The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09
TWINE PLANT QUEST
SENATE CALLS ON THE STATE
PRISON MANAGEMENT FOR
A REPORT
BOTH HOUSES INTERESTED
GOV. Lind in Message Suggests u
Correction of the States System
of Bookkeeping in Connection
With the Manufacturing Plants
at saltwater - Moneys Credited
Wrong Fund.

State prison affairs were given not a
little attention in the legislature yester
day. In the senate, yesterday morning,
Senator Ryder, of Polk, offered the fol-
lowing resolution, which was adopted:
Whereas, at a meeting of the board of
prison managers. held April 6, the warden
reported that great many more orders
have been received for binding Irvine
than can possibly be filled by working
the present Irvine plant to its fullest
capacity; and
Whereas, a large number of prisoners
ture of shoes, the product of whose labor
enters into direct competition with the
product of many hundreds of free citi-
ZenS and taxpayers; therefore,
Resolved, by the senate, the house con-
curing, that the state board of prison
managers be and are hereby requested to
mediately when it shall reconvene, COM
plete and detailed answers to the follow
ing questions
First-How many prisoners are en-
ployed, under existing contracts, or 9TH
erwise, in the manufacture of shoes or
other product except binding Irvine; and
what is the value of all such product, as
1t leaves the prison, at going market
prices in open competition?
Second-What is the status of existing
contracts between the state prison board
and any person, firm corporation, in
volving labor of prisoners or sale of prod
uct?
The above questions to be answered
with reference to conditions which shall
exist at the time of the converting Of the
legislature in 1901.
Third-What will it cost to extend and
improve the Irvine making plantso that it's
capacity shall be doubled? The answer to
this question to cover estimated cost of
alterations in in buildings, if any are
needed.
Fourth-If the Irvine making plant
should be so enlarged, how many prison.
ers would be employed in its operation?
+i,,1of 70 Of
prisoners can be employed in the manu-
facture of shoes and clothing for inmates
of other state institutions.
Gov. Lind, in communications to both
houses yesterday morning, called atten-
ton to the necessity of increasing the
binding Irvine plant at the state prison
In order to bring about a plan by which
this could be done he suggested that the
legislature appropriate $4,000 from the
general fund to the revolving fund of the
prison for the reason that the amount
realized from the sale of the old ma
chinery had been credited to the general
fund when the sale was made.
The communications, which also in
Guided one from the state auditor were
referred to the committee on appropria-
tons The state treasurers letter was as
follows:
ST. Paul April Hon. John Lind Gov
ernor-Dear Sir: Upon looking up the
matter you spoke of this morning with
reference to the $4,000 derived from the
sale of old machinery at the state prison
l find that the amount was placed to the
credit OF. the general revenue fund on
July T. 1885, and was not reappropriated
In view of the fact that the legislature is
now in session, and any legislation
deemed necessary can be secured, i dc
not feel authorized to Inappropriate the
$4,000 in question, to be used for the pur-
chase of new machinery. Yours truly,
r. c. Dunn. State Auditor
The message from the governor was as
follows:
Executive Department, April T., 1899
Hon. A. N. Dare, Speaker of the House
of Representa- es-Sir: In view of the
Irvine manufactured at the state prison
has already been disposed of direct to
farmers; that a large number of orders
and remittances have to be returned
every y day, for the reason that the, sup
has enabled the prison to become self
sustaining, and source of actual profit
to the taxpayers of the state, to say
nothing about the effect that the pro
duction of this Irvine has had upon the
market i believe 1t is important that
the state prison board should be au.
thorized to extend the plant BY procur-
ing an additional set of machinery the