35 years, as provid-
ed in the measure two years ago, the
maximum limit will be 81 years. In
stead of excluding from the reforma-
tory all persons convicted of burglary,
wrecking OF attempted wrecking of
railway trains and murder, the latter
crime will be the only thing to debar
convicts between the ages of is and
81 years from enjoying the privileges
of the reformatory institution.
The plan is to convert the present
penitentiary at Anamosa into reform
atory to erect additional buildings, in
| Guiding a school building and work
shop or shops, where mechanic arts
are to be taught along the common
school studies and higher branches,
with view to both moral and physic-
al development. The measure carries
an appropriation Of $50 900. with which
to erect the proposed buildings and
carry out the provisions of the act.
The measure provides that all con
victs at Anamosa, aside from those
who come under the provisions of the
act, shall be transferred to the peni-
Tertiary at Eft. Madison. 1t gives the
board Of control authority to remove
there at any time those young prison
ers who become incorrigible for any
reason. At present the insane ward
the department for women convicts
and the reformatory for women are tc
remain in connection with the institu
ton at Apamosa The laws governing
the maintenance OF other institution!
! are to apply to the new reformatory
and the state board of control is auth
: oriZed to prepare plans and cree
buildings as soon as the act become!
law.
) One of the most important provi
: sions in the act is the one providing
that the state board of control shall fl!
2 the time limit of the sentences of al
j persons sent to this institution. Upol
the opening of the reformatory all dis
t trict judges are to be notified, ant
$ therefore all persons under age OF 81
!. who have not previously been imprls
Y oned in the penitentiary, convicted o
2 any crime less than murder, are to b
sentenced to Anamosa without speci
|. fication of time, leaving the board G
2 control complete discretion in the maj
e ter. The bill provides that the boar
e shall terminate the sentence at an
II time it sees fit. but it shall not excee
S the maximum sentence fixed by law
d If convicts are removed to Ft. Mad
e son for incorrigibility, they shall b
r confined there the remainder of tn
s maximum term fixed by by law for tn
h crime in question.
e Provision is made at length for tn
L pardoning of prisoners confined in tn
: reformatory. The board is to estal
~ lish rules and regulations GOVERN
the parole of convicts in the reform
: tory enclosure. No person is to /
: u paroled outside of this enclosure wit
!. out the assurance of six months Ell
: ployment in advance. Then a repo
- is to be made to the proper authorize
. every thirty days for the first 81
y months. For violation of the tern
% of a parole the prisoner shall be a
. rested returned and confined as lor
~ as the board says. The superinten
" ent of the reformatory will be requ
. ed to keep in touch with paroled pr
:, oners and certify as to their good b
y; u, havior at the close of the first S
~ months, when the board may make t
30 parole permanent.
y When the new law goes into effe
- the board of control is to appoint
- general superintendent, who shall a
- point chaplain, physician and SUI
~ assistants, teachers, guards and 9th
- employees as the board shall deem NJ
~ essary and shall fix the salaries of t
- same. The present warden and o.
- GERS at Anamosa penitentiary sh
~ continue as the officers of the new
a. stitution until the board is to ma
~ rules and regulations governing t
institution as it has done in the ca
of all other institutions.
In the transfer of convicts betwe
the two present penitentiarieS, no