The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-01-14

Scm0ly circuit ana CRIMINAL courts WERE
clothed with discretion to suspend sen
tence in certain criminal cases of first
offenSe. This has been done in the last
two years in many instances. The opera
tiOn of the law in its present form is not
satisfactory. Sentence is suspended. The
offender is permitted to go. He does not
report to either the superintendent Of the
reformatory or the warden of the prison
Neither of these officers is advised of the
action of the court. The defendant is left
without supervision. The court loses
knowledge of him. He violates his parole,
but remains unapprehended The purpose
~ she law is an excellent one but it
Shoull be so amended as to require the
clerk of every circuit or criminal court
within five days after the suspension of
sentence in any case. to advise the super
intendent of the reformatOry or the war
den o. the prison, as the age Of the de
PENDANT shall indicate. of the fact of con-
viction. the name of the defendant and
the terms OF the parole. so that the re-
formatory or prison authorities may have
some opportunity of visitation and super
vision. This will make the law effective
and will save many first offenders from
subsequent terms in prison cells.
Inheritance Tax Law.
| commend to your consideration the
enactment of law which shall provide
for the taxation of the devoution or sue
cesSiOn of property by devise or inherit
ance.
Registration Law.
An unusual influx of persons of foreign
birth during the last five years has raised
the question in the minds OF thoughtful
men of the propriety of extending the
time of their residence within the State
before they shall be entitled to exercise
the privilege of electors. | am doubtful
as 20 the legality of any such legislation.
Primary Election Law.
For four years have watched with in
creasing interest the operation of primary
election laws in the different States en-
acting them, and have become impressed
with their practicability and their benefit.
Such laws take the power of nomination
OF candidates for public Office out of the
hands of the few and put it into the
hands of the many, where it belongs.
recommend the enactment of a law that
will provide for party nomir atoms of all
candidates for Office. State. co lnty, muni-
ciral and township, at primary elections
and at public expense.
Uniform system of Accounting.
A uniform system of accounting in all
public offices. State mad county, will add
greatly to the efficiency of the administra-
ton of fiscal affairs and should be pro-
vided for by you before you adjourn.
Public Utilities Law.
| do not urge the enactment CT a
public utilities law, but if such law is
enacted it should be done by amending
the present railroad commission law, ex-
tending the jurisdiction of the present
to include public utilities. its
in that behalf being carefully
defined. and the machinery for its execu-
ton supplied.
Executive Mansion.
The State of Indiana has reached po-
sition in population, in wealth and in
greatness TO justify an executive man
sion. Ii would add TO the dignity of the
executive office and UNNECESSARILY to the
of the executive and his family
and to the social enjoyment and privileges
of the people.
Cause of Crime and Dependency.
The enormous cost of the army of the
CT iminal. defective and dependent mem
beIs of society is neither appreciated nor
understood by those who do not give the
subject special study and investigation.
In a recently published article, notable
for care of preparation. accuracy of state
ment and the wide investigation it dis
closes. DIR. Henry Smith Williams SUMS
up the conclusion as follows:
considering the United States as a
whole, il is variously estimated that from
% to 30 per cent of all the insane pa
tients admitted to the asylums year by
year owe their misfortune directly or in
directly TO the abuse of alcohol. The
statistics of other countries are closely
similar.
alcohol must be held responsible ior
about four-fifths of the anti-social pro-
pensities that make necessary the huge
of police systems, criminal
courts, jails. prisons and reformatories
that constitute so serious a blot upon
present-day civilization.
''Were it not for the influence of alco-
hal the vast army of delinquents who prey
upon society directly when at large and
through cost of sustenance
when confined in correctional institutions.
might be living useful. productive lives
as normal mtmbers of normal society,"
1t was sense of responsibility TO
the generations yet to be. more than all
else, that impelled me to seek the enact
ment of law putting into the hands of
the people of the respective counties of
Indiana the power to inhibit the traffic
in intoxicating liquors. This law was
enacted but a few months since. 1t has
been in effect less than sixty days. Three
counties have already availed themselves
Of the power it conferred upon their peo-
pie, and by majorities decisive and over
have banished the traffic from
their confines. Elections have been or
dered i'm quite one-fourth of the counties
Of the State. An enflanchised people at
last have found opportunity TO speak eff
upon this question and it will
be well for you to stop and think, long
and seriously, before you disenfranchise
them and turn loose again this hateful
traffic among them. All experience adj
of the danger that attends the
Northumberland of free people.
Neither the individual nor the party who
does it may expect continued power at
their hands.
am aware that there are some who
have already celebrated this laws repeal,
bur | beg to remind all those who con-
its repeal that it is the Invest
wire in the political machinery of this
and is charged with
enough electricity to electrocute the party
that repeats il.
Conclusion.
| close this message-probably my last
official utterance-with malice toward no
man. There are no foes that | desire TO
punish. | go out of Office with an intensi-
fed love of the commonwealth and of its
people. | have sought to serve them in
all things unselfishly and courageously.
Their welfare has been my chief concern.
The recommendations / have made from