The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-05
OPEN SENTENCES
FOR ALL CRIMES
Warden VOTERS Report Advo-
Gates Indeterminate Sentences
-. ~ for All Except Murderers.

Saltwater, Mimi, Oct. 5 In his bien-
NAL report Of the state prison, Warden
Wolfer takes another step in advocat-
ing prison reform. He says the parole
and grading system has proved success
full in the twelve years Of it's operation,
and that it may with added experience
be one Of the most substantial modern
movements in prison reform. But he
declares that it is doubtful if the pa
efficiency until all violators of law,
murderers excepted,' are committed to
prison on the plan that insane people
are committed to an insane asylum,
until cured or until it is proved that
they are reformed and fit to 90 at largo.
He favors a careful investigation by
competent judges before criminal
shall be turned free, no matter what
his crime may be, that meaning an in
discriminate sentence for all classes Of
crime except murder. ,
The warden observes that when the
time does come for Minnesota to act
the cooperation Of the judiciary will
be necessary.
Increase Of AZ Per Cent.
The report shows that the highest
population at the prison the past wear
was 729, and that there are 70 life pris-
oners. The increase at the prison has
been At per cent in the last ten years,
and at the same ratio the increase in
ten years more will number over 1000.
>, The report on the Irvine plant shows
that in the last two years the state has
made net profit of $409, 452.s7 and the
farmers of the state have benefited to
the extent of $734,973.45, making
total Of 81 IA ,426.32 in two years. The
Irvine sold in two. years amounted to
24,499,115 pounds and value $780,
194.OS..
For the last two years the net earn
ings of the prison above operating ex-
penses were 371,0S0.04. ;: It is also
stated in the report that the supply Of
Irvine is not equal to the demand, altho
the factory has been operated to the
maximum capacity, and during the last
month of this season the factory was
operated three hours overtime daily to
fill pressing orders.
mends that the legislature make provi-
sion for allowing the proper authority
to sell Irvine outside Of the state limits
at certain periods if in the Judgment
of the authorities it may be deemed
necessary on account Of the threatened
future competition Of the manufacture
Of flax Irvine at the factory at Hazel
Park, near St. Paul. This is recon-
mended as possibility of using the
plan as a protection, the opinion being
expressed by the warden that with the
law so amended there will never be oc-
caslon to apply the alternative of SELL
ing beyond the limits of the state.
TO Enlarge Irvine Plant.
An enlargement of the Irvine plant to
meet the needs Of Minnesota farmers
is recommended.
The features Of the night school, the
chatauqua, the. entertainments, the
prison band and orchestra and the use
of flowers grown in the greenhouses of
the prison are mentioned as being ef-
fcient in helping the prison diseipline.
The board of control heard fourteen
new applications for parole, four old
cases., and granted six paroles. There
were -four applications for discharge
and one granted, and seven other pris-.
oners were heard on various matters,
such as asking that good time be re-
stored. r. ,-'' -" [G%:: H$g =
The receipts on !. account Of. binder
Irvine sales for September amounted to
$4,5O2, and the miscellaneous receipts
were $10,489. This latter sum included
81 ,1O6.5O as fees Of visitors, much the
largest month in the history Of the pris-
on, due largely to state fair week. 9th
er items of miscellaneous receipts were
$2,991 for convict labor in the Irvine
factory, $4,504 for shoe factory and
$594.98 for boarding United States
prisoners. 8