The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-04-11
The LEGISLATURE.

The Legislature.
The house in committee of the whole on
Monday attempted to settle the prison la
Dor question. but owing to an apparent
vacllatiOn in the minds of few of the
members, practically nothing was accom-
plished. The Willrich bill providing for
the state account system just as far as it is
possible, and the bill drawn by Mr.. Reyes
and made over by the prison labor commit
tee, and providing for trial of each of the
systems side by side, were under considera-
ton. The question was argued nearly all
day, and the final result was to put the
Willrich bill OH the calendar without recon-
mendation. and the committees bill went to
the same place with a favorable recon-
mendatiOn
Mr.. Reyes presented the claims of the
committees bill. which provides for the EN-
plOyment OF part OF the cOnvicts under each
system. He argued that it would be risking
too much to plunge into the state account
system at once, which might end in failure.
He wanted both systems tried side by side,
with separate accounts for each. SO that the
state account plan might be given a fair
trial.
Mr.. Barr spoke in favor OF the committee
bill and moved its substitution for Mr.. Will
rich's bill. He quoted at length from Car
roll d. Wright In support of his argument
that the state account system was the best
but 1t should be approached In a cOnserva-
tive manner and given fair trial. In Sec
Onding this motion, Mr.. Sumner took the
same position and gave figures to show that
it would be too expensive an undertaking
for the state to 60 all at once into the state
account system.
MIR. Keyes had the committee bill
amended in few particulars, and MI
W illrich had his bill changed by striking
out all reference to printing and binding as
employment for the convcts. He was
hampered in the afternoon by extreme
hOarsenesS, rendering it almost impossible
for him to be heard. His cause was also
weakened by the absence of Mr.. Davenport,
who favOrS the bill.
Mr.. Benson favored the committee bill.
Judge Fleming favored the Willrich bill,
because it was what the Republican party
had promised the people:
The other bill is not what we promised the peo-
pie, 1t is sort of now you-see-t.and- now-you-
don't bill. am in favor Of doing just what we
promised and not doing something which we
promised not to do.
The vote was taken on the substitution
of the committees bill for the Willrich bill,
and the motion was lost, 10 to 22.
Mr.. Willrich then moved that his bill be
recommended to pass. Mr.. Diment thought
that was taking too big a step, and would
not vote for taking up state account wholly
in the dark.
Mr.. HOyt favors Mr.. WiIlrich's bill. Mr..
Reyes defended the committees bill. Mr..
Searle moved to commit the Willrich bill
to the prison labor committee, but neither
Mr.. Reyes nor Mr.. Willrich was willing to
have this done. Mr.. Wllrich made final
argument in the favor of his bill, answer
ing the various objections which had been
raised. Mr.. Hedemann moved to amend
by making days labor, as provided in the
bill, eight hours instead of ten, but was
showed under. Col. Graves moved to raise
the appropriation from SIS, 900 to $50, 900.
but this was not favorably received. The
vote to recommend the bill to pass was
lost, "a to %. Mr. Barr moved to recon-
mend it to indefinite pOStpOnement. but
this. too, was lost, by vote of % to %.
Mr.. Hay then moved to place the bill on the
calendar, which was adopted, 80 to %. Mr..
Jacobson moved to place the other bill also
on the calendar. but withdrew in favor of
Mr.. Estes who moved that the bill be re-
commended to pass, and this was done by
vote of 25 to %.
ssFier Prufe.,,