The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-02-21
SUGGESTS SITE
IN the COUNTRY
Prison Reform Commission ne-
ports TO eovernur Cox.
MEMBERS URGE STATE FARM

HscommsndatioN Directly In Line
with the oevsrnof'S ldsa Of q New
Penitsntiary Near the state Capital.
sndstsrminats SENTENCES and Other
chanoss Sought - proeesdlnes os
e the General Assembly.
Columbus, O., Feb. 1s.-The prison
reform commission in its report to
Governor Cox recommended the fol.
lowing:
Purchase Of 1000 acres Of land in
the central part Of the state upon
which . new penjtentiary may be
built during the next 10 years.
purchase by the state Of an addi-
tonal 1.200 acres of land to be added
70 the Mansfield reformatory farm Of
500 acres. t.
Authority be given the state board
Of administration to transfer v ards in
state institutions from one to another
a. necessity requires.
Moderate allowance to peniten.
tiary prisoners, not as a wage, but as
q reward for good behavior.
life sentences for habitual GRIM
inals and indeterminate sentences fol
other prisoners.
Appointment of an experienced
and efficient superintendent Of prison
industries.
Absolute divorce of prison manage
ment from political affairs"
Directly In line with the governors
message Is the recommendation for a
new penitentiary on q 2.000-acre farm
near Columbus. to be built by con.
victs with stone obtained from the
state quarry. A prison commission is
recommended to obtain the property
through condemnation or purchase
and to supervise the construction Of
the new prison. II is suggested that
the work be stretched over q period
Of 10 years. The commission states
that improvements at the old peniten-
tiary have placed 1t In condition to
care for prisoners while the new pris.
on is being built.
In advocating state pay for prison
ers as reward for good behavior, the
commission says: I'VE recommend
that In connection with the state sys.
tenn Of employing convict labor, op.
portunity be offered the prisoner to
earn moderate allowance in money,
under proper rules and conditions, as
an encouragement and reward for
faithful industry and good conduct,
this allowance to go toward the sup
port of the prisoners family depend
ent upon him, or be put to his credit.
subject to proper conditions, when
there Is no one dependent upon him. "
Urging divorce Of prison manage.
nent from politics, the report says:
1.-THE greatest care should be exer.
cised to secure the service Of men Of
the highest character and special
qualifications as prison managers and
officers. In the selection Of such Off.
GERS and employees character and
special qualifications for the work
should be the only things considered
The Stanley Joint resolution pro-
viding for the distribution Of "Howe's
Historical Collections of Ohio" be.
tween members of the general assem-
bly,, SO sets to>each member, was in
definitely postponed by the senate.
It cost the state approximately $45O
to take merabers of the Ohio legisla'
ture for a cruise on Lake Erie in the
United States steamer Essex last
July. according to figures furnished
the Gregory probe committee by Com
marder Anthony F. Nicklett Of the
Ohio National Marine, Toledo. All but
39764 OF the amount went to pay Of
ficers and men. The $97.64 was used
to feed the legislators and supply
them with refreshments.
Changes bearing on proof Of injury
N the trial Of damage suits against
electric and steam railway companies
are contained In two bills present
Cd by Representative Louis H. Ca
pells of Hamilton county. The meas
ures read that proof of injury Il
either person or property inflicted b,
the running Of cars or trains shall bt
prima facie evidence Of the want ol
reasonable skin and care on the par
Of servants Of the compauy, thui
shifting the burden Of proof 40 to neg
lgence on the companies. The Law
would amply to actions brought by