The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-24

the products Of the labor which is directly oppo-
site to the object of the bill.
Mr.. Van Vorhs had looked somewhat into
the manner in which the refOrmatorv interests
are managed. He favored as between these two
the bill, 3. b. No. 281. II there Is any vicious
thing in these Institutions above another,
IL Is the custom In vogue in some of them, In
place of hiring teacher to instruct those put
under them, they hire out the mechanical de-
partments and require the inmates to work as
the contractor directs All incentive to edu-
cate them In the mechanical arts Is taken away.
The institutions ought to be kept on such a basis
as to educate these pupils who have lost part OF
their senses, so they may be able to compete in
their work with their more fortunate competi-
tors.
Mr.. Willard offered a substitute for the amend
ment requiring stamp, "oonvictmade goods"
TO be affixed on all prison-made goods. He heart
lily approved of the hill introduced by the Sena-
tor from TippecanOe (AIr Johnson, but the CON
tracts already made will not expire until 1887
and for that reason lie offers this amendment so
as TO reach the immediate needs of the labOrlng
men in the State. AS he understood the bill
Is. B. No, 241), its provisions are not desirable.
This substitute Will not interfere with existing
contracts and will bring immediate relief, while
not materially in1uring the contractors, because
they have already sufficient protection in their
enormous profits. Then his substitute requires
the same rule to hold and effect prison made
goods coming into the State. The relief it bring
Is not far in the distant future, but requires
these goods to go out branded from this time
forth, just what they are.
Mr. Graham moved to add a new section, so as
to require the contract price for labor to be not
less than seventy-hve cents per day. Such labor
should raise a fund sufficient to maintain the
prison. large portion of this kind of skilled
labor only brings to the State forty cents a
day. Any ordinary labor should bring more
than that. These contracts for prison labor
are strange things, doubt IT the truth could be
got at. This thing ought to be regulated by the
Legislature and there should be fixed price.
Mr. Van Vorhis moved to amend the bill, S. B.
No. 2Sl, as TO include the benevolent as well
as reformatoTy Institutions, and authorizing
these TO employ teachers to instruct the pupils
In such mechanical arts may be most to the
advantage of such pupils and inmates.
This amendment was agreed to.
Mr. Spann was earthly in favor of the passage
of the bill, s. b. No 2s1. He regarded it as do
ing wrong to the laboring men of this State for
the State to let out convict labor has been the
custom. IL Is broad and comprehensive bill.
He would not compromise this proposition by
letting out this labor on competitive contracts
He favored applying this principle OF this bill to
the reformatory institutions. The State ought
to be proud enough and grand enough to give
her prisoners employment They had better be
put to agricultural pursuits.
Mr.. Brown moved to strike out the third sec
tion of bill, 8. b. No. PSI. making each county
liable for the support of cOnvicts therefrom, less
the amount earned by the contracts. He op-
posed both bills. All this talk about convict
contractors having any effect upon the price of
labor is absolutely ridiculous. 1t does not oDer-
ate in the slightest degree upon the fixing Of
wages of laOoring men throughout the State.
Under Democratic management, for the past
few years, the penitentiaries self-supporting,
because the wise law on the statute book pro-
vides that convicts shall work they ought to
WOrK. snail IL he SAID tine state Is To support
felons in laziness or idleness! The amendment
proposed by the senator from Hancock (Mr.
Yancey) Is simply an indirect way to prevent
| the State FROM reaplng any substantial benefit
from its convict labor. Discipline cannot be
maintained in the prisons unless the men can be
kept at work. This bill is bill of denominations
and injustice to the people of this State. He
moved to refer these two bills to select com
mittee OF five, TO if they cannot harmonic
these conflicting interests.
Mr.. Bundy while not objectng to the refer
ence of these two bills, stated some objections to
the bill. s. B. No. 2S1. While now convicts are
employed this bill proposes 10 keep them in idle
ness. When the present contracts expire there
is no provision for hiring them, but they must
| remain in idleness. This is one of the most com
pick questions that can arise. VINO gets the
benefit of cheapening manufactured articlesa
II is the lahOring II that is not true the
| form should be in the system of contracts. A
young man sent to the penitentiarV should
! learn trade If he has none before. ImprisOn-
ment at hard labor is a ref0rmatory process.
He favored letting contracts ut such price that
the articles manufactured cannot he sold at less
| than the market price of articles made by free
| labor. He closed by making an Intellectual mo-
! ton to adjourn at twenty minutes before 6
O'clock
| Mr.. Foulke opposed the motion to refer the bill
| to a select committee and indicated an amend
ment he desired to offer at the proper time TO
section 3, authorizing the directors To manufaC-
ture In the prisons goods not manufactured else
where in the State. On the score of economy
this sort of provision should be established i'll
| lien of the present law
Mr.. Bell moved to suspend the order of busi-
ness in order that he may offer the following
olution
Resolved, That the Office of secretary of
| the Senate is hereby declared vacant, and that
Albert j. Kelly be and he is hereby declared sec
rotary OF the Senate for the remainder of this
regular session of the General Assembly,"
The motion to suspend the order of business
was agreed to by yeas "a, nays %.
Mr.. Bell moved the adoption Of the resolution
| and demanded the previous question.
The demand for the previous question was sec
onded by yeas "a, nays %.
! Mr.. Bundy-I was afraid this morning this
was too beautiful to last. IIaughter.l
The mhin question was ordered, division of
| the question being demanded The first part de-
claTing the office OF secretary of the Senate va
cant was agreed to by yeas "a, nays %
Pending the vote, Mr.. Benz, when his name
was called, said: There Is no man think more
of than do MIR. Nixon. J served in the House
| when he was clerk, and IN any business trans
action VIII do all can for him, but this time it
| is politics, and not business, therefore l vote
yea" Laughter
| The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES declared the first
| clause agreed TO, and stating the question now
| to be on the last clause of the resolution, di-
rected the assistant secretary to call the roll.
The last clause was agreed to by yeas d. nays
| %.
| The acknowledgements declared Mr.. Kelly
elected secretary of the Senate, and requested
| Mr.. Kelly to receive the OATH
The oath was administered by Judge 8. NJ.
| Hench, judge of the Allen Criminal Court.
Mr.. Bell moved that the vote last taken be re-
considered, and to lay the motion to reconsider
on the table.
| The latter motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Brown offered "A resolution, which was
adopted, that the thanks of the Senate are here
by rendered to the Hon. Cyrus T. Nixon for his
of the Senate.
Mr.. Bundy suggested that it be adopted stand
ing and in silence
Then the Senate adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.