The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1921-03-17
MESSAGE TO SOL0NS
Preus Calls for Curb on Crime and
Scores the Promiscuous Grant
ing Of Bail.
IF Present Laws Are Not Sufficiently
Strict They Should Be
Changed at Once.

Changed at Once.
In special message to the leglsla-
lure Governor Prcus urged that steps
be taken toward more strict en-
of laws to check the grow
ing prevalence of crime, a proceeding
which is highly necessary. The time
has come to halt crime in Minnesota,
the governor said, and asserted that II
present laws are not sufficiently
strict they should be changed speedily
to meet the new conditions. He also
took exception to granting bail in
cases. Hereunder are few
quotations from the message:
minnesota, from its birth as
state, has been remarkable for the
law abiding qualities of its inhabl-
tants. But in the state at all times,
as has been and always will be the
case. there have been crimes COM
mitted, and in ordinary times the
enforcement of the criminal laws of
the state has been prompt and ef-
ficient.
"Following the recent world war
crime waves of unprecedented proper
lions swept over the country and are
not abating as might be expected as
we get away from the period OF war
itself.
II regret to say that Minnesota is
not an exception among the states in
this respect, but do say that it is
the duty of those charged with the
enforcement of the laws of the state
of Minnesota to see to it that crime is
controlled and reduced to minimum
at the earliest practicable moment.
IF the laws enforced at the pres
ent time arc not sufficient to accom-
plish that purpose they ought to be
supplemented with laws that will sup
ply what is now lacking.
"The frequency with which bank
1robheries, holdups, burglaries and
crimes of violence against the person
are occurring in Minnesota is a mat
ter of common knowledge and is a
stain upon the good name of the
state. I have no question, whatever,
but that this condition can be rem
edied by the exhibition of a proper
amount of energy by officers charged
with making and enforcement of crimi-
nal laws of the state.
"While the frequency with which
homicides occur is deplorable, their
number is small compared with the
burglaries, larcenies and robberies and
other crime against the person-re-
corded from day to day and which
generally are committed as an incident
to and in connection with other crimes
Though crime conditions in Mime
sofa are probably not as bad as II
most states, they are such as to cal
for the most speedy and rigorous en-
forcement Of the criminal laws Of TIL
state, and are sufficiently serious t
call into action all the energy ant
vigor of those charged with the dut!
of maintaining public order and O
: Furnishing those who disturb tn
: same.
"Experience teaches that the Grim
inal avoids communities in which tn
police authorities are active, the en-
e forcement of the laws swift and tn
S penalties imposed heavy.
t "Section seven of article one of tn
e constitution of Minnesota provides
All persons shall before conviction b
il bailable by sufficient sureties.' It wi
= be noticed that in Minnesota no pei
f son has a constitutional right to b
s out of custody on bail after he ha
; been convicted of crime--pendin
s a motion for a new trial or while tn
e case is on appeal to the supreme cour
"Bail permitted in such cases is
n mere privilege which convicted GRIN
ID inals have no right to demand an
n which probably it is a mistake to e,
IS tend to them, though in particuls
cases bail may be justifable an
Is proper. Professional bondsmen, stra
bail bonds and worthless person
bonds should be eliminated.
"Under the criminal procedure
this state whether convicted Grim
nal shall be set at liberty on bs
rests in the discretion of the court
and that privilege should be restrict.
and modified so that only in the eve
that the trial judge or three judges
the supreme court are satisfied tn
there is probable cause to believe tn