South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-01-19
DRY MICHIGAN IS
BOOSTING RECORD
People Visit City to Get Liquor
Says Judge Warner in
Annual Report.


for liquor drinkers Of adjoining dry
counties. particularly from Berrien
county. Mich. according 10 the an
nual report OF City Judge Herbert
ID. Warner. which has been submit
ted TO the mayor and the council.
Judge Warner points out that there
were 400 more persons arrested for
intOxication in 1915 than in the pre-
Vious year. and states that this in
crease is due TO the men who come
here from contiguous dry territory.
In commenting upon intOxication in
his report Judge Warner asserted
that he has become more impressed
with the crime of intemperance and
believes that IS pc cent Of the cases
in city court are either directly or
indirectly the result Of liquor.
Judge Warner also takes occasion
TO boost the plan of permitting pris-
Cners 10 work upon the streets and
county roads. pointing out that there
was less intOxication while this sys-
tenn was i'm effect He urges that
the city Judge be given the authority
% sentence prisoners 10 road work.
Needs More Room.
Much good has been accomplish
ed through the state penal farm, ac-
ccrding to the judge, who has SEN
fenced A men to the institution dur
ing the past year He states in his
report that by this means South
Bend has been rid OF much OF it's
customary street drunkenness. II is
also recommended in the report that
there is need Of more spacious and
better ventilated quarters for the
city court and for the police depart
ment. His report follows in full:
To the Honorable Mayor and City
Council:
Gentlemen:-In 1914, 1922 cases
were filed in the city court This
vas record breaker. but 1915 was
a still heavier year, as 2,525 cases
we're filed the past year. The sum Of
S4.46O was collected in fines and for
FIXTURES and distributed by me ac-
Cording TO law. The greatest cause
for this increase was the unusually
large number of arrests for drunk
enness. In all 1,164. This is nearly
400 more for this Offense than were
taken into custody in 1914. This is
due 20 the large number Of DRINKS
who come here from contiguous dry
territory, especially Berrien county
Mich. South Bend is becoming the
dumping ground of a lot OF undesir-
able bOozers from neighboring dry
counties. More than ever before
have l been impressed with intem-
perance as the great cause of crime,
mis- "a ~ ORE I.,s,
Grunks constituted 46 per cent Of all
defendants brought before me- 1t
is safe to say that at least 50 per
cent OF all defendants in the city
court are there. directly or Indirect
", by reason Of indulgence in intox-
icating liquor.
FavOrs Work for Men.
The fact that the county commits
sioners refused TO grant the city
judge the power 10 sentence able
bodied men to work on the roads of
the county was a big handicap. More
than ever before do we need such a
system. The rec, rds will show that
while this power was granted the
city Judge. the number Of DRINKS.
Migrants and petty offenders were
much Jess than they are now. The
taxpayers pay several thousand dol
lars year just TO feed these pris-
oners: why should they not be put to
work? From both an economic
and moral standpoint the plan has
already proven a success. IL would
also act as a deterrent especially in
keeping South Bends streets free
from "a lot OF vags and drunks. The
power 10 So sentence should be vest
ed in the city judge. who is in the
best position TO know who should
and who should not be so sentenced.
There is certain class of travellers
and visitors who should not be want
ed in South Bend. Their presence
should not be encouraged
Farm Big Help.
The penal farm has been a big
help 10 the city Judge in keeping
South Bend streets free from ha-
hitual drunkards In Ell "A defend
ants have been sent u the farm
most Of them for habitual intoxica-
ton These men have either been
without families or else of no help
whatever in supporting them The
average sentence to this farm is
about four months. Indiana made a
big advance in its treatment OF
drunkards and petty offenders when
Il provided this state farm. II is a
satisfaction 10 know that here the
prisoners are put 90 work i'm the
open air and do not rot physically.
mentally and spiritually as they tend
To do in our county Jail
In conclusion I want again 10 call
attention TO the need OF larger
and better ventilated city court. As
the city grows In population. the
work of this court viii naturally in
crease. Another building should i'm
the near future Doe provided for the
better housing of the police depart
ment and city court Respectfully
submitted
TT. u. WARNER