Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-23
SOLONS TO GREEN BAY.
Three Sleeping Cars Full of EN-
Visit New Refofmatory.
BURNETT" on LEGISLATURE.


Than In 'o1 The Move to Abolish Cor
sets-ContrHct Prison Labor Must Go
Prayers for the Lobby" Uncle Hold "
Taylor at McKiniey's Cabinet Table.
Madison, Wis, Feb. 21.-Many mem
bers of the legislature will celebrate
morrow ashingtons birthday-by
inspecting the constructions at the new
reformatory in Green Bay, as far as
advanced. They leave Madison to-
night in three sleeping cars as the
guests Of the Green Bay Business Mems
association. Superintendent Heg of the
reformatory Will co all he can to make
1t pleasant for them, and no doubt the
minds Of the visitors will be recon-
ciled to any needed appropriations to
complete the work. 1t Is Il grand eff
fort to save bad boys and first offend
ers, now sent to Waupun
Mr. Heg, by the way, Is a brother
in-law Of Professor Adams, the his
torian Of Yale, who is now the guest OF
the Historical society in Madison.
Henry Legler, secretary of the board
II historian, is related to the visitor in
the same way.
No More New Bills.
Thus this week will be badly broken
up. Last Friday was the limit set for
the Introduction of new business and
there was a flood OF bills introduced.
The total, however, Is not equal to that
of 1897. Hereafter it requires unani-
nous consent to introduce u bill; and
practically 1t Is impossible to get Il
measure started, unless 1t be some city
charter change, forced by unexpected
circumstances, or other bills concerning
which there Is no dispute. ON Friday
there were no less than eighty-three
bills introduced in the senate alone, and
many more than that in the assembly.
Many OF these bills are historic-claims
that have been put in year after year
without receiving passage. Many
are fool" bils-the idea of eccentric
people, dreamers who think enactment
would correct the Ills of the world. Not
n few are iniustices-sly, tricky eff
forts to effect u raise In salary, an
undermining OF authority, or the build
ing of a bridge or the cheapened price
OF piece of land-things that never
should be granted, but which some over
reaching fellow ConCcives can be done
on the quiet In Madisnn-it's safer
from home. Some are the bills of
dcmag0gues.
The feature of the bills this year Is
the large number of ion-taXing
measures.
Now for Some Good Talking.
The rest of the session will be de-
voted to consideration of bills on the
MI wi bn
talking The senate has score of de-
baters, and in the house conspicuous
are Hail. McGrath, Wheeler, True,
Harvey, Mcdonald, Overlook Bufling-
ton and Fugo of the old guard; and
Rusk orion, Vandercook, Sarau
Kecne, Moshcr Sturtevant, Bryant
Catliu, Dodge and others of the new
men,
Every year there are some bills to
make fun tighten bit of serious rou
tine. Senator Withee has in measure
to tax newspapers, and the bill to abol-
ish the corset has been sent from the
committee on health to the committee
on public improvements. Usually these
bills die unhonored and unsunE after
they hav" served their mission of play
fulncss, but sometimes. like the bill
to suppress the high hat at theater and
church, they are passed, and sent to
the governor and even become laws.
Wnupun Prisons Shortcomings.
Speaking of the trip to Green Bay,
there Is a feeling that Waupun prison
Is not what it should he; in fact, II
general feeling that Wisconsin is way
behind the times In carrying for the
vicious and hayward Even the Wau-
kesha school for boys, headed by no.
bile man, Professor Merica, Is an in
terroEntion point. Boys of all kinds
are hcrded together there, some of them
unconEenial step-children, whose room
Is moro desired ut home than their
company An effort is made at Wau-
kesha to keep the comparatively inno-
cent apart from the undoubtedly har-
| dened rogucs there but it can't be
| wholly done.
| AS for Waupun no one prctends that
any attempt at reformation is made.
The prison is old and unsauttary. The
cells are small 40 inches wide. and
some of them occupied by two prison
| erS 1t Is oNer-Crowded
The commission to investigate the
prison labor system thinks that the
NtN lNlh SNSitIl Sl'HlNl wv 'tll'IlltAl.
MIR David G. Green says:
"lndor the present arrangement
| (making shocs1, the labor is let out
under contract to Al. II. Wells n Co.
of Chicago. ut so cents per day, 500
! men requiring to he employed. The
| state must furnish heat power. light,
! buildings. etc. SO that the net revenue
! tn the state is comparatively small.
| The profit now goes to the contractor,
! whereas il should go to the state.
This Chicago firm has made Il pot OF
! money ont of this unhappy contract.
! In addition there are loo citizens" at
| work. men and boys Of Waupun, and
the commission says this is contrary
| to good prison discipline as the prison.
ers are constantly posted as to what is
guing on outside the walls and then
II Is not we'll to have young mon and
hoNs IN touch with hardened criminals
Prisoners should he kent apart from
the free world, This is part OF the
punishmeut."
Tho proposed plan provides labor ~,
the uonVicts on work for the state
semi-state and municipal institutions
,,l,t D.