The Delta independent., 1907-01-11

the institution. or elsewhere. for their
accommodation. II Il new hospital is
decided upon, provision should be
made for the care Of eplleptics in a
separate building.
Penitentiary and Reformatory.
improvements are needed at both
the penitentiary and reformatory. The
penitentiary is in need of an insane
ward and separate cell house for the
confinement OF prisoners afflicted with
tuberculosis.
am sure you will be satisfied with
the economical manner in which the
funds appropriated for the benefit OF
these penal institutions has been en-
pended. The officials are entitled to
commendation for the faithful and Ell.
cient manner in which they have con.
Quoted the affairs of state entrusted to
them.
Convict Labor.
A question OF grave moment is the
employment of our convicts. This
question has been discussed and con.
sidered for several years. but no con
clusion has been reached of a perma-
nent nature. The law enacted at the
last session, known as the Lewis
Road Law" has been of some effect
but 1t is not as far-reaching as it
should be. I wish it clearly understood.
however. that am not In favor of the
employment OF convicts in lines of in
dustry which will to anv great exten.
come in competition with the honest
man who is honestly endeavoring to
make a livelihood for himself and fam
lily: SO that whatever line OF occupa.
ton Is recommended must necessarily
be limited to n very few things.
Road building is most commendablc.
| believe IN making appropriations
from the internal improvement fund8
for permanent improvements such as
road building: convicts could be used
very advantageously. appropriatins
the money for the maintenance of the
prisoners while engaged on the road.
FOR the nece ssary guards. etc. In this
way great deal more road could be
built for The same money, and undoubt-
edly better roadways would be the re-
suit. or course only certain classes
OF the prisoners could be utilized in
work of this kind. There Is always Il
large number that II is necessary to
confine within the walls of the institu-
tion. | believe with small outlay mn.
chinery could be installed which would
admit OF the manufacture OF articles
that could be sold to other state insti-
tutions. Clothing and garments could
be manufactured at a nominal cost 70.
the use OF the insane asylum and boys
school. which could be purchased at Il
smaller cost than Is now being paid
for goods of perhaps inferior quality.
and at the same time leave small
margin Of profit OF the penal insti.
nj uhirh y-nuI1 uoll
In lower taxation upon the people for
the maintenance OF such Institutions.
II such a suggestions meets with the
approval OF the Legislature. the law
should be carefully framed so as not TO
admit of the possibility OF such goods
being placed on the open market.
l am unalterably opposed to the con
tract system.
Parole Officer.
The enactment OF a parole law sew
eral years ago. whereby prisoners. a;
the expiration OF the minimum sen.
tence imposed. were eligible for pa.
role, has worked very satisfactorily.
snd by Its operation the number of
prisoners in the penal institutions Is
kept down to the minimum. thus sav.
ing the state great expense.
But a great deal more good could be
accomplished by the enactment OF a
law providing for the appointment OF n
parole officer. whose duty II should be
to keep track OF the paroled prisoners.
help them secure employment and as.
sist them in every way possible to
keep the provisions OF their parole.
This official should be appointed by
the wardens OF our two institutions
and the board of penitentiary commits
sioners. and should be under their alb
sOlute control and direction. I am
heartily in favor OF the enactment OF
such n law and sincerely hope 1t will
be passed by this Legislature
] am also In favor. when prisoners
are paroled from the state peniten.
tiary. OF giving each n suit OF clothes
and nve dollars. Very often pris-
oner is paroled and leaves the prison
almost pauper. and unless he has
friends to assist him. It leaves him
with no alternative except to commi;
some crime. The state should safe
guard these people as much as pos.
sible. The added expense would not
be felt in a material degree and he
lieve in The long run would be grea;
saving.
Insurance Laws.
During the past two years the public
press has tecmed with sensat ional re
ports MS 10 tho conduct OF the great
life insurance companies with head.
quarters In the East am not pre-
pared to say to what extent these
charges may be true. but to casual
observer It would appear that the pol.
icy holders were not as fully protected
as they should be. However ! am not
inclined to view the situation with
alarm or to run to the other extreme.
believing that there is n middle course
TO pursue which will fully protect tho
insured as well as the companies
The insurance department has given
the matter OF insurance careful study
and Investigation. I am sure that