Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-27


material other than iute, repairs to machinery, wear
and tear OF machinery fuel for power. freight,
missions, clerk hire and unanticipated incidentals
further advantage to the commonwealth is sup
posed TO reside in the fact that the manufacture OF
Jute VIII stimulate the production Of the fibre by
our asrculturists. These calculations afford con
siderable margin for discount upon Theoretical re-
suits. peineiSiiy they appear plausible, Your
Coml sion is, hoWeNe', compelled. for many prac-
teal reasons, to regard them as visionary and mis-
LEADING.
From information obtained, as well as fr m testi.
mony given before us, we are led TO the conclusion
tina; all manufaciorits conducted by c nyi labor
in prisons is at the greatest DISADVANTAGE as reg rs
every factor the one Of cheap labor The
single inducement then to the establishment Of any
enterprise in aprson with convict la
Dor is the cheappess OF the manual labor hand skill
Since this is the advantage 1t follows that only
such enterprises as engage IN the manufacture OF
products rot capable OF being produced by ma
chinery and in the production only OF that class of
articles wherein the cos. OF labor largely exceeds
the cost of material, can be made success
full We repeat that manufactures in prisons
are at disadvantage as regards every clement
of cost entering into the production OF wares
aud merchandise except the single fact OF labor,
hence the employer OF prison labor will enjoy no
competitive advantage as to any other element and
the larger this factor the more reasonable the PROB
abilities of success
For many years the jute plant has been produced
in the East Indies and the West India Islands. The
seat OF manufacture from this fiber has been the
city OF puhuee, IN SCOtlanu. Inc faDrlcS inauc
from it are principally in the line Ct mating and
carpeting. A considerable proportion Of the manu-
features from this fiber has been in the line of coarse
fabrics fer canvas used in packing other goods and
raw materials, such cotton WOOL etc. California
and Australia created the demand for the "centsl
sack, it is called by manufacturers for the ship
ment of grain. In the production OF all these
fabrics almost automatic iabor-saving machinery is
employed. The chief supply Of jute comes from
India the chief points Of commerce in this article
being at Calcutta and Madras. Within the past few
years large manufactures Of the fabrics made from
jute fiber have been established in India where to
the economy Of highly improved abOr-saying machi-
merry is added the advantage of the cheapest hand
labor to be had in the whole world. From the best OBJ
tainable information find that in the experience
of the manufacturers in India, the manual labor
represented in the production of GENITAL sacks" is
less than 10 per cent. as against 90 per cent. for
material and other costs Of manufacture The man.
ufacture of grain sacks in California, whether with
free or convict labor, must meet the East India
competition, and convict labor will inevitably fail
in the production Of any article wherein the cost Of
hand labor is so inconsiderablc in the case under
consideration. Nor will the freight from Calcutta
to San Francisco constitute element of prOtec.
ton. Upon information obtained from competent
and intelligent sources. we base the unqualified
opinion that jute cannot be probably grown in
California. 1t is tropical plant, requiring for its
full development hot, moist climate, with high
degree Of temperature at night time during the
period of its growth climatic requirements not found
anywhere in California. IL is true that the plant
will grow here but the information was conveyed
to US by gentleman long resident OF the Iute.
growing districts Of India, that the plant would not
attain hight Of over three feet IN our climate,
while a profitable production, even in India, re.
quires a growth Of five feet in hight
The raw material must then come to us from
India and the freight upon this material will elimi-
nate the protection this freight element would 9th
erwlse afford. still more directly practical view
is afforded by the experience OF manufacturers.
With the lutte grown and manipulated BY the cheap
in fhaNV tbt4 aud
cheapest operative labor the manufactures Of India
have not yet paid any dividend to the capital in
vested in them. Nor does the experience OF the
manufactures at Dundee afford greater encourage
ment. Except during the period Of the cotton
famine" occasioned by the "war OF the rebellion
in this country, the manufacture OF jue at Dundee
has not been regarded as profitable. From the the
oretical capacity of the mills about TO be established
a heavy discount must be made Nearly all the man.
ua labor employed in supp ementing the machinery
used in the manufacture Of jute is skilled labor.
Convict labor is notably unskcd and untractahle.
IL is unrewarded toil-an involuntary servitude.
