New Britain herald., 1927-06-17

termed after New YOrkS Baumes act, was the outstanding anti-crime measure in South Dakota. The measure deviates from its pattern, however, in that 1t makes discre- tionary instead of mandatory the imposition of life sentence on fourth offenders. A bill permitting the prosecution to comment on a defendants failure to testify also was passed.
 North Dakota added nine bills to the anti-crime legislation of the year. Three of these are considered of prime importance. They are the habitual criminal act, comparable to the Baumes act, the uniform mo- tor vehicle theft act and the law eliminating the affidavit of preju- dice in criminal cases. Other laws speed up appeals and clarify and amend details of criminal procedure
 Minnesota passed legislation es- :ablishing a state bureau of crim- inal Identification and record, pass ed a modified copy of the Baumes act and raised to five years the penalty for use of firearms in com mission Of felony. As was done in several other states. law was en- acted making 1t compulsory for the district attorney to file reasons for dismissals.
 Revised Penal Code.
 The California legislature, having completely revised the penal code adopted measures for speedier trials always considered crime deter rent. Laws were passed abolshing the raising of the plea of insanity during trial, making 1t more haz- ardous to use firearms in the com- mission of crimes and adopting an habitual criminal act. with life sentence for fourth offenders. Third offenders are to get 12 years with out parole. Insanity must be part of the initial plea. else separate trial will be made of this issue. subse- ouent 10 trial for offence.
 Nebraska adopted law much like New York's Baumes law. New Jersey provided for life sentence for fourth offenders. 1ndiana's general assembly passed bills providing for establishment of bureau of crim- inal identification. qualification of its penal code and measures expected to sped up trials. Wyoming's legis- latures V;ssed two bills to check the still prevalent cattle thief and New Mexico's lawmakers adopted meas ures to speed up trials and raising the penalty for embezzlement.
 Kansas. going most states one better. will now impose life sentence on third offenders. A second sent ence for felony will be twice the length of the first, the legislators decided. Embezzlements by bank officers will bring them q 50 instead of Is year sentence under one new law. In Texas the embezzlement senetnce was reduced from a mini- mum Of five years to two years be- cause of a general belief that the failure to obtain convictions was due to a "too harsh" sentence such conNlctlon ontalled.
 Washington solons passed bill making it a gross misdemoanor to throw tear bombs or similar de- vices. Oregon legislators adopted a resolution providing for speeding up of trial. which goes 10 popular vote June 2S.
 Register Criminals.
 Ctah's legislature passed meas urse establishing a bureau for the registration of criminals and date pertaining to them and enacted the uniform extra dition law sponsored by the American Bar Association. Nevada now will be no place to connect crime 10 be committed elsewhere. for the legislature has