St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-07
Democratic and Alliance Leg
islators Decide Upon Two
Important Bills.
One Abolishes the Present
Board Of Managers Of the
State Prison
And Provides for the Selee-
ton Of a New Board by
the Legislature.
The Other Calls for More Ma
chinery to Manufacture
Binding Irvine.

Upwards of forty OF the Democratic
and Alliance members of the senate
and house met in the house chamber at
the capitol last evening for the purpose
of discussing a change in the method of
appointing board of directors Of the
states prison. The meeting was organ
lied by the election of Speaker Champ
lin as chairman. Representative French
was chosen secretary, and on motion OF
Representative CapSer the newspaper
reporters were allowed to remain, the
StearnS county statesman taking the
broad ground that nothing should be
done in the meeting that would not bear
the scrutiny of the people.
The secretary read two bills which
had previously passed the scrutiny of the
Alliance caucuses. The first of them
provided for an amendment to the pres
ent prison law, by which the prison in
spectorS are made elective. and is as
follows:
Wipes the Board Out.
A bill for an act to amend an act entitled
IAN act to provide for the management OF
the state prison at saltwater, and to APP
propriate for the expenses of said prison
any funds arising from the labor of prison
ers and other miscellaneous receipts OF the
prison, approved April "A. 1889.
Be it enacted by the Legislature Of the State
OF Minnesota:
Section /. That section two co Of all act
entitled AN act to provide for the manage
ment of the state prison at saltwater, and to
appropriate for the expenses Of said prison
any funds arising from the labor of prisoners
and other miscellaneous receipts of the
prison, approved April 24 1889, be and the
same is hereby amended so as to read as fol-
lows:
Sec. Q. Managers-How elected, term Of
office That the government and control of
the Minnesota state prison, and or the prs-
Oners sentenced thereto, shall be vested IN
a board of managers to consist OF five MEM
bers, residents of the state. At the next gem
eral election two members of said board shall
be elected TO serve two years, and three for
four years, and at the expiration OF the term
of each member of the board his successor
shall be elected for the term of four years
and shall hold his Office until his successor
is elected and qualified.
The following named persons shall con-
stitute the said board until the first Tuesday
ill January of the year 1898 and until their
successors are elected and qualified, viz:
ITO be filled later
Whenever vacancy occurs IN the once OF
any member of said board such vacancy shall
be filed by appointment OF the governor LOT
Sec. 3. All acts and parts OF acts incon-
sistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This act shall take effect from and
after its passage.
Binding Irvine.
The second bill directs the prison
managers to purchase another complete
set of machinery for the manufacture of
twine at the state prison, the prefer
ence being given to American made ma
chinery. They are to purchase the ma
terial needed and three other machines
before the fall of 1891. The Irvine is to
be made at actual cost, plus the cost of
the board of the convicts, in the order
in which the applications are made by
the farmers of the state. If more Irvine
is made than needed by farmers of the
state it can be sold outside, and por-
tiOn of the profits divided among those
dependent upon the conyicts.
O,Brien's Explanation
81 suppose [ am looked upon as an
opponent to the manufacture of binding
Irvine at the states prison. "Said Senator
O'Brien at the conclusion of Senator
Donnelly'S speech, 'but L can prove to
you that | am not. [ do not see why
American machinery. With the eXcep-
is no such thing IN existence. That set
had been used two years ago, and that
was the reason we did not buy it. In
speaking of the prison boards oppOSi-
tion to this binding twine experiment.
/ think that no one of them even now
thinks that it can be made success.
We can make binding Irvine, but do
not think it can be made in competition
with the Irvine manufacturers"
Questions Galore,
A general discussion ensued, in which
Senator O'Brien answered questions
fired at him from all sides Of the hall,
showing that he has been studying the
Irvine question in all its phases. Sen
ator Mott, Senator Wood, Representa-
tive Champlin and others took part in
the discussion. Mr.. O'Brien thought
the scheme proposed for the election of
members of the prison board was not a
good one. If the farmers would request
the governor to appoint certain men lie
would do so. Representative P. E.
Barrett. of Hutchinson. gave his eX-
periences as dealer in binding Irvine.
Senator Keller made a brief speech,
urging that the first bill be approved
and the old board wiped out. The
farmers wanted change and they
ought W Have III. tOtlldLOL "
thought the board ought to be convicted
before fired.
Senator Donnelly poured oil on the
troubled waters by stating that no one
ever thought of accusing Senator
O'Brien of any wrongdoing. He was.
however, willing to talk to the governor,
and if he would appoint a satisfactory
board all would be well, as there was
no desire to antagonize him.
The first bill was approved by near
ly unanimous vote, and then the second
bill was brought up.
Senator O'Brien opposed the scheme
of electing the inspectors by the people
on the ground that there would be too
much politics in it. He was anxious to
act with the farmers, and proposed to
do so on this bill. and would do SO if
that was changed. The election of the
first board by the legislature would be
all right.
Senator Craven made an inquiry in
regard to the bucket manufacturing
plant at Saltwater, and in reply Sena-
tor O'Brien said it did not pay, and he
did not believe it would pay.
1 he second bill was approved and the
meeting adjourned.
EMPLOYEES OPPOSE 1T.
rV,o Dill r.