The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-26


politan Police Bill.
SATURDAY, Feb. 24-9 A. NJ.
The Senate met at o'clock A. NJ, Lieutenant
governor Hanna in the chair.
PRAYER by Rev. Mr., Harvey Harris, pastor of
the Edwin Ray Methodist Episcopal Church
CONTRACT CONVICT LABOR.
On motion by Mr.. Campbell the Senate re-
suned the consideration of the convict contract
labor pills, pending at the time of the election of
principal secretary OF the Senate last night, the
question being on the motion to refer to a select
committee.
Mr.. Campbell opposed the motion as no serious
objection has been raised TO the bill. II con
tractor desires to employ 100 men, twenty-five
expires IN 1884, twenty-five in 1886, and twenty
five 1887, and in every one of those contracts,
it is said, this contractor shall have the exclusive
right TO manufacture the articles named during
the life of each contract, the contractor keeps
alive the provision OF tapping, which is a very
undesirable feature that should be removed.
This hill provides a remedy for this tapping
process 1t also prohibits the employment of
convicts outside of the prison walls, etc. This
bin has been submitted TO the scrutiny
of OF the best lawyers on this
floor. and received their approval. The
detriment comes to the lah0rtnE classes because
of the low price convict labor products
thrown upon the market. in order to meet which
the free laborer must reduce his price. As soon
brand of Cain is put upon prison products tt
reduces the price, and can possibly have no other
effect The object of the bill is to enhance the
values OF c. nvict labor productions.
Mr. Hill inquired whether or not these amend.
ments not intended to depreeiate the price
of articles manufactured by convict labor.
MIR. Campbell could not answer for the mo-
tives of the mover of the amendments. He op-
posed establishing "A per diem for convict labor.
because there are strong men and weak, decrepit
and manned. and "a uniform price cannot be made
to work well.
Mr. Hoover suggested there were but a small
number of the latter classes.
Mr.. Camphell-Then a minimum price could ne
made to apply to such. He believed IN IN open
competition in the interest of the labOrng men
and taxpayers OF the State and IL is only for such
legislation should be had. He opposed creating
an aristocracy In the prisons and feeding such at
the expense of honest taxpayers of the STATE.
Everything that has n value will bring that
value IN open competition in the open market.
Mr.. johnson agreed with the senator that the
objects of the bills will be defeated by a refer
ence to committee. At least $4,000 voting
petitioners have came here praying for the
adjustment of contract CONVERSATIONS. II new
provisions are to be introduced in the present
system, they will be -evaded and dsregarded.
The system Ia pernicious, and Ought to he
abolished as proposed by the bill, S. b. No. 29l,
which will do for the State what the protective
tariff is doing for the country at large. The
national government finds II protective tariff
necessary to the interests of home manu-
facturers. This bill proposes like tax upon the
people of Indiana in the interest OF our
manufacturers and laboring men. An amend
ment made to the bill yesterday authorizes the
EMPLOYMENT OF convict-labor within the walls in
the manufacture of articles not made in this
State elsewhere. He had himself favored this
plan in the committee.
Mr. Mcclure, residing in the vicinity of the
Prison Sonth Nearly every session there are
mbutru philosophers prOppSlllS lllsHbNciubHb III
the management of our prisons. When he first
heard these bills read he was ready to vote
against them, because they are both impraeta-
bile Look at the contradictions in terms The
object OF branding prison-Inade goods is clearly
to depreciate their market valne, which should
not be done, because if done, contractors cannot
afford TO hire
Mr. Brown moved to add to $. B. No. 241 that
its provisions shall not apply to any existing
convict-labor contract.
Mr.. FOullze offered the substitute he explained
last night, to go with the other proposed amend
meDts to the committee.
Mr.. Brown regarded it as apparent these bills
should go to a committee. The bill, s. b. No.
2S1, proceeds upon the idea there IS no labor to
be performed by oonvicts except on a prison
farm. The senator from Wayne tMr. Foulke)
comes in with proposition for the manufacture
ing of articles not now manufactured in the
State He condemned the bill as the worst piece
of legislation vet brought TO the bar of che Sem
| ate. ami IL legislation this subject is needed,
he believed the committee would oring In q bill,