Evening journal., 1911-01-16


Of the crimes involving personal vio-
lence with which the courts have to
deal, and the abolition, or even some
limitation, of such practice would be
productive of the greatest public
good. The punishment for the crime
Of carrying concealed deadly wsa-
pons was increased at the last session
Of the Legislature. and the maximum
penalty is now perhaps commensurate
with the offense.
Il is difficult to find cure for the
evil, or even to suggest any means
Of curtailing the practice to which
We have referred. IL has occurred 10
me. however, to recommend for your
consideration the enactment of a law
that shall make it unlawful for any
person to sell a deadly weapon, COM
monty called pistol or revolver, un-
less he shall have first obtained a IL
cense authorizing such sale. And
suggest that the cost of such shall be
very substantial sum, because
/ am convinced that it will be
decidedly for the public welfare and
safety If the number Of places at
1 which such weapons can be bought is
/ materially reduced. II ought not to be
easy and convenient for any person
to obtain such dangerous things. and
the sale thereof should in my opinion
be restricted as much as possible.
The Revised Code Commission.
have learned that much progress
has been made in the making of the
new Revised Code, which Is so badly
needed; and that it will In all prob
ability be completed within a year
The completion of the undertaking
necessarily involves a great deal Of
time. as we'll as hard and careful
work. The legal ability and expert
ence Of the commissioners qualify
them in an especial manner for their
! task. and ! think any request they
may make of the Legislature for legis-
lation that will aid them in their la
! bOrs should reseiye your careful con-
sideration The commission will make
a report to you showing what they
have dOne, and further showing that
they have been handicapped by the
failure of the General Assembly to
provide for the employment of a stem
ographer The allowance for expenses
has been found to be inadequate and
an additional allowance should be
made TO meet the reasonable require
ments of the work.
If the commission should find il
practicable and possible TO annotate
the code, thing that is much desired,
and which would be of great service
and value, they would be fairly en-
! titled TO additional compensation
therefor. II there is anything you can
do that will aid and encourage the
commissioners i'm annotating the code,
I recommend that it be done.
Probation of Youthful Offenders.
OF the many states that have given
| legislative consideration to the refor-
nation of youthful criminals. Della
ware is n pioneer. The General As
sembly Of 1895 provided by statute that
that when a person is convicted of one
of certain oifenses and no previous
/ coviction Is proven against him, re-
| gard being had to his youth character
/ and antecedents. to the nature of the
offense and to any eXtenuating circum-
stances incident to Il, he may be re-
/ leased by the court and his sentence
| be suspended during his good behavior.
When this law was passed, it repre-
! sented the most advanced step then
] taken 20 reform rather than punish
| the young. Since its enactment. how
| ever. other states, having larger cities
within their jurisdiction, have enacted
other laws, and from the experience Of
| their operation, much knowledge upon
/ the subject has been acquired. Under
! our law. youth may be released with
out sufficient information being first
/ obtained TO aid the court i'm dis
posing Of the case, and upon
! his release, he returns 10 the same
environment from which he came. Our
J. Ian artrr NIL vol los nd fc
I is its defect An examination Of more
modern laws of other states. known
as probation laws, whether they be
administered through juvenile courts
/ or otherwise. discloses that a proba-
tion Officer. through whom the courts
are accurately informed of the case
! before the youths release is ordered,
and by whom the order of the court
is executed in guiding the youth, after
release from the ways that lead him
into error, is key TO the system and
in a large measure. is the solution Of
the problem I therefore recommend
that by appropriate legislation. 4
lprohauon officer be connected with
our criminal courts, and that our law
be so amended as to embody this
feature that has been found to be the
Under the present law a youthful
offender cannot be paroled until after
lconvictiony and in cases Of felony this
is sometimes unfortunate. ] think, If
probation law is enacted. it should
be provided that the court shall have
the power TO probate the accused be-
fore he is convicted. If they should
think. under all the facts and circum-
stances of the case, it is proper TO do
so.
Marriage and Divorce.
At the session of the General As
lsembly in 1907 an Act was passed re-
specting divorces. the particular fea-
ture of which was the provision 10
quiring a public hearing in court N
every case. Further legislation on
the subject of divorce may not be
necessary at this time, but unques-
tionably some legislation is demanded
in respect to marriages I'm this STATE.
Our State is acquiring a reputation in
the matter Of secret and hasty mar
I riages that is fa~ from creditable.
urgently advise that you seriously
consider this evil. and enact such a
law as you believe will tend to re-
move or cure IT, The danger lies IN
secrecy to a great extent Specifically.
] ! recommend that a law be passed
which shall make Il unlawful for any
one TO solemnize a marriage in this
State between parties, one or both o.
whom are minors, unless thcl father.
mother or guardian of such minor is