In 1911 a law was passed, authorizing the establishment of departments for “defective delinquents,” with a view to segregating those offenders whose crimes were due to mental inferiority. No appropriation was made however, and nothing could be done. The Governor recommended the erection of buildings at the State farm, and at the reformatory for women, but the Legislature, instead, authorized the Governor and council to lease buildings for the purpose. Though the new jail at Fall River, never opened, is not specified, it seems plain that the intention was to use that. It is doubtful however if it will be found suitable. An important change was made in the law authorizing a suspension of sentence in cases of minor offenders who have been sentenced to pay fines. The old law permitted this, but many judges used the power in comparatively few cases. The new law compels courts to put fine cases on probation, giving the offender time to pay, unless it is believed that he will default. It is expected that this will greatly reduce the number of commitments for non-payment of fines. COMMISSIONER RANDALL’S REPORT [When the man that people like to speak of as “Frank” Randall went to Massachusetts from Minnesota as chairman of the Massachusetts Prison Commission it was expected that he would be “frank.” Here is a summary, from the Boston Herald of parts of Mr. Randall’s first annual message.] In an interview given the first of the year by Frank L. Randall, the new chairman of the Massachusetts Prison Commission, he made several suggestions for the improvement of the penal system of Massachusetts. In his six months’ service he has been taking stock of the situation. While he has found many things that warrant the pride the State has in her penal institutions, he has found also not a few serious problems of which the general public know little or nothing. He pays high tribute to the sheriffs and others engaged in the penological work of the State. But he discusses a large number of suggestions as to the supervision of the prison industries of the commonwealth, the indeterminate sentence, the trying out of applicants for employment as guards and in other capacities, the pardoning influence of the wardens and superintendents, and especially as to the very large number of persons on parole, of whom the State has lost track altogether. “Did you know,” he asks, “that in this State there are 1,056 persons from the State reformatory, 217 from the State prison and more than 200 from the woman’s prison who ought to be making regular monthly reports to the proper authorities but of whom the State knows little or nothing?