The true northerner., 1897-01-20

count system. the state treasury being
practically unlimited. and. IL necessary.
the manufactured goods can be sold at
less than the cost OF production, thus
not only reducing the demand for the
products for free labor. but also the
price OF H.
Governor Piugree's Recommendation.
The above will constitute the SUBJ
stance of the arguments TO be made by
those who believe that the contract sys-
TEN is altogether the best and most
profitable for all concerned and the
contest promises TO be most spirited.
This important question has been
brought into still greater prominence
! just at this time by the recommended
tion of Governor Pingree i'm his inau-
gural message that the employment of
convicts should not be permitted to COM
pete with the great industries He sug-
| gests the idea OF attempting TO inaugur-
ate system of raising beets for the
manufacture of sugar or other food
plants which will not come into compe-
| tition with the farming interests OF the
state. In order to make prison farms
secure temporary stockades might, i'm
his opinion. be built, Ia be replaced with
brick walls. the brick TO be made and
the walls built by the convicts.
No man in Michigan has given tnore,
thought to this subject than o. NJ.
Barnes OF this city, who is a member OF
the board of inspectors of the state pris-
on AT Jackson. and chairman OF the
joint boards OF the several penal and
reformatory institutions of the state.
Mr.. Barnes was appointed an inspector
by Governor Winans when the central
board of control of all this class OF in
stitutions was created by the legisla-
ture of 1891. When the old system OF
separate boards was returned to in 1898
he was made a member of the Jack
son board by Governor Rich. and has
two years yet to serve During all
these years he has made a constant and
painstaking investigation of the ques-
tion of prison labor. For this reason
your correspondent sought him out a
few days since and asked IL he had
given the governors message consid-
GRAFTON.
Prison Boards VIII Cooperate.
Yes was the reply, II have read
the message OF the governor. and have
given that portion of ii which relates
to the prisons special attention.
In my opinion all the prison boards
will cooperate with the governor in all
measures for the improvement OF the
prisons. Such is my own purpose. and
] believe il is the purpose of all the
members of all the boards. The joint
meeting OF all the boards required by
law TO be held semi is soon to
occur. and l mean TO ask the several
boards, in advance. TO be ready 10 lay
before the meeting a report showing to
what extent they can carry out the
suggestion in regard to farming. with
out any new appropriation. All the
prisons have lands for garden and farm
ing purposes. and all do more or less
farming already. and ii may be that
this industry can be much increased
withour great increase OF expense.
THE boards Will Of course. follow the
suggestion made by the governor to
proceed with caution. They are anx-
ious to make any change that will be
an advantage 10 the state, and on the
other hand. they are anxious to avoid
mistakes. Several OF the states have
wasted immense sums i'm changes OF
prison industries that have resulted in
losses instead Of gains. The law al
ready allows the carrying out of the
suggestions OF the governor as to con-
good OF the state and | am in favor
of investigating the question ofutilizing
the prison farms and enlarging them il
found best. as recommended by the
governor We would not thereby es-
cape the objection made TO prison labor.
for the competition would then be
thrown upon the farmers. But after all.
no matter what the convicts do, il they
do anything we will encounter objec-
tions from some quarter in every field
OF la Dor. and In some fields greater diff
hculties than in others Even il we go
to making streets and roads with con-
victs we compete seriouly with a large
body of free laborers who now do such
work
boards Have Power.
I'VE are thus compelled to look at the
matter in all of its bearings Indeed.
j may say that the boards have at
tempted hitherto TO do so. but that will
not prevent doing so again and Il may
be that with the new views and aids
some changes may be found TO be i'm
provements The laws already suffi-
ciently empower the boards to under
take new kinds OF labor il found advis-
able. and shall advise a review OF this
entire subject. although I am inclined
10 think that the fuller the investiga-
tion the more clearly will it appear that
very few changes can be wisely made.
/ shall be glad IL we can Increase the
number OF convicts employed In farm
and garden work i'm the direction sug-
gested by the governor. One serious
difficulty has confronted us i'm respect
TO farming convicts. 1t is this: But
little can be done on the farm in win
ter. Perhaps, however. some other
kind Of work could be found for them
during the winter months.
What the governor says" concluded
Mr.. Barnes. about the classification OF
prisoners and prisons. and the transfer
ring of convicts rs. in my Judgment
excellent"
When the matter OF convict labor was
before the legislative committees two
years ago. Mr.. Barnes opposed the prop
osition OF the furniture manufacturers
OF the state that the manufacture OF
furniture at Ionia and OF chairs at the
Detroit house Of correction be prohibited
Those who favored the proposition sug-