Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-09-13
CUIBERrsoN's PLAN.
Proposes distribution OF Labor Among
State ANTS Blind TO
Make the Br0Oms.

Stdto lnetltuLtOnS--W ants bilnu 70
Make the BrOOms. Ii
T In . paper read before meeting Of
the board Of control ann published in
the quarterly bulletin Of the board, Mr..
Cam Culbertson. superintendent of the
Industrial Home for the Blind at Knox
vile, proposes a plan for the division
of labor among the various state insti-
buttons which in part Is as follows:
The kind, quality and quantity Of la
Dor to be performed by the mentally de-
fecttve should necessarily be prescribed
and directed alone by the trained ply
sicians who have the care and supervis-
ion Of this class OF the unfortunates of
the state.
The aggregate number OF inmates in
all the institutions of the state is about
600 Making allowance for all who are
mentally and physically unable to per-
form any kind of productive labor, /
venture the assertion that there yet re-
main enough able bodied persons under
the special care OF the state to do the
work necessary to supply all of the in
situations with most of the articles
which they require for general use. To
accomplish this work and reap this ben
eft, however, the authority of the legis-.
lature would have to be invoked and a
law relating to the industries of our in
situations enacted. comforting on the
board of control the power and author
ity to establish these productive indus
tries and to dispose of the products
thereof to the state and its institutions
To provide for the labor of the in
mates of our institutions in such man.
ner that the state shall reserve unto it
i self the benefit and profit derived there
from is a Contamination devoutly to be
wished,
With that part Of the question rela-
! tive to the growing of certain products
of the soil at the Institutions, will say
that, where practicable, each institution
should produce a sufficient quantity of
garden vegetables for its own use, and
save enough seed for garden and field.
When, for the lack of facilities. or for
good cause, this can not be done, or
there is failuresin growing any of the
staple articles required for use at the
Institution so failing, then the vegeta-
bles, staple articles and seed should be
procured, at cost of production and
carriage, from such other institution
nearest as may have surplus of the
article required. This would include
broom corn, large quantity Of which is
annually used at the Industrial Home
for the Blind, which article is essential
lily necessary to give suitable occupation
to the blind workmen.
Deprive the Home" of broom corn,
and the work of the blind inmate stops.
Furnish plenty of material, market
for the product, and fairly remunera-
tive wages for the labor, his work goes
on and he is happy and reasonably con-
tented. Most, If not all, of the broom
corn required to operate the factory at
/ the Home" might be produced at 9TH
Ter institutions having large areas OF
land and plenty OF labor to spare at
quite saving to the state.
/ The supply Of brooms required at ali
the state institutions should be fur
nished by the Industrial Home for the
Blind, and ] am pleased to know tina,
1.-The board OF control is of the same opin-
lion. At other institutions Inmates who
iare making brooms might be profitably
employed at some other useful occupa-
ton.
All brooms, made at the cost of the
4 state, should be made by the blind in
mates at the Industrial Home.
Divide this industry among the insti-
buttons, and the blind workman suffers
by the division of the labor, because
broom making, as shown by experience
is the only industry in which blind men
as class, can find such remunerative
employment as is best adapted to their
condition.
L We oil hof IA hno r6 To- a.
ling with the question. How shall the
best employed?"
Iowa is not alone in its efforts to OBJ
tain a satisfactory solution of this
question. For years past other states
have been trying to solve the same i'm
portant problem, and to determine how
best to employ the labor of the inmates
of their prisons, reformatories and 9TH
Ter institutions.
BY legislative action various plans oil
systems have been inaugurated. Some
of them have proven fairly successful
and satisfactory, while others were
tried. found wanting and by succeed
ing legislature discontinued.
The contract system. the piece pric,
plan and the state account method hav,
4 all been tried in different states with
varying results.
4 The, contract system meets with thu
strongest opposition everywhere. TIL,
piece price plan has been fairly success
full in some states. while the state ac
count system has been loudly de
nounced i'll others.
Illinois tried the experiment Of work
ing its prisoners on the state accoun
plan, but the records show that the un
dertaking was dismal failure. the in
ldustries in the prison at Joliet alone be
ling operated during its continuance a
a loss to the people of the state of hun
|dreds of thousands of dollares, as show
by the report of the commissioners. Fo
the fiscal year ending Sept. 80. 1897. TIL
loss in conducting the industries of tina
lprison on the state account plan i
shown by the report to be $119.49737
In all the plans named competition
with the general market exists. Whel
the state puts its produce upon the opel
market, competing with other manufac
turers of the same article. free labor be
comes dissatisfied and raises a protest
Some plan or system should b
adopted that would reduce to the mini
mum the competition of state labo
with free labor. What shall it be?
New York seems to have solved tn
question. In that state on Jan. 1. 1881
/ a 10 W wont into affact which ravol,, ttop