The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
xEBRAsKA,s CONVICT PROBLEM.
Another striking Specimen Of Pop Governnent
By Resolution.

BY Resolution.
LINCOLN, juno 16.-NebraskA has something
like l,4OO healthy convicts that the State au-
thorities are quite anxious to set to work The
Governor and other State officials charged with
the conduct OF affairs are busy writing letters
daily inquiring for some enterprising contractor
who Is anxious to lease the whole lot or a part
OF 1t. Under certain conditions the Nebraska
authorities will lease a small number TO any one
who thinks he can afford TO pay the State about
what 1t costs to feed and guard the uniformed
felons who crowd tho penitentiary quarters.
In addition, he may have the privilege of work
ing the prisoners In the elaborate system Of
workshops within the walls of the State institu-
tion or may remove them to any point In the
State. The State officers have received numer-
Gus offers from contractors east and west for
large bodies Of prisoners. but thus far no salts
factory arrangements have been made. Several
Nebraskans have suggested that large gangs Of
the felons might be used TO advantage in the
sugar beet and chicory fields of the State, and
several persons interested in the culture Of those
vegetables are figuring on proposals.
This condition Of affairs is one of the natural
consequences Of the peculiar views Of the late
Populist Legislature on the subject Of political
economy. The Populist leaders were Of the
opinion that the penitentiary should be self
supporting. They SO resolved. and seemed to
think that disposed OF all need for appropriations
for the support Of the penitentiary. Excepting
a small item for salaries Of employees these ap-
preparations were cut of. Since 1t has cost the
State, even in its most prosperous years with its
penitentiary-made goods, something more than
Q 600 to feed and clothe its criminal populA-
tion annually, a difficult problem Is now present
ed. The same Populists who resolved hat the
convicts should support themselves, enacted
another law that all convict-made goods In the
StAfn should h q branded anH the nninn lah0r
organizations throughout the State see to it that
the people do not purchase these goods. The
people. says Gov. Holcotnb, would not buy, for
instance. the stoves the convicts made, though
they were cheaper and better than any the great
duce. The contract in the foundry department
was cancelled last week because the State was
losing sing s several HUNDRED dollars weekly on IT;
nial source of trouble. expense. and Doodle to
the people OF the State since its establishment.
"; Fl. b. Stout, at one time one Of the wealthiest
citizens OF the State. built the, present, peni-
Tertiary, and secured through the Legislature
the first contract for the labor OF the convicts.
There was much opposition to farming out the
men convicted OF crime, and the sentiment at
il was charged. large amounts OF money
were expended in purchaAing the members OF
the Legislature who voted for the measure
which gave the contract TO Stout. This was in
the fall OF 1873. Stout then secured the CON
tract for constructing the State Capitol at this
made vast sums on the contract-estimated by
those who know at more than 81. 200. 900 in two
years. 'Ut u the TGilCS OF Ile power OIL THIS
man in state politics. who was called for years
Boss stout, is an immense stone structure in
Satpic county. overlooking the Platte River. 1t
is hve stories high and contains 500 cells. The
structure cost 100000. for it is equipped
throughout as is a frst-class State prison.
Stout built ii with his private funds and
proposed 10 locate there his hundreds OF con-
yicts. and mine the deposits of white stone in
the hills near by. When he had everything in
readiness TO make millions without the slightes.
e%Nertion. other politicians OF the State deter
mined 10 have II share in the proceeds or ruin
Stout. They went before the Legislature. ana
had a measure pn, up DECLARING the lease OF con
victs TO Stout void. Doodle was in sight In great
rolls, ana in the struggle Stout lost all he had,
and in despair assigned his contract TO Charles
Mosher. President OF the Capital National Bank
OF this city. whose sun began to rise in the politi-
cal armament AS that OF Boss Stout went out.
But 1t appeared to be "A decree OF fate that all
who touched the convict lease system OF Ne
brGska should be ruined. Moshcr had millions
at his command, and used them until he had
pretty nearly everything about the peniten-
tiary; He leased The convicts at 80 cents a day.
and built large additions to the new ~peniten-
tiary; charged the state Sl.50 q day for every
convict employed OIL i; put in his bill TO the
money. Suddenly. after six years Of most IN
parallcled success. Moshcr, in 1891. saw
his sun 20 down behind the same peniIen-
ttary walls that broke Stout's heart seven
years before. He Was even more unfortunate
than. Stout, being sent to the penitentiary
that he had So long controlled 10 serve a SEN
tence OF five years. He was sent later to Sioux
Falls. He is living in Chicago. ana Stout lives
in Washington on the bounty OF his children.
Mosher in turn assigned his prison contract 10
William Burgan and several other Lincoln men,
who in turn were ruined. Each declared at one
period or another that his financial wreCking
was the outcome OF the deliberate and system
attic hold UPS of the lobby and politicians who
surrounded the Legislatures from which he was
forced to secure the renewal OF his leases.