The new North-west., 1884-07-04
PENITENTIARY APPROPRIATION.

rum tno SOHyTcSotoHd heCOFu Auu a
copy Of the Sunday civil expense bill, which
has passed the House and Is now IN the Sem
ate, II 1t has not already passed that body,
we are pleased TO see start has at last been
made in the long needed, oft petitioned for,
addition TO the Montana penitentiary. 1t is
probable that $4,000 is or will be appropri-
ated, and while that amount is inadesu ate
to the erection Of either the south wing or
central building, IL is sufficient TO make q
commencement, and Is q renewal Of the i'm
piled pledge Of the government when 1t un.
dertook the work that 1t would complete IL.
The clause in the bill as originally in
serted, said:
To erect the unfinished portion of the
United States Penitentiary at Deer Lodge,
Montana Territory, and to complete the
same in accordance with the original plans,
$4,000; Prorided, That the work shall be
supervision Of the governor of the Territory
of Montana, and that The labor Of the con-
ricts shall be utilized as much as possible
in the conduct of tie toork.
This section seems to have been passed
without dissent or question, until O'Neil, of
Missouri, In consideration Of question re-
lating TO the revenue service of Alaska,
raised the point on the penitentiary para
graph and the bill generally, that "it puts
"a special premium on convict labor by pro-
"viding that in Montana the labor of con-
"victs shall be utilized as much as possible
"in the conduct of the work there author
"ized."
Mr.. Randall in referring to this said:
"Now, as TO the question of the employ
ment Of convict labor. The gentleman from
Montana [Mr. Maginnis1 appeared before
the committee and asked an appropriation
Of $4,000. l have his proposition here.
The committee directed that an appropria.
tion Of SIS ,00C be placed In the bill for the
purpose desired by him. Perhaps no other
member of the committee than myself is re-
sponsible for the insertion of that clause. l
will say, however, that while it was put In
as requested by the gentleman 1t never en-
tered my mind that 1t was going to be used
to promote the employment of convict labor
In competition with free American labor in
any part of the country. Ii such Is the case,
l should be quite willing that 1t 60 out Of
the bill by common consent"
Mr.. Maginnis following Mr.. Randall,
said:
am astonished that such little matter
has created so great a commotion. do not
think that this provision is at all deserving
Of the criticism of the gentleman from st.
Louis. This Is no propositinn for compe.
tition between convict labor and the labor of
mechanics. There is no labor contract in
volved in this matter. 1t is simply this: the
United States Penitentiary at Deer Lodge
has not half capacity to hold the prisoners
confined In 1t. They are so crowded in the
one wing Of the building now erected that 1t
Is unhealthy and indecent. The officials in
charge Of this prison so report.
But they have neglected from time to
time to submit proper estimates In detail to
the department Of justice Of the probable
cost of completing this penitentiary accor-
ding to the original plan. The department
having no data did not submit any estimate
has not done so for some years. There |
fore, as the gentleman from Pennsylvania |
[ Mr.. Randall1 has said, introduced a bill. |
| thought by employing the convicts to |
build their own walls and cells would be |
more likely to secure an appropriation. l |
wanted about $4,000, but consented to sc-
cept S25, 900 for this year. BY utilizing the
10 building the central hall and the other
wing of the building. The committee has
granted $4,000 for this year and authorized
The building to be completed In accordance
with the original plan. / am thankful for
his. do not stand for the clause In regard
10 the labor Of convicts. am told that 1t is
that they can be employed
without this direct authorization. But If it
IS stricken out the appropriation ought 10 be
'aised. Twenty five thousand could be used
his year, and similar amount next year
would, If properly expended, completa the
prison In good shape. am glad TO have
he government committed to Its completion
md regret that the committee had not such
,fficial estimates before 1t as would justify
I In giving the amount asked for. l sub
nit the following correspondence with the
department Of fjnstice: |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U. S,
WASHINGTON, d. c.,
June 90, 1884.
SIR: The committee on appropriations
rave reported In sundry civil bill In favor of
the United States Penitentiary
L Deer Lodge, Montana, In accordance with
With the original plans. Committee grants
is 900 for this years work, for the reason
hat there Is no official estimate calling for
more. Has the United States marshal
any estimate to your depart
nent for the action of this Congress?
'lease answer, as bill will be considered TO-
ay. Respectfully,
MARTIN MAGINNIs.
To the Honorable Attorney. General.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WASHINGTON, d. c., June %, 1884.
ION. NJ. Mdginnis:
The records of this department do not
how the receipt of any estimate as TO cost
United States Psnitentiary at Deer
.odge, Montana, from the United States
larshal during this session.
G. CLAY, Chief Clerk.
he Speaker:
The time for general debate upon the bill,
nder the arrangement agreed to by the .
Iouse, has been exhausted. I
In the copy of the bill sent us the portion {
! italics above Is stricken out, so it Is pre-
lined 1t went to the Senate In that form. q
1hether "it was the other fellow" who did, 6
7 did not, do this or that Is matter Of no I
'ncern. Although the appropriation is in 8
iequate IL Is sufficient to do something to.
ard essential enlargement and ccmmittal Z
L
,ne 6fteen years ago. We hope - see the p
ork commenced without delay and by
,oper presentation of the facts and due en- g
gy in urging them the scandalous insufici- c
ICY Of the building will not much longer
'ntinue. The appropriation of $4,000 81
ould doubtless have secured the compile II
On Of the structure according to the origi- II
Il plans, and in It's completed form 1t would Il
1t more than be inadequate for the actual Il
'mands now made upon it. "a half loaf v
better than no bread" but 1t is folly to 7
lie out insufficient amounts where the N
hole Is pittancs and urgently demanded q
! every consideration Congress should
70 ear to.
MR. HAMILTON, formerly of the Salt Lake N
'ibune Company, has purchased the North 81
,st Ne,os Of Portland, and under the title Of B
be Portland Ne,cs" Is making first-ra b