Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-27
A R[EORNA|ORY Bill
Senator Garst Proposes to Make
a Reformatory of State Pris-
on at Anamosa
is FOR YOUNGER PRISONERS
Demoera. Proposes to Give Merriam
a Public Hearins-BilI introduced to
Require Country Districts to Pay
Tuition in Town Schools For All
Children Who Elect to Attend.
is FOR YOUNGER PRISONERS

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Jan. 27.-The lesisla-
ture opened with members in amiabie
mood and the disposition is to get down
TO good work Among the bills pre-
sented on the first day were two by
Senator Garst that will open UP
field for much discussion during the
session. These are the bills for the
indeterminate sentence and the re-
formatory system for men. Similar
bills received consideration at the
hands OF the legislature two years ago
and both failed largely because OK
mismanagement in the handling OF
them and because some of the old To-
gies In the legislature who are incap-
able OF comprehending that the world
is moving combined to defeat all fo.-
ward movcment in the matter OF Grim
inal law and custom. But this yea:
the reformatory idea and It's correla-
tive Of the indeterminate sentence re-
ceived emphatic commendation at the
hands Of Gov. Cummns In his message
and this has opened the way for
better consideration OF the whole sub
ject The bill introduced by Senator
Garst would change the penitentiary q.
Anamosa into reformatory for men.
1t would be run on lines similar 20
the celebrated New York refornatory
at Elmira, which has been the model
for 80 many others and which has been
advertised around the world as the most
successful effort of that kind ever un-
dertaken. The reformatory would pe
placed to a very great extent under the
direction Of the state board OF con-
troll. That board would select the su-
perintendent as II does now the ward
en- and would prescribe the rules and
regulations much as 1t now prescribes
similar rules for the periitentlaries ana
!. the rrformatorles for boys and girls.
IS.he work to be done At this ,eforma.ory
lis stated in the bill to be as fol-
lows:
Inmates shall be given instruction
in the common school branches so far
as practicable. In morality, In good
citizenship and in such mechanical pur-
suits as shall best. physically and 9th
erwise, develop and fit such inmates
TO become good citizens and obtain
for themselves a livelihood upon their
discharge from such reformatory, and
may also be instructed and exercised
in military tactics"
The persons to be sent to this re-
formatory are men under 80 years Of
age. and OF course over the age when
they may be sent to the present estab-
lished reformatories. An exception IS
made of men who have been convicted
OF murder even as there is an excep-
tion In the case of a boy who has been
convicted Of murder. For all who are
eligible to this reformatory the SEN
tence shall be by the court TO the re-
formatory without any mention OF the
time. The person so sentenced will
be subject to the regulations as to
discharge and parole from such re-
formatory. BY adhering to certain
rules a convict will be able to effect
his release from the reformatory. I'm
less he conforms to these rules AMI
reforms ne may remain there indefinite
ly. A state agent may be employed 20
look after the paroled persons. The
young prisoners are to be transferred
to Anamosa from Fort Madison and
vice versa. An appropriation is made
to effect the transfer.
The bill is not in accordance with
the recommendations OF Gov. Cummins
as to paroles from the prisons. It
will be recalled that the governor mild
ly opposed anything that would take
the parole work out Of his office. The
objection has always been made to ev-
cry bill creating board OF pnrdons d
lodging paroles in some other boiv
than the chief executive. that It 8
contrary to the constitution. But the
method indicated In the bill is followed
in many states and Is found to be legal.
Members believe that the views OF the
governor are subject to modification
and that IL good parole and inds-
terminate law can be made then he
will sign II readily. for he Is thorough
ly committed to the indeterminate SEN
tence plan Two years ago old law
yers rfdiculed the whole scheme of 81
reformatory as one intended to make a
soft place for the hardened criminals
Of the state. They proceeded on the
theory that criminals are all alike and
that reform is not one OF the objects
of the state You are going to make
OF the Anamosa Institution a sort of
academy or college" they declared.
"and give to these scoundrels bet
ter opportunity for education than YOU
give to the boys and girls who are OF
normal minds" And that argument had
a good deal OF weight with men. SEN
ator Garst is, however. power In tn.
senate. and his championing OF the
whole movement for a reform of the
penal code of the state in accordance
with the recommendation OF the board
II control and the governor OF the state,
will go long way toward silencing
he captious opposition OF the critics
who had their own way two years ago
senator Ciarst is quite confident that
something will be done this year alonG
his line.
The measure for enlarging the work
Il the high schools Of the state which
,as been. worked out and formulated
" Alice Walton Walton Beatty, the
advanced thinker and reformer OF