Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-26

was made in favor Of convict labor
against that OF honest menr
Speaker Wilson took the floor, Mr.,
Tippett in the chair, and made warm
and eloquent speech in favor oil the
bill. Was it not proper bill? In de-
termining the trades at which the con-
victs should be worked, the Board oi
Directors should enquire into the effect
of such proposed employment upon the
Established Industries ofthe State.
the moral and physical condition OF the
prisoner, and upon free labor, and the
directors might IN THEN die scretion, pro-
hibit such proposed trade OF occupation.
IL was a good bill and q vast improve
ment over anything the State had as yet
had. Judge Ferguson said it was a bill
such as he wanted, and he trusted II
would pass as it came from the commit
tee. He called for the question
Mr.. Kepner now took the floor and
said he had hoped that this discussion
would be carried on from the high stand
point OF principal, that the
Gloveling Question ofDollsrs and Cents
would not BE- dragged into it. But fig.
ures seem to he more potent argument
than any other with gentlemen who
were willing to subordinate a pure ques-
ton Of right to that OF money. How
ever. in main the question OF principal
involved, which, in his humble judg-
ment, lowered mountain high above all
other considerations, land will meet
the gentlemen with figures. Last even
ing, when the bill came up, the gentle
man from Kanawha (Mr. Quarrier)
quoted from the report OF the peniten.
tiary directors, laying much stress on
The statement that il the contract sys-
tenn be abolished an additional annual
appropriation Of $4,000 will be necessa-
ry.
Where or How Do the Directors Get
Their FiguresP
Where are the items for this immense
sum? Are We expected to gobble It
down without data to support it?. IL the
directors believed what they say they
would have been very careful to hav e
set forth every item in detail.
Standing alone as it does, the state
ment is simply an assertion, and is
worth no more than my assertion. Now,
mark how plain tale will put this bug
bear down. Worked as the convicts now
are at ~ cents per day, it costs
$4,000 for their subsistence; OF this
sum $4,000 is paid by the contractors,
the balance OF $4,000 by the State. And
here is where the directors get their
$4,000. Their statement is based on
the supposition that the prisoners are
to be kept in idleness, but this bill does
not propose any such thing; it proposes,
as set forth in the first section to work
them, and work them hard. Therefore.
the premise on which this statement is
based being false,
The Conclusion is False.
| have shown that under the State
Account system the State will save
$4,000. This calculation is based on
the reasonable supposition that each
convict can earn so cents per day. 1t is
not an untried experiment; it has
proven successful wherever managed
on business principles. 1t is in opera
tion in Maine, and the directors, report
that the prisoners earn 50 cents per day,
with very little machinery. III they do
il there, why cannot they do il here?
We have hea-d a good deal about the
cost OF the necessary machinery-it has
been estimated as high as 10000. |
have taken the trouble TO obtain esti-
mates from practical men on this point,
and their statements show that $1,000
will purchase more ard better machinery
than is now in the West Virginia peni-
tentiary, omitting, Of course, the motive
power, which belongs to the State.
The present affords more favorable
opportunity for abollshing the contract
system than will again occur for years.
All the contracts, except that for the
Manufacture OF wagons, expire IN few
mcnths-the wagon contract runs until
1888. So the new system can be intro
duced without interfering greatly with
the industries OF the prison or shocking
the finances Of the State. Let this OPP
portunity 20 by, and we continue for
i've years longer the contract system,
with all its injustices to the prisoners
and its robbery OF the State and her
honest laboring population.
Lowry's Dash at Ferguson.
At the conclusion of Mr.. kepner's
remarks Mr.. Lowry sprang up and said:
81 want to know, Mr.. Speaker, il We
are to he governed by the gentleman
from Kanawha (Ferguson). He wants
this bill does he? lie likes it. | know
that the newspapers have said that he
was the brainiest member, but he must
not always dictate, nor think that his
bills and amendments must always
pass.
Mr.. Ferguson-"What has called forth
this
Unwarranted and Uncslled for
attack on me, do not know. Ii has
not been the first time he mas gone ont
of his way to attack me. Without my
knowledge or consent have been cred
ited with more than ever deserved. II
knew as much
As tae Newspapers Say Do.
| would be- something immense. Mem
hers will bear me out that have hon.
estly expressed my opinions always in
nv seat, and have never buttonholed
members to vote for my measures. do
not care for his opinion, but do care
about being taken TO task by the gentle
man from Summers. ] do not think
am subject to lecture from him, and
DO not dictate.
Then there ensued wrsngle between
the two.gentlemen, Lowry saying, that
the yentlenan from kanawha had laid
himself open, and that he Lowry had
a right 10 say what he choose. Mr.. Fer
vuson said. he said so aud so, and Mr..
Lowry said il was thus and thus, and
finally it being
Doubtful which had Crushed the Other.
Mr.. Ferguson said he was tired OF the
rrmpus and called for the question,
Which was, shall "iorty cents" be aub
stituted for fifty cents? proposed by
Mr.. Leonard to Mr.. Depue's amend
ment. This was rejected by vote of
So 10 2l.
Tn, question then recurred on Mr..
Depue's substitute for section four. Mr..
Ferguson called ior a division on strik.
ing out first, and inserting afterwards.
Mr.. Depue's amendment was adopted
bv a vote of - to 2S, that being the vote
to strike out the original section.
Several amendments were then made.
The words las provided in chapter IS
of the acts of 1877" were struck out. AS
bv the passage Of this bill that chapter is
Ia - Il