The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-07

lature will travel a rather steady
course 1t begins to look as tho re-
peal of the c,garet law-except as af-
fecting minors-may have a chance;
that Greeley and Wichita counties
won't be able to regulate all the affairs
of the big towns and that the usual
freak stu will go to committee rooms
to stay until the session adjourns.
1t is this prison reform wave that is
attracting a lot of attention among
legislators just now. Possibly it grows
out of the determination of Warden
Codding to quit his job because the
state board of administration won't
follow his suggestions as to just Mher
the conyicts so home.
Court Has Little to Say.
Under the system which has grown
up In Kansas during the last few years.
court and jury have very little to say
stays at Lansing. The counties spend
thousands of dollars gathering evil
dence, employing special counsel and
Tor general court expense. Then-al-
most before the expense vouchers are
pald-the convict wins over the war
den or some other prison official, be-
gins to sing in the prison gospel meet
ings, appeals to the state board and
goes home.
Once a man went to the penitentiary
from Sedgwick county. When the
sheriff returned home, so the reports
state, he met his prisoner on the street
The .conviot's lawyer had rushed 10
Topeka and secured a parole. The
man had merely stolen an automobile.
Convicts laughed at Court.
Recently two men were convicted of
murder~in Wichita. They laughed de-
fiant9v at the court when sentence was
passed. Maybe their lawyer had told
fhpT11 70 10 fro
Up in Atchison county a married
man made overtures to a young wo-
man and was rejected because he had
a family of his own. Ezra ed the man
met the girl in the postoffice and
killed her. The man was convicted.
but in a short time he went home on
temporary parole. The prison head
explained that the mans family need
ed him. Now the Atchison county
delegation is coming to Topeka to tell
the legislature that the girls parents
needed her, too, but that no one sent
her home. And Herewith and there
upon will start a fight on the tempo
rary parole system which gives the
penitentiary warden power to override
the courts.
Lately the temporary parole plan
has been used generously. This liberty
was taken in spite of the fact that the
system was severely condemned by the
commission which investigated Warden
Botkfn and recommended his removal
May Restore Capital Punishment.
There will be bills to restore capital
punishment in Kansas upon signing of
a death warrant by the governor.
Such bills may fail Yet they are GER
tain to receive a number of votes once
they reach the floor of the house and
senate. The death penalty would be
applied to murder, certain sex crimes
and possibly bank robbery
A short time ago E. L. Barrier. rep
resentative from Greenwood county
and member of the state board of ad-
ministration, kicked a big hole in the
parole system when he gave figures
showing the length of time served by
men and women who committed crime
in Kansas. Barriers figures will be
read by members during the session.
And Barrier himself will vote to take
the froth and foam off the frenzied
reform.
Norman to Introduce Bill.
Representative Norman of Boni-
pflap county will Introduce a bill to
restore capital punishment. Norman
is one of the most conservative bust
ness men and legislators in the house.
He is strongly opposed to the policy of
paying to send men to Lansing for
punishment only to learn that they Sc
cured a parole as soon as they show
lively interest in the Bible ella sses and
mid-week prayer meetingSein the priS-
on chapel.
Senator Hegier is another member
who wants something done. Repre-
sentative Geddes of Butler county will
propose a law denying the right of pa
role to certain classes or convicts. Sen
ators Price, Finney, Finlay and Skid
more are former district judges-as is
Representative Martin of Reno-and
they are listed as opposed to the pres
ent indiscrininate parole plan.
Just at this time it looks like q
comfortless session for the folks al
Lansing. Not only will the legislature
deny them rooms with telephone and
bath. but may vote to ma terra llv re.