The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-03-09

HELENA, MARCH, o.-Ine mouse Io-udy Sus-
tanned the Governors veto of the bill for let
ting the services of the Territorial convicts
confined in the penitentiary at Deer Lodge.
The bill, it is understood, was presented at
the instance of Davidson & Co, who are
carrying on a harness and saddle manufac-
turing establishment, with convict labor, at
the penitentiary. Under the old law the
Governor is not authorized to contract for
hiring out the convicts for a greater period
than two years. The act proposed empowered
the Governor to hire out the services Of con-
victs for from three to ten years. The object
of the act was to make the term of contract
long enough that convicts in on long SEN
fences would have time to learn the trade for
which they were contracted, and before their
term was out to become of profit to the per-
son or persons hiring them. For instance,
the harness and saddle business (the business
of Davidson & Coz would require at least
two years to learn, during which time, it is
claimed, the contractors would lose money;
but after that time they would profit. Coy
ernor Crosby took the ground that the limit
of the contracted time was too extended and
that, as a consequence, many >convicts i'm
prisoned for less term than ten years might
remain uncontrolled for He also held that
the percentage of the proceeds of such con-
yict labor to be retained by the warden rs
his fee was too much and that his compen-
sation should be fixed by allowing him lib
eral salary. The Governor was little in
doubt, also, as to the view which "honest"
labor would take Of such a measure. One
Il. -. 81 htrH
Excellency will commend itself to nearly
every reader of the NEW NORTH WEST, He
says: Now every penitentiary should be
reformatory, and 1 think If some small per-
centage of every convict's labor should be
payable to himself, the standard Of industry
and character in the prison workshops would
be raised, and that If this percentage were
reserved as a fund to be paid the convict
on his discharge, the little fund the habits of
industry formed in the penitentiary would
make work such q real reform that convicts
might become valuable citizens" That sug-
gestion sounds feasible, and although it is
too late for this Legislature to act on it, the
attention of the next Legislature should be
directed to it. Habit is everything. A habit
of industry formed even in penitentiary-
not to say anything of teaching a criminal
a way to earn an honest living, to the lack of
which knowledge may be charged great
portion of the crimes Of this days sure to
result in great good. And, then, the convict.
coming out of the penitentiary with'the faint
of the prison upon him-shunned by all who
knew him; a "penitentiary bird"-will have
enough money, earned by himself, to take
him TO n new locality, with, perhaps, money
left to start him where he may engage in
some honest business. How different this
would be to being turned out Of the peniten-
tiary without a cent in pocket; no occupation
to make an honest living by, and yet with
the striped garb upon him-if not on his per-
son, nevertheless on his character. The
Governors idea, although only an outline,
seems good one. The true theory of i'm
partial government should, it seems fair to
suppose, give even criminals chance.
The printing bill, (H. B. 80, increasing the
compression of public printers, passed the
Council to. day.
The Council to-day put a clincher on the
House bill drawn in conformity with the
suggestion OF Governor Crosby's first mes
sage to the Legislature) to prescribe the PEN
atty for derailing, or even attempting to de-
rail, railroad trains. The Council held that
the penalty could not be too severe, and it
consequently struck out the Imprisonment
for life-clause. leaving only the death accord
ing to lawl penalty. Montana will not stand
any monkeying with her railroad trains.
Thore is no doubt but the Governor win
stand in.
HELENA, March g.-The Governor to day
vetoed the bill to provide better compensa-
ton for public printers. The House, to
which the veto was returned, sustained 1t by
q close vote.
The Governor also vetoed the bill to amend
the present law in relation to the care of in
sane. The present law, As is well under
stood, makes provision for care and treA-
ment nj the expense of the Territory Of only
>xuch marianne a. hova No v,raparfv az un ora,-