The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-07-09
APPROPRIATIONS.
Action of Congress in Refer.
ence to the Appropriation
for the Penitentiary.


censured great deal for not securing an
appropriation for the penitentiary at
Deer Lodge, we copy the following from
the Congressional Record Of June oath,
to show that he has not been idle in the
matter. Mr.. Randall said
Now, as to the question Of the em-
ploymeht of convict labor The gentle
man from Montana [Mr. Maginnis] ap-
peared before the committee and asked
an appropriation of S25,ON. ] have his
proposition here. The committee dl-
rscted that an appropriation Of $4,000
be placed in the bill for the purpose de-
sired bv him Perhaps no other mem
Der of the committee than myself is re-
sponsible for the insertion Of that clause.
| will say, however, that while it was
put in as requested by the gentlemen it
never entered my mind that it was
going to be used to promote the employ
ment of convict labor in competition
with free American labor in any part Of
the country. If such is the case, | should
be quite willing that it 60 out of the bill
by common consent.
Mr.. Magiunis. am astonished that
such a little matter has created 50 great
4 commotion do not think that this
provision is at all deserving of the critic
ism of the gentleman from Saint Louis.
This is no proposition for Il competition
between convict labor and the labor Of
mechanics. There is no labor contract
involved in this matter. 1t is simply
this: the United States penitentiary at
Deer Lodge has not half capacity to hold
the prisoners confined in it. They are
SO crowded in the one wing of the build
ing now erected tilat it 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 de-
tail to the Department Of Justice Of the
probable cost of completing this peniten-
tiary according to the original plan. The
having no data did not sub
nit any estimates-has not done SO for
some years. Therefore, as the gentle
man from Pennsylvania [Mr. Randall]
has said, l introduced Il bill. | thought
by employing the convicts to build their
own walls and cells | would be more
likely to secure an appropriation.
wanted about 10000, but consented to
accept S25,tAO for this year. BY utilizing
the labor of the conyicts this would
come near TO building the central hall
and the other wing of the building. The
las granted $1,000 for this
year and authorized the building to bc
in accordance with the origi-
nal plan. am thankful for this. do not
bor of the tOnvlcts. am told that it is
that they can be employed
without this direct authorization. but if
it is stricken ont, then the appropriation
ought to be ralsed.e Tweetv five tho,,s-
and could be used taIs year, and SINH
lar amount next year would, if properly
expended, complete the prison in god
shape. am glad to have the Govern
ment committed to its completion, and re-
gret that the committee had not such Of
fetal estimates before it as would Justify
it in giving the amount I asked for 1
submit the following correspondence
with the Department of Justice:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U. $.
D. C.. June %, 1884
SIR The Committee on Appropria-
lions have reported in sundry civil bill
in favor of completing the United States
Penitentiary at Deer Lodge, Montana, in
accordance with the original plans.
Committee grants $4,000 for this years
work, :for the reason that there is no
official estimate calling for more Has
the United States marshal transmitted
any estimate to your Department for the
action of this Congress- Please answer,
as bill will be considered to-day.
MARTIN MAGlNNIS
To the honorable Attorney General.