The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-10


can regulate or it can abolish and a consti-
tutional amendment merely proposes to put
OIL for at least three years what We have
power now to do. Why not do Ii at once?
Why put it of? What excuse for not now
meeting the question? introduced bill
two years ago. which passed this Senate but
failed to pass for want of time in the House
have bill before the Senate now to regu-
late this matter. but Ii has not yet come up
for want of time. The special session will
give an opportunity TO discuss and pass 1t.
am in favor of doing now all that can be
done, not dodge for three years and leave it
for some one else to do.
Mr.. MAGEE: / don't agree with the Sen
ator from ST. Joseph. believe party hav
ing once expressed an opinion IN platform
ought TO adhere to it. This question Of con.
vict labor has had the serious consideration
of governments. In some OF the old coun-
tries and in New YORK advanced steps have
been taken on this question. aud steps
should be taken so that in two or four years
hence Indiana should be prepared to advance
in this matter. 1t would be great deal bet
ter to keep those men by taxation than
that 1000 or 1000 men should be outof work
because of competition with convict labor.
believe IL one OF the punishments was soil
tary confinement it would be deterrent. Is
there any Senator who desires 70 defend the
present system of convict labor? The pris-
onel' g labor can not be let on q sliding scale
There is ring in the Northern Prison that
makes the lowest possible contracts, and the
result has been to drive out of the cooperage
business large numbers of honest and free
laborers. Legislation should be so wise as TO
protect all classes of citizens am for the
resolution and against statutory enactment
because contractors would be here until they
obtained such legislation as would suit the ~
Mr.. YOUCHE: l will favor a law that
would ab0lish the consract system, believing
it wrong for prison labor to come in confics
with honest labor outside, but will oppose q
constitutional amendment on that subject
because / believe we should pass q law now
that will bring about the very thing we de-
sire; and it is not necessary to put il OF
four years in order to get a constitutional
amei dment on the subject A proposition
that is demanded by all parties in their
platforms it is well to scratinize care
fully. This question has agitated the
minds Of reformers for many
years. / don't believe in adopting measure
on this subject by Constitutional amend
ment. Let experiments come FIRST. aud after
the best system is found it will be time
enough to engraft ii IN the organic law. as
this matter is untried, wouldn't ii be better
TO pass law embodying the principles of
the resolution, and try the system before
fixing II in the Constitution Otherwise, il
put In the Constitution We would have cast
iron rules from which We could not depart
without great difficulty. The mass of the
people have as little knowledge OF the work
ings OF the several systems of convict labor
as members of The Legislature. 1t is wrong
to have free labor interfered with by convict
labor, but We should not rush headlong into
system We know little of.
Mr.. THOMPSON: That there is soma.
thing wrong in the present system of our
States Prisons i presume but few, if any,
will deny. Hence the mass of the people
say in the two party platforms this thing is
worDg." The prisoners are worked for the
benefit OF rings II these man knew this
Legislature were contemplating a change
they would be here in mum bars, aud | would
almost as soon see demons from Hades, for !
have no respect for nine-tenths Of them. l
ana far from believing because q man trans
gTeSses he is lost forever. The great point is
to restrain men from crime, and, if that
can't be done, to help to reform them. The
man who never falls is not TO be praised, but
rather the man who falls aud rises again. l
frost the people will have an opportunity to
vote upnn this question.
Mr.. OVERSTREET: The question as to
whether this resolution should be submitted
to the people has never been agitsted. The
legislation limited at in the party platforms
could be enacted without a constitutional
amendment Whenever any respectable
portion OF the people desire any question
submitted to them for constitutional
amendment will vote for it, There is no
demand from any quarter that there shall
be an amendment to that instrument on
posing TO dodge the question.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tippecanoe: 1t is in
order to compel the Legislature to take &C.
ton that desire a constitutional amend
ment.
EMr. OvERsTREET: Introduce bill and
in its platform. The planks do not imply q
prohibition OF convict labor, but such "a.
strictions ss the Legislature might think
practicable. We have all the power we
need. Let the Democrats introduce proper
bill and the Republicans will help pass II.
We can now do all we desire, but put this
in the Constitution and our hands are tied.
This resolution isputting of four years what
ought to be done before the close Of the
special session.
Mr.. JOHNSTFN, of Dearborn, demanded
the previous question.
The demand was seconded by the Senats
and under its operation the joint resol utio
failed TO pass for want of a constitutions
majority -yeas, IL nays, Is (Mr Campbell
of Hendricks. paired with Mr., Willard.)
Mr.. BAILEY, explaining his vote, said:
am very much in favor of this proposed
constitutional amendment. 1t does not
seek to keep convicts in idleness; it simply
proposes to do away with system which is
bad, detrimental to prisoners and TO labor
outside of prisons. The system has been
abolished in New York, Ohio, California and
one or two other States This ought to be
viewed in this light, il the system is wrong
it ought to be abolished, not by statute law
which may be repealed by any succeeding
Legislature, but il ought 10 be prohibited
forever by constitutional amendment II
seems 10 me this proposition ought to b.
submitted to the people. am not one who
believes the General Assembly ought TO sub
nit proposition to the people in order to
get their view alone. believe the CoDsti.
tuition contemplates il must pass the scrutiny
of our judgment. Ny Judgment is this sys
TEN ought TO be abolished; therefore / am
consistent in wanting the views of the peo-
pie on this subject. ! vote AYE"
Mr. CAMPBELL Of ST. Joseph: Because
there is no need of such q constitutional
enactment; because / believe what ought 70
be done should De done at once and because
4 IL. Il.