The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-15
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
The Members of the House Go Junketing
to Saltwater Prison.
An Anti. Trust Bill To-Day.

The members of the House all took a
iaunt to. Saltwater yesterday to see how
the peuetentiary was managed and to
get, if possible, some points that would
aid them in settling the troublesome
question of prison labor. Nearly all the
members were present, and most of
them had some particular constituent or
convict to look up. Representative
Estes was one of the party who cap
tured the Younger boys in the swamp
near Madelia after that hard-fought
seige, and he recalled himself to them
and exhibited to Cole a cartridge which
he had taken out of that worthy's re-
volver after he was captured, and which
he has carried. in his pocket ever since.
The capture took place twelve years
ago the twenty-fifth of last September,
and the brass cartridge is polished
smooth and bright from wear. Repre-
sentative Barr also bad a "Reminiscences
to talk over with Cole. Mr.. Barr was in
the Mankato bank at the time of the
famous raid, and remembered that two
of the parties had come in and had a
bill changed. He recognized Cole as
one of the pair and spoke TO him about
it. Cole admitted the fact and said that
they had designs upon the Mankato
bank, but gave up the idea for two rea-
sons. The grasshoppers had been
through the country and the farmers
were very poor, and little money was on
deposit. Besides this the bank was
building new building and good
many men were about, and this fright
ened the would-be robbers away to
| Mortified.
On the way home large number of
the party were interviewed on the con-
clusion reached as result Of the visit.
A number of things were asceItained.
They were all pleased with the condi-
| ton and management of the prison and
the inmates, and the way they were
| treated by all connected with the insti-
ton. They all realize from the state
ments of the conv;cts themselves, If for
no other reason, that work should be
provided them at once. There is differ
ence of opinion, however, as to the sys-
| tenn to be adopted. Some of them favor
return TO the contract system and
some favor the state account system.
Representative Barr is reported in
the Pioneer Press as saying that the only
thing which Is In favor of the latter is
that Just now there is work enough about
! the prison and about the st. Cloud re-
| formatory which must be done to pro-
vide most of the convicts with labor for
some little time. Representative Will
rich contends that this is the very rea-
son why this system should be adopted,
as it would enable the state to enter up
on il gradually and by degrees build up
various industries that would, when
this temporary work is over,
furnish all the convicts with employ
ment. 1t is evident that the decision
on the policy of the state in this matter
is to be by no means unanimous, though
some decision will no doubt soon be
reached. There is bill in the senate
duce one i'll the house, which will at
least have the effect of crystallizing sem
timent, whether it is adopted or not.
In the senate very little was done &C.
yond the introduction OF iDiiiiiis. A num-
Der Of these related to chastity, the most
! important being to make the age of con-
sent in females Is instead of 16 years,
and definitely defining abduction and
the penalty therefor. When the senate
went into committee of the whole the
following bills were recommended to
pass: Relating to the transfer of 40
tions; relating to the State Historical
society: to prevent the wearing of soci-
ETY. badges The bill relating to Wis
consin railway companies caused little
debate, and was finally referred to the
| judiciary committee.
| ANTITRUST BILL.