The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-12

figure the loss of life and injury to
person as among the fixed charges of
the business.
l am advised that the penitentiary
of this state during the last year
shows a cash profit from the invest
ment in that institution and labor OF
its inmates. That profit ought not to
go into the state treasury; it does not
belong there. The profit of the labor
of each prisoner should be kept sep
arate, placed in a fund and paid out
toward the support of his wife and
children, if he has such, or kept for
him, so that when he emerges from
tie prison he may have the where
withal to establish himself in some
legitimate business.
1 believe the trend of public thought
is rapidly crystalizing around the
proposition that the public, that is,
the government, is not discharging it's
full duty toward the old independent
citizen when it furnishes for him d
fairlv well equipped poorhouse.
I assert broadly that no man in this
country should be permitted to be-
come the owner of a hundred million
dollars that he has never earned. 1t
is a, menace to society.
1t may be that our present inherit
ance tax law is imperfect; but it is
certainly a step in the right direc-
ton.
1t is business of government.
whenever a fortune becomes so vast
as to become a public menace, to pro-
hibit its transmission, at least the
transmission of larger part of it. and
to place such vast fortunes in the pub
lie treasury out of which old age pen
SiOnS may be paid.
I believe that the greatest miscar-
riage of justice that has come under
my observation in the last thirty years
has occurred in those cases where as
a collateral issue the mental sound
ness or unsoundness of a citizen has
been submitted to a jury for deter
mination- and the present practice OF
submitting such questions to a jury
ought to be abolished.
And believe that reasonable
recompense should be made a person
subjected to the inconvenience and
humiliation of public trial and then
found innocent.
The following is the program this
morning: Report of special committee
on Grimes and Criminal Procedure"
William E. Higgins chairman, Law
renee; report of special committee on
ton of Judges of the District Courts
S. H. Allen chairman. Topeka; re-
port of special committee on Three
Fourths Jury Verdicts' r. L. King
chairman. Marion; address, 1.-The Trial
Judge" c. E. Branine. Hutchinson;
address. Constructive Service" Jay T.
Bolts. Coldwater.
This afternoons sessions program
follows: Address, "a Square Deal in
the Law and the Courts c. E. Ben
ton. Fort Scott; address, THE I'm
written Law A. NJ. Harvey, Topeka;
address, Psychology as Related to
Testimony Prof. William A. Nc
Keever. State Agricultural college,
Manhattan; election of officers; mis-
cellaneous business.
The Banquet Program.
The speakers and toasts for the ban
quet which will be given in the Scot
fish Rites hall at $50 O'Clock this
evening follow:
Toastmaster. Judson S. West, To-
peka; 1.-THE Presumption of limo
cence," A. T. Noftzger, Anthony; New
Laws and New Lawyers" B. w. Scan
drett, Topeka; 1.-The Honest Lawyer
F. Dumont Smith. Hutchinson;
Prophets With and Without Honor"
James w. Reid, Chanute; HASH
Clark A. Smith, Cawker City: Jones
on Evidence" Burr w. Jones, Madi-
SON. Wis