The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-30
WOMAN MEMBE R 0F HOUSE URGES NE W PRISON PLAN
Proposes Body To Take Re- SponSibiIity For Handling
 Convict Problems
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGF-HERALD ! Montgomery, Ala. July 29


 prtment from politics by the creation of prison commission which would serve for 12 years is proposed by Mrs. Joseph G. Wilkins or Dallas, the only woman member of the house of rep resentatiVeS, who has introduced a DliI submitting constitutional amendment to the people of Alabama.
 The prison commission would take responsibility for the handling of the convict problems, including the granting of paroles, the remission of fines and forfeitures and the grant ing of short time for good conduct of the conVicts. The governor would retain the power of granting reprieves and of committing sentences but would be permitted to grant full par dons only with the approval of the state prison commission.
 Under the terms of the constitu- tional amendment proposed by Mrs. Wilkins, the prison commission, will be composed of three persons, who would be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The members appointed for the first term would serve for four, eight ana twelve years and after the first terms they would be appointed for terms of twelve years.
 Would Investigate Cases.
 Sh9Uld the amendment be adopted by the voters, the prison commits sion would take over the task of Investigating all applications for clemency which is now performed by attorney general, secretary of state and state auditor, who are ex-officio members of the state board of par dons. It would not be necessary for a convict to take an appeal for parole to the governor He would re- fer his case to the prison commits sion and if convinced that the ends of justice would be served the com mission could grant a parole.
 Mrs. Wilkins believes that adoption of the amendment and the enactment of laws which would make it effective would take the convict departme mt out of politics and would give Ala bama prison system second to none.
 My proposal is that the prison commission should be composed of persons who are not interested in politics, persons who believe that many of those sent to prison can be made good citizens through proper treatment, persons who have an in terest in the correction of prisoners" said Mrs. Wilkins in discussing her bill. The long terms would be pro- Vided so members of the prison com mission would not be forced to give up their work with changing admin istrations.
 Legislation Necessary.
 The amendment, of course, would not provide the machinery for the operation of the convict department and legislation would be necessary. If the amendment should be adopted by the voters at the next general election it would be the duty of the next legislature to make it ef- fective through the enactment of proper laws.
 The appointment is in line with the laws of the more advanced states. It has been found that the governor should not be forced to use such a great amount of his time in the con- sderation of petitions for paroles. l am informed that Governor Brandon IS forced to devote a great part of his time to these appeals and have q letter from Harwell c. Davis Chairman of the state board of par don., which says that the board does Mpt have the time for the adequate sesy tigation of the appeals for elem ency which come to it's member At pr sent the consideration of these eases is d side line. There should be a commission which would gather all information possible about the convicts and which would be author ized to grant paroles when convinced that the conduct of the convcts has been such as to indicate that they will bcome good citizens if released. Seeks Early Action.
 "I believe the legislature should submit this amendment during the present session. There is no doubt that Alabama is determined to make radical changes in the handling of convicts. There is no doubt that the day is not far distant when con yct leasing will be abolished. It would be fine thing for the state if the abolition of the convict leasing nd nf commission should come at the same time" Mrs, Wilkins proposed constitu- tional amendment which would change Section 124 of the constitution as follows:
 "The governor shall have power to grant reprieves. communication of sem tence and pardons, but pardons shall only be granted upon written recom- mendation of d majority of the state prison commission as hereinafter ere ated Pardons in felony cases and for other crimes involving moral tur- pitude shall not relieve from civil and political disabilities unless upon the written approval of the state prison commission and so specified in the pardon. There is hereby created a state prison commission, consisting of three members to be appointed by the gov ernor and confirmed by the senate. The terms of the first members of the commission shall be four, eight and twelve years, respectively, and the terms of their respective success sors shall be 12 years. The state prison commission shall have exclu- sive control and jurisdiction of all state and county convicts, and shall | have exclusive power and authority 1 to grant and revoke paroles, to remit | fines and forfeitures, to grant short |
 
 CAl 1.TuE(K