Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-25
Will R[COAAF Nd
PENAL REFORMS
Committee Appointed to In
vestigate Fayors Indeter-
inmate Sentence Plan
REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
Large Number of the District Judges
Are Said to Favor the Change in
the Law-Wisconsin and Iowa PoIit-
ical Conditions Compared = keokuk
Doctors critised.
,laecial to Times Republican.

0OCIOTS AIIStSSQs
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Nov 25.-The indeter-
inmate sentence law is to be recon-
nlended to the legislature by the legis-
lative committee appointed at the last
session to investigate the indeternin-
ate sentence and the Elmira reforma-
tory system. The committee, 1t is
learned, has thus far not held any
meeting to formulate its report to the
legislature but it is learned that all
three members Of the committee are
favorably disposed to the indetermin-
ate sentence idea as q result of their
the Elmira reformatory system there
is, some doubt with the chances that
the committee will not be unanimous
Nv in favor of the system. The inde-
terminate sentence law has been rec
commended by the state board OF con-
troll number of times and was recon-
mended at the last session and the
recommendation is in the report soon
to appear from the hands Of the state
printer A large number OF the dis
trict judges are said to favor the IN
determinate sentence also. The state
board of control is as anxious to have
the penitentiary prisoners divided, the
| elder ones sent to Fort Madison and
the younger OF whom there is sonp
hopes Of reformation sent to Anamosa
as they are to have the indeterminate
sentence, one of their strongest argu- {
rnents being that the reformatory and
indeterminate sentence go hand In hand
in the matter of prison reform and
further that the change could be made
with practically no additional expense
the only thing being needed being g
law authorizing the division OF the
prisoners and small appropriation
for hiring teachers for the reforma-
tory
There has been some disposition for
some time to draw a parallel between
conditions in Wisconsin and Iowa In
the fights of LaFollette and Cunlmins
for the interest of the people against
the corporations and one Of the con-
tentions now by those who wish Gov
e.rnor' Cummins to take the field
against Capt. ]. A. T. Hull for the po-
sition in congress is based on this al
legged parallel. tits claimed that Gov
e.rnor LaFollette, If he goes to the sen
ate now will go with somewhat less
prestige and with less flying colors
than he would have done had he gone
10 the senate before his last campaign
In the last campaign in Wisconsin, II
will be remembered there was a des-
perate fight and the aid of the courts
was invoked by LaFollette men to get
the ballots Strengthened out. Making
the comparison with Iowa conditions
1t is claimed that should Governor
Cummins be a candidate for third
term and his majorities in the count OF
rhe vote be shown to be any less 1t
would mean loss of prestige for him
and an election either to the senate or
house at Washington following such
an election would not counteract the
effect. But to defeat Captain Hull
would mean that he would step at
once into greater national promin-
ence AS matter OF fact there are
interests in the case that are more or
less in conflict. Undoubtedly a great
many of the governors friends out
through the state would like to have
him governor for third term as 1t
will mean much to them and undouIbt-
edly there are great many anti-Hull
men in Polk county and the Seventh
district who would like to have the
Governor defeat Hull for the reason
that it would mean much to them.
James Martin of Sac county was
committed TO the penitentiary at Ana
lnosa and died before his record could
be taken. The report is that he was
committed Oct. 1S for breaking ard en-
tering and sentenced to two and a half
years. He seems to have been taken
.siok and died the next day after ne
entered the penitentiary.
An additional report from the school
for the feeble minded at Glenwood Is
10 the effect that one OF the assistants
;pt the school has died from the diph-
liberia. There are still no new cases,
however. There have now been two
deaths.
It is learned that George w. Swords
If Iowa City has about completed all
the work of winding up the affairs of
the Grinnell National bank and has
been notified by the comptroller of the
currency of his appointment to take
charge of bank at Mfnot, N. D., az
receiver, national bank there having
gone by the wall. Mr.. Swords is a
lawyer.
According to DR.. ]. +. Kennedy,
secretary OF the state board of health
there Is one city In the state for which
the records show no births thus far
during the year 1905. That city Is
Keokuk. Till within the last few days
there were no reports of births or
deaths from Dubuque. The serious
ness of the ommission and failure to