Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-12


ducing crime. should enlarge the
right and impose upon the judge the
duty to parole men upon conditions
of good citizenship. to express 1t in a
general way. and upon condition that
the wrong done be righted as far as
possible. would restore these men
to their families and to society to sup
port themselves and their families
rather than infict suffering upon In.
nocent and helpless women and chill
dren and the burden Of supporting
them all upon the state.
From what I have already said 1t
follows that am in favor of the Gus
todial farm. Certain classes Of viO-
lators of the criminal law should be
put to work. Judges should be en-
powered to commit to the farm when
we have reached such point that It
can be done. The law should define
what classes should be sent there and
generally provide for the administra-
ton Of 1t. You should make such
provisions at this session. The jails.
as l think, should be largely depopu-
lated for service on the farm. Every
man who can be safely trusted out Of
Jail or penitentiary ought to be q
worker, a producer, and not simply a
leech upon the honest efforts OF his
fellowmen.
Pardons and Paroles
In pamphlet separate from this
message which / make part hereof
by reference I have reported in full
all cases Of remission of fines and for
FIXTURES and of combinations, revoca-
tions, restorations. suspensions and
pardons granted. with the reasons
therefor.
Summarizing the repart,-
have referred to the board Of pa
role for investigation and recommen-
dalton upon the question of granting
a pardon nine cases of life men for
murder in the first degree. In each
case they reported adversely to grant
ing pardon. have granted q pardon
in one such case.
Il have granted ffty-one suspensions
upon the recommendation OF the board
and fifty-nine from county jails
have restored to citizenship from
parole fifty-three and upon the recon-
mendation of the board 224. There
have been one revocation. forty mine
combinations and twenty-four remis-
sions Of fines and forfeitures.
The Road Law.
The road law passed by the last
legislature has been rapidly growing
in the favor of the people within the
last year. For the first time In the
history of the state has real, perma-
nent progress in road repair and road
making been realized The outlook
for the future is very encouraging. in
deed. 1t may be found necessary at
this session to amend 1t in some minor
particulars to make it more flexible
and workable but only in such fea-
lures of 1t as experience has proved
necessary. The essential principles
| and provisions of it have been found
to be right and the solid foundations
!, for good roads in Iowa. and ought to
remain.
j Public Health.
There is no matter OF greater public
Importance than the health Of the peo-
pie. To wait the appearance OF the
epidemic or scourge is always disas-
trous. When the work Of construct
Ing the Panama canal was to be I'M
Il dertaken the thing regarded as of first
i aad paramount importance was to
convert the disease breeding sur
roundings into healthful conditions.
To remove the cause Of contagion Is
the part OF wisdom. The sanitary
engineer, the creation of healthful
conditions. are the demands of the
medical and sanitary science OF the
present Many Of the cities and towns
! of Iowa by constantly turning filth
and pollution into the streams and
rivers are transforming them into
J sources OF disease. indeed. making OF
them an actual menace to the health
of the people, This condition will con-
! tinually grow worse unless q remedy
is provided. It W subject worthy
of your instant and most careful con-
sideration. Enforceable provisions
J for sewage disposal which would pro-
tect our streams from pollution and
the health and lives Of the people
ought to be provided.
Constitutional Amendments.
The 35th general assembly adopted
and referred to you resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitu-
ton authorizing the taxation for state
revenue purposes only. such classes Of
property as may be deemed proper by
the legislature. This is q very i'm
portant and most salutary PROPOSE
ton and ought by all means In my
judgment, to be agreed to by you to
the end that 1t may be submitted to
the people at the election in 1916. II
the constitution were amended as pro-
posed 1t would 90 far toward making
solution of some of our tax problems
and removing much of the dissatisfac
ton that now exists on account Of the
practical working Of our tax laws. II,
for instance. our state revenue were
derived entirely from the taxation OF
railway properties. transportation,
equipment, telegraph. telephone and
public utility companies In general.
then local assessments or valuations
and levies would have nothing to do
with state revenue, pay no tax for
said purpose. The incentive for low
assessments to avoid the payment or