Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-17
IOWA TO BECOME PIONEER IN
WORK OF PRISON
REFORMS.
TO BE FOR JAIL
PRISONERS OF STATE
State Not to Be Distracted Until Other
= Farms Are Established-Provsions
For ParoIins-5iIl to Pay Expenses
of District Judges Has Determined
Acknowledgment News.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, March 1.-THE bill for
the administration features of the state
custodial farm is ready for the COM
mittee on board OF control to report
out.
If adopted Iowa will have the most
modern working out of the custodial
farm idea eXtant and will become a
pioneer in this work. The idea has not
really been tried in any state. 1t is in
part adopted for the short term men
in the District of Columbia. Iowa is
planning to adopt it on scale quite
different from anything tried.
One of the features of the proposed
law under which the farm is to be OPP
Grated is that, at the start, it is to be
for miSdemeanantS-or those given
Jail sentences-Whose terms are ninety
days or more. 1t will not be for the
short term men. There would be too
great travel expense for the ten day
prisoners from distant parts of the
state. If it is found that larger num-
Der can be received than at first pro-
vided the board of control may pro-
claim that all who receive sentences
for say sixty days be received. Then
there is provision for reception Of the
prisoners according to population of the
counties so that the counties near to
the central farm will not be especially
favored.
The use of the farm is not to be for
a district but for the entire state. If
other farms are established district
ing Of the state can be made.
There is provision for paroling from
the farm on order of the board of con-
troll, under restrictions like those which
apply to the parole board in it's larger
work. There is no provision at pres
ent for any pay for the prisoners at
the custodial farm for their work
That can be worked out later or ac-
cording to the wishes of the legisla-
tors.
The bill provides for a superintend-
ent and director Of the farm and for
such assistants as will be needed.
There are clauses providing for pun
ishment for escape or assisting in es-
cape from the farm. Only few build
ings will be necessary before the farm
is opened and these chiefly dormitories
for the men.
determined effort is being made to
secure the passage thru the legislature
of the bill to provide for the payment
of the expenses OF the judges of dis
trict court while away from home on
public business. The bill provides for
payment of the travelling and hotel ex-
penses OF the judges and also Of the
court reporters. 1t will not affect
about twenty five judges Of the state
who are not required to travel except
on very rare occasions. There are per-
haps a dozen others whose travelling
expenses do not amount to more than
500 a year on an average. The others
lave expenses running from $500 to
$500 a year depending upon the dis
trct
Judge Springer, of New Hampton,
who was here yesterday, explained how
it would affect him. 81 have in mind
an instance where a tramp indicated
Willingness to plead guilty to stealing
an autom obile tire he said. THE
county attorney drew up the informa-
ton. 1t was out of term time. 1t was
made my duty under the law to go
! from my home to that county seat and
open court in order that the tramp
might plead guilty and receive SEN
tence. 1 had no option in the matter.
1t cost me SO for the trip. Another in
stance-in one county proceedings were
started to have a man sent to the in
ebriate institution. 1t was necessary
should hear the case. For all Of the
parties to come to my home to have
the hearing would have cost the coun-
y ty $50 or more. It was cheaper and
better for me to go there. I went and
9 it cost me $40 or more. Now I was
perfectly willing to go. My time was
paid for by the state But it did no.,
look right that I should be asked to
pay s14 out Of my own pocket even
to save $50 for the county. The leg
islature has placed upon the judges
certain obligations that did not for
merly attach to the offices which call
for the expenditure Of money for trav-
cling expenses but has not made pro-
vision for paying the same
The situation bears heaviest on the
Judges in the rural districts where there
are several counties to the district. In
Des Moines the Judges all live at home
and have no travelling expenses
The senate placed on the calendar
all the dry bills reported, whether they
were favorably recommended or other
wise. The presiding officer had an
nounced previously that all bills re-
ported for indefinite postponement
would go on the calendar not by con-
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