Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-05-10
New Prison Law of State Will
Be Enforced to Regret of
Many Life Men
DREAD FIT. MADISON
Outdoor Life and Restricted Freedom
Disappear When the Dungeon Cells
of Madison Are Entercd--About Half
Of Prisoners to Be Transferred, In
Guiding the Two Rainsbarsers.
Special to Times Republican.

i
OF putting the new prison law OF lowe
Into effect is one full of difficulties
/ The matter Of the REIMBURSEMENT OF tbs
population of then two prisons 0,
branches of the state penitentiary vii
not be settled without some trouble
Someone suggested an amendment t.
the bill while pending that would re-
quire the parole board to immediately
recommend a parole for any convict
who has been compelled to remain IL
one of the Fort Madison dungeons, foi
| q year-and 1t was not without rea-
son. The fact is that among prisoners
who know, and they are largely OF this
class, there is genuine dread at Ana
mosa Of being compelled to go to the
other prison. Some OF them have read
the various official reports which tel
of tha condition which the state OF
Iowa maintains. And the fact that
there is no place In the law where any
authority is given anybody to transfer
a prisoner from Fort Madison to Ana
mosa suggests that all the compulsion
must be the other way. II was figured
out at one time that under the law
about one-half of those at Anamosa
will have to go to Fort Madison, and
to even 1t up half of those at Fort
Madison must also be moved. Pre-
sumnbly the board of control will take
upon itself the duty of doing what the
legislature Intended but did not say.
One clause added to the law in con-
ference suggests the dread OF the pris-
oners at going to Fort Madison. It
was provided that no prisoner over 65
years OF age should be required to go
to Fort Madison. This was purely a
sentimental addition to the law. II
was because some OF the old men at
Anamosa feel that to go to the other
place would be worse than death.
Under this clause there will be kept
at Anamosa Of the lifers j.. A. Free
man. who is just IS: Wesley Shaffer,
Sc; Thomas w. Watson, 5S: Francis E..
Riney, SO; John L. Cater, 81, and John
s. Taylor..67. The last named has been
at Anamosa, since 1875.
But the law Will compel the removal
of both the Rainsbargers, who were
young men when sent to Anamosa, and
who will feel keenly the change. It
will compel the removal OF l.. r. Van,
Tasseli. the schoolmaster of the prison,
who has done noble work among his
fellows. 1t will compel unless an ex-
ception is made, the removal Of L. w.
Haley the talented editor of the Ana
mosa Prison Press.
An extensive investigation is al
ready under way to determine who
shall be removed at each prison and
how to adjust the matter so as to COM
ply as fun as possible with the spirit
OF the law. OF course, none of the old
residents Of Fort Madison will be re-
moved to Anamosa. 1t will take several
years for the matter to become nicely
adjusted.
George B,irrier who was paroled.
from the penitentiary from serving a
sentence for the theft OF the Fay dia-.
monds is now employed in Fay's print
ing office, the plant OF the Clinton Adj
vertiser. Fay was chiefly instrumental
in running down the theft of the lia-
monds and bringing the gang to JUS
tice. After Burrier had been punished
he Joined in the recommendation for
his parole and now gives him employ
ment.
\ Friends OF Congressman J.. A. T.
Hull are expecting him to remain away
from Des Moines till after the last
day of June. The campaign for the
adoption of the commission plan Of
government will end with the election
day that is to be called for some. time
in June. There are complicated mat
ters politically involved and If Hull
comes back he might be forced to take
one side or the other. If he finds bus
mess to keep him in the east he may
escape being dragged In, but may exert
his Influence thru secret channels for
one side or the other.
The last idea in the adjustment Of
the offices in the state house is to give
the new board OF parole the rooms oc-
cupied blythe document librarian un-
der the secretary of states office. The
geological department and the histor-
ical department have made objections
SO strong against moving the geolog-
ical department to the historical build
ing that that move may have to be
abandoned It is proposed now to move
the document department to the ware
house across the street north of the
state house and thus make room for
the parole department If the geolog-
ical department. is left where it is it
may mean a number of other changes,
however. 1t may become necessary to
put the adjutant generals department
in the brick residence building east of
the state house in order to make room
for the secretary of the executive coun-
ell.
Council Bluffs, 1t is understood, is
to make showing on the
Joint rate hearing May %. Informa-
ton that the business men of Council
Bluffs are preparing to make some
kind of showing and will advance
some ideas on the making of a joint
rate has reached the board of railroad
commission but there has been no
or paper filed from Council
Bluffs that will show the nature Of the
request that will be made from that
quarter Even If the railroads and
agree on so per cent, the COM
mission may not.
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