The Yale expositor., 1903-01-16

| penal institutions hns been reduced, ana
good order len the community has been
For the fiscal year ending June % last.
! the report of the attorney general or
I Michigan shows total Of ia.Ss6 cnnvic-
lions. n only 500 or about one fourth
Z 81 the convictions were those OF first
/ Offenders. and the proportion was over
/ rather than under this number. "a point
Z D. reached whereby the argument fav-
/ orlng probation can be brought home.
2 Assuming that the average sentence was
. sixty days. and that II cost the taxpay-
I ers thirty cents a day 20 support each
3 prisoner the outlay was approximately
$4,000. on the further assumption that
. each prisoner was capable % earning AZ
| least i've dollars week the direct loss
/ IN earning power was not less than t-ll.-
oOo The argument for probation. how
ever. should not rest alone upon a money
/ basis. the better enforcement 81 law and
I order and the welfare OF Foctetv heius
/ TAR greater confederation should the
/ probation system b. adopted In this state,
| To- order 20 prevent the creation % "a large
4 number 81 official positions. | suggest 10
may be- wise to place the probailoners
under the supervision 81 the county
I agents OF the State Board 81 Corrections
I and Charities. whose compensation should
I be on sliding scale. according 90 pop
| ulation
INDETERMINATE SENTENCES.
/ The last legislature In It's wisdom saw
! M To make provision for the submission
| Of an amendment Co the constitution per
I hitting intctcrminntc sentences. This
I amendment was adopted hy vote 80
! large as 90 Indicate unqualified approval.
I and legislative action n now necessary %
, give effect 10 the will OF the people
recommend that the act apply IN all Of
lenses other than those lu which life
sentences are imposed ~ general. pro,
/ vision being made that the court shall
not fix "A definite term. but shall cstah-
lish a maximum ant a minimum accord
| ing % the term fixed by law FOR the pun
ishment OF the ofrcnse ~ question that
the benefits ~ this law shall apply to all
! sentenced through oversight or otherwise
90 a definite term other than lifc; that
precise statement be made "a 10 the au-
/ thoritv 81 trial Judges to Impose Jude
I terminate sentences when the oncns"
! charged occurred prior Ia the time the
/ proposed law becomes operative. also
[ that convicts sentenced 10 other than no"
! imprisonment may b" eligible 20 parole
as soon they shall have completed
serving the minimum term imposed by
/ the trial court this eligibility being lie
! terminei under rules established by exec
utiVe authority.
Legislation is advisable declaring n ~
be an escape when paroled prisoner ~
! owed 10 leave the rtate under writi"n
/ agreement 10 return when requested %
/ do 30 by the governor, defaults ~ his
/ promise.
PRISON FOR WOMEN CoNvIrTs
] renew my recommendation 81 Two
Z years ago that the state provide prison
necessary that the state should keep
I such prisoners Ia a private Institution
I There h. need 81 a prison or retormatorN
: presence IN the Industrial Hamc Tor Girls
cNerts an Injurious Influence upon others
/ not 80 far advanced In the ways of WICK
edness. The gradual transfer 81 the state
] asylum az lonla To the west sid" 90 Grand
[ River ~ leaving available building
which can be utilized ~ place 81 de-
I tention for women. and In conjunction
Z with the Michigan reformHtory could be
. maintained az reasonable expense.
BETTER SCHOOL FACILITIES
one % the vexed subjects 81 discussion:
| especially IN th. older settled portions 81
. the state outside Of the towns and vi.
{ lagos d. that Of the Eo-callcd centralized
I school The rural school serving nearly
. half 90 the entire number OF children 81
school age IN this state. deserves the very
] careful consideration Of the legislature
. fo- the reason that It's work must u"crs-
sarily bc under difficulties greater than
. are encountered IN the cities and villages.
The aupcrinteudeuts Of public instruction
. very properly recommends the adoption
90 an alternative" plan whereby tho pro-
nl" ~ contiguous districts, consulting
. their own convenience. ma" combine &C
p their option ana substitute the centralized
Tor Tho district school Provision should
also ho made that 600 case .his plan docs
. rot prove satisfactory after t certain
iraEth ~ time the people may return
. O. the district system.
: RECORDS OF MCUtGAN SOLDIERS
NND SAILORS
Wheneve- their country has called. the
. IONS ~ Michigan have CIgcrly "rpnnlr 8
aud mlly ard br4vsiN discharges their
duty As tribute ~ honor 20 those wur
saw service lu the great ttvil War luI
.r tho more recent war Tor a." ftrnd ON
90 cuba. recommend legislation ate
tHuT.zlug thr compilation am pr utlng u.
'h" records 81 ali the officers and EN-
listed mon who frryrd iu Michigan Or
ElulgItluus durlUg the wears named or
enlisted from Michigan and r"rNrd lu
other examinations sa lar as the same
can boz obtained. and that a suitable ap-
preparation b, mad" Tor tho work
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS MOSU.
MENT
Ia obedience 20 the obligation imposed
[ upon me'by Act No. rs 90 the Public Acts
~ 1901 "A Michigan soldiers and Sailors
Monument Commission was appointed.
which was authorized by the Legislature
90 select "a suitable design Tor state
ru.iders and sailors monument 10 Dc e-e't-
"a on the Capitol grounds In Lansing
such point az the commission should d..
+ termlne. NotWithstauding that under an
opinion 81 the attorney general the COM
mission WIS not authorized o. incur any
expense Ia obtaining designs Ut mas Dee .
able through circulars eNtsn t.ely Issue I
and the personal efforts OF the membc -
90 procure "A large number OF nders -
designs After careful COnsi ltrat-on the
commission has selected design wh'ca
consists OF "A base with space Tor mem'r-
& iul hall surmOuntcd By an ohellsk or
shaft. The terrace j. slNty-four i""t eight
Inches by seventy feet eight inches and
the hall az the base line b. thlrty-uvr
feet six inches By thirty -uirc feet six
i
base line u seventeen feet eight inches
Z and at the top eight feet The height II
/ base 81 the group ON front Of the shaft !,
4 f0rty-uve feet ten inches. and the total
height % the monument from ground .
I top h. one hundred ninety-four feet Tn
design Contemplntcs a magnificent monu-
mont and one that VIII crclitably per
I petuatc the memory Of the Michigan sol
diers ard sailors who fought ana ~
/ MARTYRS who fell IN the Civil War. %"
3 Spanish a mcrican War and the campatg1
ln the Philippines The estimated cost
AnnroNimates two hundred and rfiv thou
Z sand dollars. and I recommend TINT Noi
/ give 20 the subject OF It's erection your
. most careful consideration.
FISH AND GAME PROTECTION.
n the principle Of protecting nsh aud
game during the spawning and breeding
snaaon Is 10 be upheld. and u H. appar-
emily strongly established IN the state.
no half way measures should BE- taken
For Instance. the fishermen % Michigan.
/ who observe the close season require
ncnts on the Great Lafcs should not BE-
subjected to unfair and Illegal competi-
| lion by outsiders who To- a greater or less
I degree take advantage OF tho fact that
[ the state maintains no regular patrol Of
its waters Michigan has nearly tive
. th~usnnd miles % coast Go protect and
I fhis cannot be done with the present
q g..tftflaa NJ the command % the ruma