Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-18
CONVICT LABOR.

The Meeting Of the Chamber Of Commerce
Held eSterdGy-44sSesSn for BaGitd-
Gn0-COneict Labor Discussed.
The chamber of commerce held an ad-
journed meeting yesterday for the purpose
of completing arrangements for the new
building.
The report of the building committee
was taken from the table.
As the report fixed the maximum cost of
the building upon the basis of the esti-
mates for certain details, it was moved to
refer the same back to the committee
Geo. A. Pillsbury took the floor to explain
the situation, and it seeming satisfactory,
when the motion was put it was lost.
Mr.. Pillsbury was interrogated respect
ing the effect of adopting the report, and
he stated in reply that ne understood that
such action would not necessarily commit
the chamber further than to an approval
of the manner in which the committee had
discharged its duties.
The report after some little discussion
was adopted as published heretofore in
these columns.
CONVICT LABOR.
A petition signed by 40 contractors
meceanIcs, laborers and sother permanent
citizens, was presented to the chamber,
asking that the chamber in letting the
building contract, specify that convict la
Dor shall not be employed by the contract
or to perform any part of the work. No
tions were made to refer back to the petit
TONERS without comment, to receive and
file, and to refer to the building commit
Inn h. 1a1 L., 4
second, and the first receiving no second.
Considerable discussion arose on the
amendment. Mr.. PIllsbury said if the pc
tition was acted upon favorably the addi-
tional expense would be from $4,000 to
$4,000. He objected to leaving the mat
er to the committee. For himself, he was
opposed to the employment of convict
labor, and would be glad to pay his share
of the extra expense attendant on employ
ing free labor. However, the question was
whether the chamber itself felt that way.
The chamber should dispose of the petit
ton. 1t had already adopted the com
mittee5' recommendation that Fisher &
Co.'s bid be accepted. The bid was the
lowest except one, which specified lime
stone as the material to be used, but the
committee had unanimously decided that
limestone ought not to be used.
Mr.. Pray, of the committee, also said
substantially the same, and thought that
now the question properly lay with the
committee. After further discussion the
amendment was withdrawn and the motion
to file passed the chamber.
The committee appointed for the pur-
pose reported the following recommends
tions:
That rule IA of section be amended by
adding the provision, provided that the
board of directors are hereby authorized to
make a special assessment for building
purposes for the year ending Oct. 10, 1888,
of an amount not exceeding $50 upon each
member, or SO much thereof as said direct
DRY may deem expedient."
An addition to section 3, of rule -, was
also recommended providing substantially
that any member neglecting or refusing to
pay his assessment for ten days after the
same is due, shall be required to pay in
terest at the rate of per cent. per annum
until six months thereafter, and that should
the assessment remain unpaid for more
than six months the membership ticket eff
such delinquent member shall be sold by
the secretary to the highest bidder, the
balance of the proceeds, after paying off
the assessment, to be returned to the de-
linquent, who shall also be deemed to have
forfeited his membership and shall be re-
elected only as new member. Under the
rules the report went over until the next
meeting, which was on motion fixed for
March 26, at 2:30 O'Clock, D. m. The
chamber then adjourned.