The San Francisco call., 1897-02-17
Manufacturers Opposed to
Power Machinery
in Prisons.
Police Judges Scored for Not
Enforcing the Pure
Food Law.
A Statement That the Fear cf Losing
Votes Prevents Them From Do
ing Thsir Duty.

portanee was held by the directors of the
Manufacturers and Producers Associa-
tion yesterday. The principal subject
discussed was a resolution previously Of
fered by Director Kerr. In substance it
was that the Legislature be requested to
pass q bill providing for the abolishment
of all power machinery in the State
prisons and that after December 81, 1897,
the convicts be compelled to perform their
labor by hand, unaided by machinery.
This resolution had been referred to the
legislative committee of the association,
and yesterday two reports were made by
the committee. The majority report was
that at this time the association should
not take up this matter. The minority,
signed by Mr.. Kerr, favored the adoption
of the resolution as presented.
Mr.. Kerr delivered an eloquent address
in support of his position. He said that
efforts are being made to have the State
purchase more machinery, especially for
the rock-crushing project at Folsom.
There is already a large sum of money
tied up in prison machinery in this State,
particularly at the San Quentin prison.
The prison directors are making every
effort TO keep even on the expenses, but
this IS impossible, when all the outlay
is taken into consideration. In order to
make showing the manufacture of any
class OF articles by convicts becomes a
com mercial feature and competition with
free labor follows and the latter is made to
suffer. Mr.. Kerr stated that when Chi
cago was in the height of her prosperity
the State prison convicts were engaged in
the cooperage line and ran all the outside
coopers out of business. In other places
the wooden and willow ware business was
ruined by convicts. New York has
abandoned power machinery in its prisons
and the men are kept on hand labor only.
While the farmers are benefited by the
manufacture of iute grain bags, they
eventually lose all in the high shipping
rates.
Mr.. Kerr spoke OF the idle 600 idle !
workingmen in this City who are endeaY- !
oring to secure aid from the officials. and !
said that this is a strange time for " rden /
Aull to lobby in the Leg stature for II ore |
machinery, so that still more free men /
should be made idle in order that he /
mig t find work for his jailbirds. Again |
speaking of the iutemill, Mr.. Kerr stated |
that the directors report for 1895 showed /
that the mill runs behind $1,000 year. /
He urged that the association 60 on record !
as opposing power machinery in The Cali
fornia State prisons.
Director Allen agreed with Mr. Kerr so
far as the rock-crushing machinery is con-
cerned. but he was opposed to interfering
with the lute plant in the other prison. |
Besides it was too late to do anything
with this Legislature. Upon the recon-
mendalion of Director Keller that the date |
of abolishinR power machinery in the
prisons be changed from Decem Der 81,
1897. TO December 81, 1895" Mr.. Kerr's
resolution was adopted.
The next subject discussed was intro
duced by President Sonntag who stated
that the pure-food ordinance is sadly dis |
regarded. The Health Department officers
arrest offenders, but the Police Judges |
dismiss the cases for fear that at the next
election they will lose the votes O: all who |
are prosecuted and convicted. He sug-
ges:ed that conference be held with the
Police Judges to see if the law can be in !
forced. If not, then il would be we'll to |
see # there is any law by which the Police
Judges can be reached.
Director Jacobs stated that there had |
been twenty-three arrests in ten days ana
all had been clear violations of the law, |
yet there were twenty acquittals and but |
three convictions, and Judge Campbell
was the only one who had the courage to !
impose heavy fines. The Judges divided |
uD the cases because they were fearful of |
losing votes il the whole batch fell to one
court. Mr.. Jacobs said that report by
Major Mckinley of Ohio showed that in
1895 the impure-food business amounted |
TO S27 900 day and 81 SOC, O00. 600 year.
Director Allen OF the Pure-food Com
mittee OF the Council of Associated indus
tries stated that the committee had ap-
pointed an attorney to draft legislative |
bill making the handling of adulterated !
food a felony instead OF a misdemeanor.
The bill prepared provides for the first Of
fense a fine OF not less than $o5 nor more
than $1,000; for the second offense not less !
than $50 nor more than $500, or imprison-
ment in the County Jail for six months:
for the third and all subsequent offenses
fine not less than $500 nor more than
500 and imprisonment in the State prison
not less than one nor more than five
years.
A committee consisting of Directors
Sbarboro, Jacobs and Mclaughlin was
appointed to call upon the Police Judges
with a view of having the pure-food ordi-
nance enforced. If this conference does
not result satisfactorily the association |
will lay the matter before the Grand
jury.
President Sonntag called attention to
the fact that the annual meeting and
election of directors of the association will
be held on March "A. Therefore he ap-
pointed as committee to make arrange
ments for that meeting Directors Mead,
Keller and Kerr.