Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-01-23

Of sentences Issued during the year
1000. have, during the year named, is
sued two pardons, and suspended the
operation of siXty-three penitentiary
sentences and nineteen Jail sentences
Thirty eight persons have been restored
to citizenship. Ten combinations have
been granted. four of them for the
mere purpose of restoring good time,
upon Recommendations of the war
dens. and the others mainly for few
days only. In order 10 accomplish some
special purpose. Twenty-Five fines have
been remittcd, almost Invariably upon
the application of the board of SUPER
visors. the county attorney, the audi
tor the clerk and the treasurer
have. during the year. revoked eight
suspensions. commonly called pa
roles" There are ut this time about
two hundred men under parole making
regular monthly reports to my office
The average amount earned by each
man is Si6.12 per month. Substantial
" all the personswho have been pa
rolled are, in SO far rs am able to
ascertain, living upright decent and
industrious lives. and have no reason
to change the opinion heretofore ey-
pressed with regard to the efficiency
Of the parol system in building IN
character and in MAILING good citizens.
l am more than ever impressed with
the advantages that would be derived
from the indeterminate sentence; ana
1 know that it would be both humane
and helpful to convert the penitentfary
Mt Anamosa into reformatory, and to
establish a separate reformato1y for
women.
Municipal Government.
One of the propositions upon which
all persons and all parties seem to
agree is that the established system of
government in our i.lrger cities is hone
lessly inefficient. In these days, when
franchises to public service corpora
tons have become so important. when
the sums expended for public improve
ments have become so vast, and the
expense Of administration has so null
tiplied. the form OF municipal gov
eminent ought to receive the best
thought of the general assembly. be-
lieve there should be thorough going
revision of our statutes upon this sub
ject There are wide differences re-
spectinS the changes that should be
made. My own view is that the rep
resentative form of government ought
to be preserved. Aldermen should be
elected at large, and the city council
confined strictly to legislative duties.
Power should he concentrated in tile
mayor. and he should be the RESPONSE
bic administrative head of city affairs.
He should appoint the officers who are
to administer the law. The protection
Of civil service should be extended The
compensation of the mayor should be
sufficient to call men of the best type
and strongest character to the office,
and the term be made long enough to
enable him to accomplish something.
II, however, the term be heightened,
1t should be accompanied with the
power on the part of the people to re-
move him from Office, through an
election called for that purpose upon
| proper petition.
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
have been much impressed with
the report OF the superintendent of
public instruction. He presents many
subjects and proposes many changes
Of the first Importance. His recon-
mendations are supported by clear and
persuasive argument. and | earnestly
hope that every member of the general
assembly will become familiar with
his report and carefully think upon the
changes lie suggests.
Civil Service.
| The time has come when Iowa
should establish such civil service reg.
ulations as will insure the appoint.
ment of such employees as properly
fall within the scope of civil SER
vice system. upon competitive exami-
nations. with advancements and pro-
motions earned by faithful and eff
hcient service. 1t is not necessary for
me to repeat the argument so well
known to you for this plan of appoint
ments to public places. We are all
pledged to 1t. SO far as the government
of the United States is concerned, and
should we not stand for it in our own
commonwealth?
Insurance.
The developments of the year have
not changed by opinions with respect
to insurance. My message to the
Thirty-First General Assembly is as
full and complete upon the subject as
could make it, and without repeat
Ing what l then said, renew the rec.
concentrations there found.
Pure Food Law.
Last year, the general assembly
adopted Il measure intended to pro.
tect the people from fraud and i'm
position in the sale of adulterated and
unwholesome foods. 1t is now in op-
Grafton and believe that it will ac-
coniplish great good.
Those who are vitality interested in
the live stock industry feel that SIM
liar protection should be extended to
live stock foods. recommend the
enactment Of law with respect TO
such foods. having the general scope
and purpose of the act of the Thirty
First General Assembly relating to
pure food.
Employers Liability.
The rules of law which in this state
| govern the liability OF an employer to
employees are. in many respects,
fagrantly unjust to the employees.
They need careful revision. At the
last session Of congress, a statute was
passed which gave expression to an
enlightened view of one phase of tine
subject, so far as Interstate commerce
is concerned. This statute has re-
Gently been declared demonstrations
al, solely because the court be-
lievcd that the states. and not the
general government had the power to
deal with the matter. Without going
into detail, l recommend the passage
of law Which shall be the substantial
equivalent of the act Of congress.
Roster of Iowa Soldiers.
| am sure that the failure of the
Thirty First General Assembly to en-
act n law authorizing the compilation
and publication of what is commonly