The Red Cloud chief., 1921-01-13

departments organized under the civil
administrative code had saved $780,
eA4.80, which would be returned to
the various funds at the end of the
biennium. It was asserted that this
10 the first time in years that the
cost OF government in these depart
ments has been kept within the ap-
preparations made BY the Legislature.
Governor McKelvie urged, how
ever, that just as few new laws be
enacted as possible, stating that sour
statute books are encumbered now
with laws that are obsolete and I'M
enforceable" He also urged that
"our legislative acts be stimulated by
. desire to serve all the people with
out regard to class, race or creed.
We must constantly beard in mind"
he said, "that regardless of vocation,
station, or religion, there exists
among Us a bond of interdependence
which means that when an imposition
is worked upon the least of us, the
ills that result are felt by the rest
of u.s."
The governor stated that his rec
concentrations this year had been de-
veloped partly through conferences
held with representatives of nearly
every organized interest in the state,
including agriculture, trade and COM
merce, labor, law enforcement officials,
district judges, ex-service men, COM
mercial travellers, banking and insur-
ance men, sportsmen, women's organi-
gations, professional groups, and
officials in the different departments
of the state government. "These con-
ferences have been held within the
last thirty days, and were attended
by no less than 500 people from all
parts OF the state" said the governor.
"Thus it seems that I am able to
reflect to you in these recommended
tons the desires Of the people of the
state generally regarding legislation. y
Law Enforcement Legislation
The governor would change the
parole laws so that only first offend
ers could be paroled, and he would
leave it to the courts whether the
sentence should be determinate or in
determinate. He would also remove
from the list of parolable offenses all
crimes or attempts at crime against
the person, especially crimes against
women. Formal applications for
parole would have to be made in writ
ing, and all hearings Of the board OF
pardons and paroles would be pub
lie. 1t was recommended that capital
punishment be abolished, but that no
one should be permitted TO alter the
sentence Of the court for such crimes.
1t was very remarkable fact, how
ever, that Of those on parole during
the last biennium, only 6 per cent
violated their paroles by committing
other offenses, which is believed to
be the smallest percentage of parole
violations in the history of the state
and probably the lowest Of any state
in the Union having the indeterminate
sentence law. The governor present.
ed the following table, showing the
number of pardons issued during the
Mo-year periods for the last ten years
indicating the small number of paroles
that have been made during the last
two years:
1911 1913 1916 1917 1919.
1912 1914 1916 1918 1920
r rsrdons 50 2 l 8 8
tations -. 10 2 8 IS 4
Furloughs 81 80 20 IL
Paroles :. ia 1851 428 500 3O6
In order that first offenders might
not be imprisoned with hardened
criminals, 1t was recommended thai
. reformatoly be built. The number
Of men in the penitentiary increased
from 283 to $50 in the two-year periot
beginning January z, 1919, making tn,
present quarters crowded.