The record-union., 1892-04-09
STATE PRISON GRAIN BAGS.
The Farmers Want Them at the
Lowest Possible Cost.
Senator ostrom of Yuba, on Behalf of
the Changers, Addresses the
State Prison Directors.

Senator d. A. Ostrom of 1uba, on be-
half of the farmers. in relation to the
prices fixed upon grain bags. 1t viii be
considered at to-day's session:
$40 the Honorable Board Of Prison d.
Tectors, San tin-GENTLEMEN AT
the last annual meeting of the State
Grange, G., Z. Berry, j. ID. huffman and
myself were appointed committee TO
confer with your board relative TO the sale
and distribution of grain bags manuiac-
tured at San Quentin Prison. tlndlng
myself unable to personally appear be-
fore your honorable board, and at the in
stance of Governor Mark ham, / herewith
hastily tender my views, perhaps crudely
arranged, yet candidly submitted.
las Introductory, | submit that the
State, in justice to its citizens, should not
be party to the enhancement of the value
of any product of a State institution,
where that product is consumed by its
own citizens.
''To take up in It's inception the manu-
facture Of bags at the prison, it might not
be amiss to recur to the fact that in the
passage of the bill making the appropria-
ton of necessary buildings and ma
chinery the convincing argument was
used that if the appropriation was made,
and the State prisoners were put to work
at that branch of industry, it would be
strong factor in preventing the founda-
ring which combination, composed of
the various importers and dealers, are in
the habit of putting up the price OF bags
during the harvest far beyond reasona-
bic business profit, 10 the great injury
and loss to the bread-producers Of the
State, the farmer.
I'VE are aware, all are aware of the fact
that the poorest and the wealthiest use a
comparatively uniform quantity of bread;
also of this other fact, that whoever con-
sumes loaf of bread has, in some de-
gree at least, to bear his or her proportion
of the cost of producing it, even down to
the bag into which the farmer puts his
wheat; therefore we claim, and we be-
lieve the position incontrovertible, that
all citizens, all consumers of bread, are
interested mutually with the producer in
the manufacture of the several million of
bags per annum, and the proper distri-
button and sale of the same under the
management, control and supervision OF
your honorable board.
This brings up the question, how and
to whom should prison bags be sold, and
under what restrictions? We claim they
should be sold direct to the farmer, and
at cost to the State or thereabout. But
we are not willing to lump the entire eX-
pense bill OF San Quentin Prison, with
its thirteen hundred prisoners, more or
less, and charge it all up to the jute
works, for the reason that there are less
than one-third of that number engaged
in or about the works: why they are not
all so engaged, your honorable board is
dou btleSS well aware, is not the fault of
the farmers, for they have for several
years striven for legislation which
would have doubled the present output
of bags.
SAT the twenty eighth session of the
Legislature testimony was adduced TO the
effect that the cost of bags manufactured
of ha1 i've of Ia M ffar
the day shift was Shopper hundred; so that
at this time, with a very heavy duty re-
moved on raw jute, it would seem that the
output at San Quentin ought to be placed
within the reach Of consumers at very
much reduced price from that at which
your honorable board fixed it at your last
meeting for that purpose In this con-
nection it is not amiss to call your atten-
ton to the very proper action of your
board of one year ago. By that action
you fixed the sale of bags at six and one
half cents per bag, and limiting the num-
Der to any one individual to 5000. The
farmers of this State believe your action
at that time commendable and in the
right direction, ana largely prevented the
formation of rings and combinations to
rob the producer and consumer.
ut is not for moment to be supposed
that the honorable Board of Prison Di-
rectors would play into the hands of the
bag rings; yet the recent action ofthe board
has had that effect, for at the time the
price was fixed on prison bags at seven
and three-eighths cents, Calcutta bags
We're quoted for less money, June deliv-
cry. But mark the effect-immediatel
thereafter prices advanced, with proba-
bility of going still higher, particularly
if prison bags are to be still further adj
Vanced in price as foreShadoWed by a
distinguished member of your board.
LAS to distribution, we maintain that
the number of three thousand bags
should be the maximum, and none
that the board require an affidavit to ac-
company each order that the bags so or
dered are for the individual use of the
person so ordering. AS to the number,
we believe the medium or small farmer
should have an equal chance with the
large, more particularly as in the case
where the State, through your board, can
prevent the extortions which are prac-
ticed by rings and combinations formed
for that purpose.
I'VE claim some consideration from
the servants of the State. The farmer is
the chief bearer of the burden of govern
ment. He pays the largest portion of the
taxes which sustain IL; and he it is who
builds up commerce. By the sweat OF
his brow towns and cities spring into ex-
istence; by his labor railroads are made
necessary; where he prospers all other
Du5lneSS anu prosper, II Is
true, he furnishes small proportion OF
the inmates of our prisons; notwithstand-
ing, he pays larger portion for their
support. lie occupies but little official
position, and has less official recognition.
We are aware of all this, and more. We
are aware that he has no representative
on your board, which perhaps is well
enough, seeing that so few of his fellows
are under prison control and restraint
And now leaving this matter with
your honorable board, and feeling we
have in some degree acquitted ourselves
of a duty, as members of an order which
counts the rolls of its membership by the
thousands in every State in the Union,
we trust you will give this subject al
least your careful and candid eonsidera-
ton. and that you will place prison bags
at q reasonable price and in such quaint
ties as TO give all DESTROYS of purchasing
an equal chance to do so.
I'D. A. OsTRoM.
Wheatland, April 8, IS92.n