The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1885-01-16

given ms bv lhr Hon E. C.. Watkins,
then ts warden:
A man arrived in Saginaw and
applied AZ h~ office OF a lumber firm
for work. He was told To come in
in the afternoon and he would be
hired Upon going out he met a
man up the street Who asked him
if he VS. u stranger, and answered
that he was from Canada, and seeking
employme ". The man accostipg
him, whu II seems was an officer, in
'ormcd the stranger that it was nee.
e>sary to register" upon coming
there, ard took him to an office where
another man. who it appears was a
justice of the peace, was sitting at a
desk. After remaining there short
time he was taken oct and conducted
to the depot by the officer and taken
directly TO Ionia under arrest. Ar
irving at the House Of Correction the
warden examined his papers and
found he had been committed for a
year as vagrant. He protested his
innocence, and the warden i'm
mediately wrote the facts as given by
the man 10 CIV. Jerome, who par
doned him. and, l understand, took
some action against the officer and
justice of the peace who had thus
co"spired to send this man to prison
Tor the purpose of getting the fees.
How far this abuse can extend can
MY be imagined; | therefore recon.
mend that law be passed prohibit.
nig any person from being sentenced
- This institution by justice OF the
''cace. and that no prisoner be sent
ere for less term than six months.
fh,> institution should not be used
SOLDERING off" place for men
VINO occasionally get intoxicated.
Such men should be kept in the
oun.y jails where the offepse is com.
United. / am informed that officers
frequently make long journeys with
single prisoner where there are
several to be taken, simply to in
crease their travelling fees. Accord
ing to the State Treasurer's report
there was paid for transportation of
convicts to that institution during the
past year the sum of $40, 682.13,
while the cost Of carrying convicts
for the State prison at Jackson for the
same period was s4,So5.os. Con-
victs received at this institution are
clothed in prisoners garb, and when
discharged are furnished new cloth.
ing il that worn by them when taken
in is not suitable for them to appear
as comfortably dressed men. This
item makes up large account.
There are two classes which should
not be sent to that prison. First,
those who are picked up when intox.
icated, before mentioned, and, second,
worthless tramps who have no pride
or home and are willing to 60 there
for the winter. The prison is now
filled to overlooking, with little work
for its inmates, there being moro than
400 confined within its walls in ex.
cess of its accommodations, and at
the rate i, is being filled, il that class
Of people are to be imprisoned as
convicts, the State of Michigan can.
not build prisons fast enough to hold
those who are convicted, especially if
the present stringent times should
continue to exist. sincerely hope
this matter will be thoroughly inves-
tigated during the session Of this
Legislature, and the earlier it is done
the better for the public good.
THE CONTRACT LABOR SYSTEM, ETC
l recommend the abolition Of the
contract labor system, and that law
be passed prohibiting the importa-
ton Of criminals from other States
or territories to be incarcerated with
in the walls vi any prison within the
State. 1t concentrates criminals in
Michigan and completes with the
honest labor of the State. Michigan
is not so poor as to need aid of that
kind.
have asked the different boards
connected with several State inslitu-
tons TO make their wants simply
what is absolutely necessary for car
rying them through the next two
years, and while under the present