The slavery OF serving time may be enforced, but
the requirement and application of skill are subjects
of cheerfully -consentng will they cannot be com
PEELED. For years the contractors have purchased
this consentng good will-not of the State, but Of
the convict himsef-by the use OF money, by in
dulgences, by hopes OF reward, and by persuasions
and sympathy; things inconsistent with proper
penal discipline. But even under the stimulus 81
these Legitimate means, it is in testimony before
us that convict labor is not worth more than so per
cent. of free labor. For your better instruction
to the value Of convict Dor, respectfully refer
you to the testimony of Donald Sutherland, who,
for the past seventeen consecutive years. has been
Superintendent OF convict labor at San Quentin also
to the testimony Of Messrs Rooms Falyey and Others
all experienced and intelligent observers The
of any manufacturing enterprise depends upon the
reliability, faithfuness, intelligence and Willingness
OF the productive labor employed in 1t. The jute
mills will call for 400 operatives answering to these
requirements Conucts as class have neither
the capacity nor the disposition to acquire skill of
any kind. The number of mechanics and artisans
among the conyicts is pheuoInenally small. OF the
$50 concs in the penal institutions Of this State
less than 100 were cbanics artisans at the time
of their conviction. We therefore entertain grave
apprehensions the adaptabiiy OF this labor to
the successful manufacture of jute fabrics. For
these and many other reasons we cannot share the
confidence which seems to have inspired this i'm
portant undertaking.
ABSENCE OF LEGISLATION CONCERNING THE
JUTE ENTERPRISE.
That the Board of State Prison Directors should
have felt them elves justified in entering upon the
of jute, particularly upon the extern
sive scale find to have been inaugurated, is the
occasion Of some surprise to our minds. We do
not find either amorg tine expressed or implied
powers of the Board, any legal authorization for
this action. The general powers conferred by the
Constitution is found in Section 3 Article " of
that instrument, and is as follows:
"Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have
the charge and superintendent OF the State Prisons
and shall possess such powers and perform such
duties in respect to other penal and reformatory
institutions of the State as the Legislature may
prescribe
Section of the same article provides that the
Legislature may pass such laws as may be necessary
to further define and regulate the powers and du-
ties of the Board, In pursuance Of this provision
the Act to define, regulate and govern the State
Prisons OF California, approved April 15 1850, and
the Act amendatory thereof, approved April 49,
1851, were passed We do not find in these enact
ments any authorization which, to our minds, con.
ferred upon the Board of Directors the powers
rised in the under eonside ration. The provs
relied upon comforting authority in the premises
is found in Section q Of the Act of $780, follows
% All convicts not employed contracts may be
employed by authority OF the Board OF Directors
der charge OF the Wardens and such skilled foremen
rs he may deem necessary, in the performance of
work for the State, or in the manufacture of any
article articles which, in the opinion OF the Board,
inTe to the best interests of the State and the
Board of Directors are hereby authorized to pur-
chase from time to tina such tools, machinery and
and to direct the employment of such
skilled foreman as may be necessary to carry
out the provisions of this section. The au-
thoritv given here is restricted to the purchase
from time to time of tools, machinery and material.
But the jute enterprise, as inaugurated, required
the exercise OF powers beyond any we conceive to
have been conferred by the proyis ons quoted. 1t
required an extension to the prison in the way of
erections and build ngs estima' ed to cost. when
$4,000. II required the purchase Of
over S54,OOO worth OF machinery at one time. IL
also involved an immediate purchase, merely
first nstallment i'll line of such purchases, of $50,
BOO worth of material. BY the provisions of an
Act approved March ., 1876, Section 1924 of the
Political Code it is required that in all cases where
the Commissioners Directors, Trustees officer or
officers to whom is cunfided by law the duty OF de-
vsing and experimenting the erection alteration,
addition to or improv, ment OF any State institu-
ton costing in excess of the of 50 COO, shall
cause to be made accurate plans of such improve
ment addition alteration, and also accurate bills
showing the exact amount OF all the different kinds
Of material necessary to such erection, addition to
Or alteration OF any State institution, which plans
bills of material, etc, shall lie submitted to the
Governor, State Treasurer and Secretary # State
Tor their approval. None of the provisions of this
aw were complied with as necessary legal prelim-
naries to the establishment of the jute mills now
IN process of erection at San Quentin. The mills
being erected constitute extensive enlargement
If that prison. We submit for your consideration
.he legal questions involved without comment.
Mileage.
Concerning the question Of salary and mileage
We find that the State Prison Directors suggested
md promoted the passage of the Act approved April
I3 1881, which contains the following section:
- See. 2. Section seventeen Of said Act is hereby
amended 50 as to read as follows II. The Directors
shall receive no compensation other than ten cents
per mile for travelling expenses, and one hundred
iolars Sl00 per month for other expenses incurred
while engaged in the performance of official duties
he Warden shall receive salary not less than two
thousand and four hundred dollars 81 400 and not
20 exceed three thousand dollars (S3 000) per annum,
n the discretion OF the Directors The Clerks shall
receive thousand and five hundred dollars
81 500 per annum, and all other officers and en-
Dloyes shall receive such compensation the Board
If Directors shall deem lust and equitable in each