The advocate., 1891-03-04

AWA NNAHNAAW NfAAN HANtaAAAAAH va VIM IA WANNNN
Of anything we know In that district Tho
coal is prepared with so much expenditure
OF machinery and labor that IL becomes
superior and moro valuable In tho market
fully twenty-five cents por ton.
There is nj present practically no system
Of accounting Tor all the coal mined. We
recommend that a scale be put on tho top OF
tho mine Every box Of coal hoisted should
DO weighed according TO such scale, and
what Is called a weigh scale should be kept
giving each convict miner a number, and
showing the accurate amount OF coal mined
by him. This quantity should tally daily,
weekly monthly and yearly with the
amount Of coal sold and used IN the p0ni-
tentiary. These weigh sheets should be in
the possession of tho superintendent TO form
a check against any waste or loss Of coal.
As 10 tho cost and distribution OF tho coal,
we and that from the evidence Of practical
men adduCed nj tho investigation that tho
product Of convict labor at the present con-
tract system 10 forced upon tho market In
disasterous competition 10 free labor and
free business, and should be abolished. We
are satisfied that the mine owners in Leaven.
worth are damaged, and also the coal
miners, on account of tho coal being sold
by contract at less price than what IL would
be produced by FREQ labor, and that tho state
Is losing money by the transaction. Ifa
check weighmHn was appointed at each coal
shaft, and the miners we're paid for all the
coal they mine, and the present mine own
ers had 10 compete with tho penitentiary at
the present price, IL would close every mine
in the city Of Leavenworth.
The parties who suffer most by the pres
ent manner in which the state coal is sold
are the coal miners. They are paid four
cents per bushel for mining, but thcy only
receive this amount for what passes over tho
screens, and as 25 per cent passes through
the screens, their price is reduced TO three
cents per bushel, 30 that coal miner has 10
dig Atty bushels per day TO make S1.5O.
Seeing that they only average three days in
o week, according 10 present arrangements,
il a coal miner wants TO be we'll cared for
and have a comfortable home, no must COM
NIT sOme act against tho law for which he
will be sent 10 tho penitentiary.
tits true that the state Of Kansas has
very good property in tho state coal mine,
too valuable in fact 10 be cast aside, and we
believe men who commit crime and are
sent 10 the pebitentiary ought TO be COM
PEELED 10 work. We mako the following
suggestions, which would provide tho con-
viCts with work, keep them from competing
with the coal miners Of the state, and would
distribute the benefits OF tho state mino
throughout the state; Let all the state in-
gtitutiOns be supplied with coal, let every
court house in this state be supplied with
coal, and also the country school houses;
then let the balance, II any, be divided in
equal proportions by taxation or population
in every county in the state and supplied at
cost price for distribution by the county
commissioners 10 the poor people in such
county.
II the above in your judgment is not ad-
visable, we recommend that at the expirR-
tiUn Of the present contract, the state by
law empowers and authorizes the superin-
tondent 10 sell the surplus coal, after sup
plying the state institutions, at not less than
the cost Of same computed on the following
basis: First, the management shall be
charged with each and every bushsl OF coal
mined by the ConviCts, at the same price as
is paid per bushel 90 che free miners in the
Leayenworth district. Second, the manage
mAnA ahnll hA nhnrrad with all tho hnah