Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-01-10

az the TWO INSTITUTIONS during tho last
biennial period was only sos, al
against sls for tho preceding period.
It seems quite clear then, that tho
increased average daily number OF
prisoners in the two institutions il
not due to increase in crime, but to
the lengthening Of the time or sesl,ice
occasioned by the operation Of the
new law creating the board Of parole
and providing for an indeterminate
sentence. No doubt this lengthening
Of term OF service applies in q great.
or degree to those having previously
served in prison than to f1rst.term
men, but "a to this there arc no fig-
ures obtainable. am in full sympa.
thy with the board of parole and in.
determinate law, but would SO
amend 1t as to lodge moro discretion
with the board and afford better op.
portunity for observing tho conduct
Of paroled men so that greater elem.
ency might safely be extended.
At present the board is only allow.
ed compensation for, not to exceed.
one hundred days in each year.
the members Of the board should be
put upon a salary and their entire
time should be required in the per-
Torrance OF their Official duties. II
this be done, in addition to having
much more time to devote to the
work now done by the board, I be-
, lieve that the members could also
!! look after tho paroled men, both as to
securing employment and observing
| their conduct, thus obvating the nee
essity for a parole agent
The question of providing means
whereby a part Of the earnings Of
each prisoner may be used for the
support Of those dependent upon him
| is Of vital Importance. as many wo.
men and children are left as objects
of charity and often to suffer severely
by reason of having no one to assist
in their support. Where there is no
one dependent upon the prisoner the
fund might be allowed to accumulate
and be turned over to him at the
time Of his release to assist him in
getting started I, however seriously
question the wisdom Of turning
money over to a prisoner to be used
upon himself while In prison
The board OF parole has recently
made public its first printed report OF
its doings and transactions and re-
specially direct your attention to It
as it will furnish much valuable in
formation.
Good Roads Legislation.
The question OF better roads has
received more than usual attention
during the last year. Many meetings
have been held in various parts Of
the state and great interest has been
taken in the matter Of road building
Many Of the highways Of the state
have become models of dirt roads.
and with constant attention believe
can be kept 80 most Of the year
Especial consideration has been given
to what is known as the River-to-
River road. connecting Council Bluffs
with Davenport and following gener.
ally the line Of the Rock Island rail-
road, and to the Transcontinental
road between Council Bluffs and Gin
ton and following the general course
Of the Northwestern railroad And
now 1t is proposed TO establish a
route through tho southern part Of
the state to be known as the Blue
Grass road and connecting Council
Bluffs with Fort Madison. Also ono
In the north part of the state to be
called the Hawkeye route. connecting
Dubuque and Sioux City. erhaps
the best and most scientifically con-
structed highway to be found in the
! state is that connecting Montezuma
Malcolm. Brooklyn and Grinnell in
Poweshiek county. It is built by con.
tract out Of the one mill levy ex.
pended by the board of supervisors
| believe that some legislation is
needed with regard to highway con.
struction and maintenance. would
clothe the board Of supervisors with
power to employ competent engin.
the board would abolish the ofHce
Of county surveyor and have the du.
ties now devolving upon him per.
formed by the engineer. AS a special
fund to be used for dragging the
roads. would set aside one-quarter
or one.third of the taxes collected
for road purposes and to be expended
by the trustees. and would forbid it's
use for any other purpose than that
of dragging. Then it should be pro-
vided that the work Of road building
should be done before the fall Of the
year. when to work the roads. excep:
to drag them. means to put them II
condition often almost impossible
during the winter and spring months.
No Increase in Road Tax.
| One of the Just sources OF criticism
regarding the expenditure OF road
funds is that too much of the money
collected for road purposes is In
vested in heavy costly machinery.
which is unnecessary in the care OF
the roads. Some such machinery Is
needed. but too much 10 simply a
waste Of funds. urge upon you
careful consideration of the question
Of better highways. do not. how
ever, recommend an increase in the
levy for road purposes. but the adop-
II lAn