Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1907-08-02
No More pardons BY LEGISLATURE.

for which the Iowa penal code pro-
yides penalties.
Death is the maximum penalty for
one of these-murder in the first de-
gree.
Under the indeterminate sentence
law the district judges are supposed
no longer to fix definite term of i'm
prisonment for persons convicted OF
these 100 felonies except in cases of
murder In the first degree. And I'M
der the new parole law operating
with the indeterminate sentence law,
every convict sent to Fort Madison
and Anamosa after July 4, 1907, may
be required to serve the maximum
penalty for the felony of which he
has been convicted, within the discre-
ton Of the board of parole.
There is some question as to the
powers Of the new board, If a con-
vict were given life sentence by a
district judge. There is possibility
that the new law repeats the law
relative to the submission of appli-
cation for pardon by first degree muir
derers to the legislature by the gov
ernor. 1t Is unlikely that in any
event. the governor has full power
to pardon first degree murderers
whatever the recommendation or ad-
vice OF the legislature, and 1t is con-
ceded that the governor has the
power to refuse to follow the advice
Of the legislature even after it is
taken.
This is purely a legal proposition,
however, for the governor always has
and doubtless always will follow tho
advice of the assembly in such cases,
unless it turns out that hereafter,
under the Saunders indeterminate
sentence law, 1t will not he necessary
TO submit applications for pardon to
the legislature at all. The opinion OF
the attorney general on the subject
will be taken.
Secretary B. W. Garrett of the
board OF parole has carefully examin-
ed the penal code and has prepared
tabulated list of felonies penalized
therein, together with the maximum
penalty provided in each case. This
list will be part of the forthcoming
booklet issued by the parole board
OF the 1870 felonies the maximum PEN
atty for one is death; Tor -, life i'm
prisonment; for 2, 80 years; for A.,
20 years; for Z, 20 years; for 8, 10
years: for 80, 10 years; for 46, s
years; for /, 6 years; for 8, years:
Tor 4, z years, and for the other 80
less than 5 years.
Assault with intent to commit muir
der and burning an inhabited dwell
Ing in the day time are the two
felonies taking thirty years. No
minimum Is provided. Dynamiting,
enticing a female child for prostitu-
ton, being habitual criminal, and
incest take twenty-five year maxi
mum sentences except that this is
the minimum for being an habitual
criminal
Assume that an accused person is
convicted of train robbery. The dis
trict judge, under the indeteraninate
sentence law, sentences him, not for
certain term of years, but simply
to the penttentiary, or reformatory,
ii he be under thirty years of age.
Under the rules adopted by the board
Of parole his case becomes subject
to consideration after eleven months.
He may then be paroled, at the dis
erection of the board, which has full
power. It may keep him In the peni
Tertiary or reformatory for life if II
sees At. But after he Is paroled with
in year he may be recommended tc
the governor for pardon. This Is the
whole operation Of the new system
The parole board has adopted rules to
govern convicts who are paroled
which provide that he must make
monthly report and conduct himseld
decently. And cigarettes are tabooed
by the board.
Many Teachers Fall To Pass.
Iowa school teachers no longer re.
ceive their appointments through pc.
litical influence, says Superintendent
OF Public Instruction John F. Riggs,
who has issued statement in defence
of the new method of issuing teachers
certificates.
Heretofore, Mr.. Riggs says, teach
ers have been able to get schools
when they were unable to pass the
examination for certificates.
A judicious shedding OF tears or q
convenient pull would often land un
qualified teachers in good positions
he says. The new law depriying the
county superintendent Of the right tc
Issue teachers certificates will make
tears and political influence valueless
assets as far as securing the right te
teach school is concerned, he asserts
Mr.. Riggs denies that the examina
ton questions given out last june
were any more difficult than the ques
lions provided by the state superin
tendents during the past twenty-five
years. He admits, however, tina
there have been large number o
failures and says that only 5000 cer
tificates were issued although abou
5000 teachers took the examinations
Among those who failed to secure
certificate was Mrs. Jennie Steele
Huegle, superintendent of the Poll
county schools.
iowa Societies Oppose New Law.
The Iowa Fraternal congress, whic
will be in session in this city in Sci
TENDER, will adopt resolutions agains
the fraternal insurance law whc
provides for certain fixed rate t
govern all fraternal societies of low;
The rate comes from the Nations
Fraternal congress and the Iowa fir;
ternities say that 1t does not appl
Justly in this state.
The fraternities do not hold thu
legislation should not be made, bl
believe that this law should not e
into effect without the consent Of Ii
s--A.aat=es es the different orders.
VIII Not Enforce Butter Fat Rule.
Dairyuen have haen notified fha