Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-12

SlNtV-eight TO complete citizenship up
on showing of worthiness. 1 hav
not done this, however. in any cas-
save one or two exceptional instances
until the period for which the sentenc
Was imposed had passed. and general.
not until a considerable time there
after
Having thus stated the Essential
facts. l desire to consider. molpent
the general subject of paroles. TIL
rule by which have been guided in thu
main, IS this: Ii prisoner could SHOW
a good life prior 10 the commission
of the oifense, and the circumstance:
indicated that the crime was what may
be termed an accidental, incidental ana
solitary one. ana did not proceed from
a criminal habit. and if upon full in
vestigation there seemed to be prob
ability of reform and a law abiding
life, have inclined toward giving such
| a prisoner chance 70 become re-
| spectacle, supporting member of
| society. Ny experience has deepened
my conviction that the parole system
ought to be preserved. but in SO saying,
am conscious that 1t ought to be per-
| fected.
Assuming that the discretion. which
must be reposed somewhere. is prop
ery exercised the system has one SER
| ious defect. Whenever prisoner is
| paroled. there is an interference with
| the judgment of the court. The power
of the governor overrides the sentence
of thee judge. There is thus created q
| conflict which unhappily tends to inn
pair the confidence of the people in the
administration of criminal law and be-
gets a feeling that the sentence of a
Judge is not TO be feared. A philoso-
phical analysis of the exercise of the
two powers removes any such apparent
collision. but the people reason upon
broad lines, and know that the SEN
iimen;. which l have endeavored to
express, exists. L; seems to me that
this apparent antagonishm should be
removed. believe that the parole
should be consistent with the eSecu-
ton of the sentence imposed by the
court, indeed, should carry out the
sentence. To accomplish this. 1t is
evident that some phase of the plan.
of indetermnate sentences should be
adopted, and earnestly hope that you
will. give the. subject the attention
that it's Importance demands. and so
amend our law that prisoner may
be paroled without seeming TO strike
down the Judgment of the court which
imposed the sentence.
do not believe that board of par
dons is necessary. So long as the gov
ernor is required under the constitu-
ton TO take the responsibility for the
release of prisoners. think the fnves-
tigation which precedes the parole can
be carried forward in the governors
office as we'll as anywhere else. ana
concur With my distinguished prede-
cessor in saving that the rule can be
formulated TO govern the discretion
which must in the very nature of
things be exercised
The governor should be authorized
TO employ one or two additional agents.
The critical time for paroled prisoner
is the period which Immediately fol-
lows his release. have made 1t rule
not to discharge anyone unless know
that employment of proper character is
at hand. very much need one or two
persons to assist in securing work foi
prisoners who are without friends; and
to watch over them and lend a help
ing hand until they are fairly estae-
lished among their fellow men. With
these additions to my force. and until
the present population grows much
larger than 1t is, the work can be done
as efficiently in my office as thru a
board of pardons.
Touching the same general subject !
beg TO call your attention to the move
ment which is now general turnout the
country to better care for the boys and
girls who are led into crime. There
ought to be marked difference be-
tween the treatment given to the ma
lure ana the immature criminal. BY
far the, greater number of the boys
md girls who are arrested and con-
,ic,ed could be saved from lives of
doing, IL intelligent and merci-
.ul supervision We're exercised at the
line they first violate the law. 1t is
,ruel to them and hurtful to the state
% consisn them to the association OF
hardened and habitual law breakers.
There Ia no subject which better
deserves your careful thought than
his.
The inebriate Law.
The report of the board of control
the operation of the law for
he care and confinement OF inebriates,
,assed by the 29th general assem-
,ly merits your most serious consid-
ration. Being charged with duties in
he enforcement of the statute, l have
iven to 1t and to Its results most
areful thought and investigation.
elieve that 1.-The general principle of the
aw should be preserved, for It's in
uence upon men given to habits of
but who fear the humili-
ton of confinement; but say without
esitation that II 1t can not be amend
d it should be repealed. The plan
( sending inebriates to insane hospt-
ais is bad, not only for inebriates. but
Or the insane. This is the unanimous
pinion OF the board OF control. OF all
ne superintendent of the hospitals.
nd have seen enough Of its Ill effects
, lead me into an earnest appeal to
rovide some other place OF deten-
on.
1 believe further that the minimum
arm OF confinement should be one year.
o me II Is absurd to declare that any
erson who Is in such condition IS toll
arrant this withdrawal from the COM
lunity on the ground OF inebriety can .
g cured in so days.
I believe, further, that when physi-
lilly able inebriates in confinement
lould be given an opportunity TO work
nd be required to do so. 1t is clear
lat wherever they are confined theyj :
lould be no guarded, either by walls :
-aftapdantS that they can NOT