The advocate., 1891-02-04

present. session.
In the House Mr.. Cobun, Of Barton,
offered che following proambles and
resolutions, which were laid over under
the rules:
Whereas, Certain porsons and newspapers
are circulating the report that the Poople's
party OF Kansas is composed Of anarchistsi
communists and repudiators; and
Whereas, Said reports are creating some
uuessineas amongst capitalists who have In
vestm0nts In our state; and
Whereas, Said reports arc against the
best business interests Of our statoi there
fore bo 10
Resolved, by the House OF Represtnta-
tives OF the state OF Kansas, now assembled,
That WO are not, as charged, anarchists,
communists nor repudiatOrs, and that II Is
not our intention torepudiat0 or In any way
ovade the payment OF just debts, but we shall
logislato as far as we are able 10 place the
Kansas farmers and laborers in a position
that will enable them TO pay all just dobtsi
be-
Resolved, That our warfare Is not directed
towards the eastern loaner OF money, but
towards the sharks and soalDora who have
30 long preysd upon theindustrial Glasses Of
the state.
Mr.. seaton, OF AtchisOn, presented
memorial from the Usage City Citizens
Alliance, which related TO the Leaven-
worth convict coal shaft, and from which
the following is extracted.
During the past two years an average
Of $40 convicts worked in the penitentiary.
During that period there was received In
cash B2O9;12559. Besides this there was
made certain improvements within the pen
itentiary, and coal furnished TO the state in-
stitutiOns amounting TO Gall told) $95, ,96616.
Total earnings Of $40 prisoners in two years,
305,O92.75; or an average Of s3482S per
prisoner FOR two years work; or $l7A.lA per
year, or $1451 per month. There was an
output OF 3,405, ,231 bushels OF coal and sales
Of same TO the amount OF $184.598.43.
From the facts 80 stated in tho Governors
message we deduct tho following The state
receives from the work done by the conviCts
only 1881 per month, OF less than One-hhlf
what the work Of ordinary free laborers,
mechanics, clerks or coal miners--is worth.
The plant Of the penitentiary has been
furnished by taxes raised from citizens Of
the state. There is no interest account aC-
Cruing to take away part Of the revenue of
the business done. The supplies furnished
for the maintenance of the prisoners are
bought at wholesale, and should therefore
be gotten at O less rate than those used by
private people. Any private business man
operating business Of magnitude equal 10
the penltentiary, should IL be in like Circum-
stanCes-thRt is, freed from taxes and in
terest-be enabled 10 mako large profits,
while the business done by the present man
agement shows loss that has 20 be made
up by taxation. Amy one acquainted with
She management Of mines must be con-
vinCed chat there must be gross e1trava-
ganOe, mismanRgement, incompetenCy, or
worse, in the operating Of that concern.
And those can be found who would operate
800 men (in no position 10 strike or refuse
10 work in unpleasant plaOes) and realize
out OF the profits sufficient 20 turn over
100000 annually TO the state after paying
all expense and keeping up necessary inn
prOvements. There is a worse feature at
tached TO the operation Of the convict coal
shaft. The coal produced by men
for whose work the state, under
tho present system receives only 814.51
per month, is sold 70 contractors AZ
v,-son a,y,,, 1,a1ov, iks ort,,o1 ,,.I,,o - =