The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-09-04
PUNISHMENT OF
 CRIME TOO LENIENT

Paris, September 3-(Specia1) )-The con- nnued commutation of death sentences in France and the increasing frequency of attacks on the police, accompanied by dimfnution of other crimes of violence have brought the question of the punish ment of violent crimes once more to the front. The matter has been debated be- fore on several occasions with a general and sincere intention of profiting by the discussion, but so often has the matter been allowed to slide into oblivion-noth- ing coming of all the appeals for greater severity or sounder logic in the applica- ton of penalties-that it would seem rash to predict more appreciable result from the present campaign. Nevertheless, it is 30 well understood that the situation is more serious than ever it has been, and the attitude of M. Lepine, the prefect of police, Is so energetic in this regard, that, more than any earlier agitations this movement appears to have considerable finances of realization.
 M. Lepine, who has always taken such . personal and human interest in the welfare of his subordinates, recently crit icised the leniency of the authorities in punishing criminals, over the grave of Pelletier, policeman who had been shot on duty He said:
 'sThe drama of which you remember the details--a madman playing with a revolv- CT in broad daylight, in the open street, careless of the death that he is sowing here and there; policemen putting them- selves forward to receive his shots, and worthy citizens and soldiers disarming him, very justly exasperated, and wishing for revenge-this drama Is a sign of the times What is meant by this desire to apply lynch law? It is the outburst of the spirit of profound concern for the position of the police of Paris. who do battle night and day, not knowing when they leave home in the morning whether they will return to their family alive. It Is also a tardy disavowal of the stupid eentimentality which for 20 years has done so much harm to our country, and which in the end would entirely remove the edge from the sword of repression It is necessary to discourage crime by the perspective of punishment and public security must be assured.
 It is generally believed that this decla- ration is somewhat in the nature of a reply to the recent presidential decrees which reprieved three condemned pris- oners within less than a week At the lime the application of the death penal ty in the case of the murderer Liabeuf was under discussion, 1t was generally understood that M. Lepine had made the matter almost a question of confidence In his position at the head of the police, but 1t was hoped by many that the res- olute action of the popular prefect of police, who has frequently stated that in- application of the law was one of the chief causes of the increased frequency of the attack on the police would have some effect in reducing the number of re- prieves and limiting them to such cases as where some extenuating circumstances could be shown. This result, however, has not been apparent. Parisians, therefore, are hoping, though with con- siderable bfffdence, that the renewed protest of Lepine will be more effective.
 The application of the death penalty, however is not the only question of de- bate. Several writers today take up the matter of the punishment of habitual criminals. M Gerault- Richard, a social 1et, and by no means a reactionary mar tinet, openly advocates the importation of the flogging system used in England and the Temps warmly approves the idea an a leading article this evening. M Gerault- Richard says that the regulation of the sale of arms is palliative rather than a remedy.
 Simultaneously the campaign for the better regulation of the sale and use oi firearms is continued in several quarters -.s-
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