The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-04-05
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Continuo6 fro,,, Eiro+ Dave
State Pardonlnn Board .

tlon. The circumstances which call
for the exercise of the pardoning
power are generally such as have
arisen since conviction and sentence,
and which present the matter in such
shape as would probably have result
ed in an acquittal if properly pre-
sented in the courts below at the trial.
For some years the Supreme Court
acted on the Board of Pardons, and
in some instances granted pardons in
cases which had been before them on
appeal and which had been affirmed
by them. Why? Because, while
the requiments of technical admin
istration of the criminals laws had
been met, yet there were such facts
and circumstances surrounding the
case presented to them as called for
the exercise of clemency. 1t is the
duty of this Board to take cognizance
of these facts and circumstances and
to equalize justice so far as 1t is
possible. As required by law, COM
plete statement of all pardons grant
ed, sentences committed, fines and
forfeitures RENTED since the conven-
ing of the last Legislature is placed
before you.
State conViots and Prison Systems.
The care and proper treatment of
the prison class Is a problem of many
ana serious ditf1cuItles, about which
there has been and will be much dis
cussion and many experiments before
an ideal solution of this vexed ques-
ton will be reached. | recommend
such legislation by your body as will
enable the Board of Commissioners
Of State Institutions to properly reg
ulate the leasing of the aged, the
decrepit and the young, and the sepa-
ration of the sexes.
Child Labor.
No greater crime against the future
is being committed in all this broad
land than that which is perpetrated
by using child labor in our industrial
enterprises. The struggle for sue
cess is becoming sharper and more
pitiless each hour, and while it is
true that this evil is less prevalent
in our State than in some others, new
ertheless, you should enact a child la
Dor law at this session which will pre-
vent the growth of this evil and eff
fectually check and crush out such as
| does exist in this State. When little
children, either by the greed of par
ents, or enterprises employing, are
forced to labor in factories and at
other work for long hours, crushing
out their life, stunting their growth
and development, mentally, physical
ly and morally, it is time for thought
full men to pause and consider the
! question.
State Reform School and Juvenile
Offenders.
The purpose of the law should be,
primarily, the prevention of crime,
and the reformation of the criminal,
rather than his punishment, and any
system which loses sight Of these two
prime considerations fails to realize
the highest ideals and possibilities of
modern thought and civilization. To
this end we should be especially mind
full of the juvenile offenders against
the law, and should strive by every
means in our power to make of this
class useful members of society rath-
er than confirmed and hardened Grim
mails and charges upon society. The
needs of the State Reform School,
located at Mariana, should receive
your careful consideration. Much
interest in this matter is aroused
throughout the State, and whatever
aid Is practicable should be given to
the movement.
Florida Hospital for the INDECENT In
sane.
The work of this institution Is be-
fore you in the report of its Superin-
tendent, Captain B. F. Whitner. l
commend to your careful consideration
the suggestions made for the improve
ment in our treatment of this impor-
tant matter, and trust that you will
take such legislative action as will
accomplish the needed reforms.
Fish and oysters.
Recent investigation of what Is be-
ing done in other States has impress
ed me more than ever with the impor-
lance of proper regulations and pro-
lection of the Fish and Oyster Indus
try of our State, and l desire to urge
you to pass such laws as, upon an in
vestigation of this subject, you find
most adapted to our needs.
Good Roads.
Probably no one improvement could
be more useful, valuable and enjoy
able to the people of Florida than
system of Good Roads. Beginning,
we will say, at the county seat in
each county, and from there branch
ing out approximately east and west,
north and south, through the thick
ly settled and desirable portions of
the county and connecting at the
county lines with similar systems in
the adjacent counties, having in view
a general system of roads running
east and west and north and south
through the State, or as nearly on
these courses as will serve the people
best. This would mean ultimately
many miles of road and would draw
to US much immigration and add
value to our property, perhaps doub-
ling the assessed valuation of the
State before the roads were complet-
ed. 1 assume, from the data OBJ
tanned, that the amount of money and
labor expended for road building now. |