Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-10-15

are unsurpassed It ~ well known that
there = some relation between eco
nomic conditions and crime. It IL also
known that there Is q relation between
education and crime. Iowa has the
least illiteracy of any state In the
union, and yet In spite OF the fact
that eminent outside authority refers
to Iowa as the model state in the mat
ter of law enforcement, and In spite
of the fact that we have less litter
acy than Canada Germany. France and
Great Britain, and greater natural re-
sources. it is nevertheless true that
human rights and property rights are
not protected in the state of Iowa as
they are in these countries. We still
have too many homicides: we still
have too much larceny. from petty
thieving to highway robbery.
Since our educational facilities and
our per capita wealth and natural re-
sources are greater than any of the
countries named. why should we have
more murders and more lawlessness
than in these countries? Why should
not both human and property rights
be as well protected in Iowa as any
spot on earth, and wherein is the So
luton.
Reform in Furnishing Criminals.
an order that we may have more
certainty of punishment there must
be better method of apprehending
; criminals The present method is
archaic. suitable 10 a pioneer day and
totally inadequate to the present time
where the use Of the motor vehicle
has eliminated distance.
Special agents appointed by the
1 H.
| ject to the control Of the governor or
the department Of justice. with the
same power to make arrests in any
| community as any local official. and If
| need be, supervision over local police
Officers or secret service men APP
pointed by the county attorney but
subject to summary removal for neg
/ lect of duty are absolutely essential ii
the criminal is promptly TO be appre-
hended All of our experience. how
ever tends to show that 1t is difficult
for local officials to apprenend crimi-
nails and enforce law because of the
broad general acquaintance.
More Power For Trial Judges.
More power must be given to the
district judges in the conduct of a
criminal trial. The court Should eXer-
else a freer hand in examining jurors
and witnesses in order TO further JUS
+ tice. and experts should ne appointed
by the court and not be the partisans
of either side In addition 10 this. no
cause should be reversed or new trial
granted unless upon the whole record
4, shall appear that the substantial
rights Of the defendant have been
prejudiced.
"A bin OF this nature has been sew
eral times introduced in the lesisia-
ture but each time defeated
Criminal procedure should be sim :
pIifed and the number of offenSes
should he reduced. The Jail system as
now used should be abolished. The
iaiI should never be used except as a
place of detention awaiting trial. No
man should he sentenced to term of
idleness at the expense of the taxpaN-
ers. A short term sentence. less than
thirty DAYS should be abolished.
Advises Custodial Farms.
District custodial farms should bs
! located IN the several parts of the state
so as to be reasonably accessible TO
each county in the state. Every able
bodied prisoner sentenced should be
compelled to pay the cost of his main
tenance and contribute TO The support
of those dependent upon him. II ne
have dependents: and If a single ma n.
with no one dependent upon him. ne
should have at least small panK ac-
count before released.
Civic Welfare Above Party Politics.
In addition 10 these recommends
tons, much can be accomplished ny