The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1913-01-17

for the purpose of maintaining the
cost of police control, as much as is
assessed against the proprietor OF a
big machine Of high speed and large
horse power. The revenues to the
state from this source are showing
heavy increases so that the highway
commission, in consequence, may be
enabled without state levy to work
out an extensive improvement plan in
the state. 1t is highly important that
there be given the greatest possible
cooperation by legislative enactments
TO the improvement associations, so
called, that have been organized In
some of the counties. Portage coun'
ty, Ohio, is probably the most notable
instance in this country. Nothing in
discouragement should be done by
the state On the other hand good
roads students are agreed in the
opinion that they are entitled to such
cooperation as will facilitate this i'm
portant county function. l unhesitat-
ingly subscribe to this view. The old
national road, running almost mid.
way through the state, east and west,
should be improved from our eastern
border to our western line, as the
first statewide highway But the
condition precedent should be such
cooperation on the part of the coun-
ties through which it passes, as will
effect an adequate appreciation of the
local benefits to accrue.
Tenth-"Continuati of the re-
form in the conduct of the states
penal institutions which has been in
augurated and the abandonment Of
the present prison system, ETC."
The commendation of the board of
administration plan is fully justified
by results obtained, but there is much
yet to be done. In fact, every COM
mission created during the last few
years finds it's function of wider ben
eft to the public interest than the au-
thors of the legislation doubtless con-
templated, and yet the administrative
heads find many changes needed in
the laws. This is not surprising
since our laws can only properly be
refined by experience. The public
must not gain from the recurrent
difficulties in the state institutions an
impression that the board of admin
istration plan is wrong in theory. The
troubles encountered in the institu-
tions of correction are more fun
damental The wisest management
the mind can devise, and the most hui
man policy the heart can inspire can
not correct the basic defect of in
proper commitment.
Urqes New Penitentisry.
direct your especial attention to
the declaration in behalf of new
penitentiary built and conducted upon
plans drawn in accordance with the
modern thought on this subject" This
project needs no defense because it
was a part of the contract made with
the people, and no opposition to it was
voiced during the campaign when the
issue was under discussion. This pat
form pledge was not made without
considerable understanding of the
whole prison situation in Ohio, no"
did the people of the state give their
endorsement without knowing both
the purpose and necessity Of the
change. The facts justify the state
ment that no subject has taken great
er hold on public interest in years,
than that of prison reform. The best
thought on the subject is opposed to
the Ohio policy and every condition
wrought through an appreciation OF
the human welfare phase OF the prob
lem, makes our prison system stand
out as an institution Of the past, I'm
changed by either its tragedies or by
a civilization that has laid hold on
every other human agency.
Our whole system is plain tray
esty on human intelligence. 1t is as
much of an outrage to sentence an
habitual criminal to three years in the
penitentiary as it would be to consign