Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-02-06
Question Of His Labor to be
Considered.
WORK OF LEGISLATURE
What the SoIons Will do the Coming
Week Compulsory Education
Measure will Come UP Be
fore Committees

Des Moines, Feb. 5.-(Special.) lit is
expected the coming week will see the
much agitated convict labor question
taken up by both branches of the legis-
lature, and disposed of in some man
ner. 1t is impossible for the wisdom of
man to foretell what will be accom-
plished in this direction. Several bills
on the convict labor question have been
introduced, and from these the joint
labor committee will be expected to
draft measure that will be to the
satisfaction of the majority.
In the house there are three bills
the Theunen bill, the Nicolaus bill and
the Wilson bill. In the senate Titus
has introduced two bills. The commit
tees will probably draft bill embody
ing some of the features of the Titus
and the Nicolaus bill, with possibly
some parts of the Wilson bill. III this
is done the enemies of the convict labor
system will unite, and will put up
hard fight if necessary. One of the
| Titus bills provides for the abolish
ment of the pearl button industry at
! Ft. Madison. The pearl button facto-
| ry and The butter tub industry at Ana
mosa have come in for a great amount
| of dislike with the laboring men and
| labor organizations thruout the state
| generally. and with the factories along
the Mississippi and eastern part OF the
| state particularly. 1t is claimed by
the opponents of the convict labor sys-
! TEN that the butter tub factory has
| even been so destructive as 10 cause an
| Anamosa manufacturer to commit sui
eide. 1t is alleged he became discour,
| aged at having a twenty-five years
| business wiped off the face of the
earth by the introduction on the mar
l>et of rival goods with which he could
| NOS compete, and that on this account
lie killed himself The pearl button
people along the river have stories of
almost as sad a nature. These people,
and the workingmen of the state thru
the trades and labor assemblies, are
raining petitions for the abolishment
of convice labor down on the members
and committees to the extent of sever
al day; and have so far succeeded III
making an impression as to bring the
subject up for considerations this week.
/ At present the board of control has
practically full sway as regards letting
of convict labor, and there are many
members OF both branches who feel
that the board is handling the question
| well and should be let alone. The di-
! vision on the question makes the fate
of a measure abolishing convict labor
very uncertain.
The Wilson bill was presented 10 the
house Saturday. In his measure Mr..
! Wilson believes he has presented new
solution of the question. The bill pro-
yides that the inmates of institutions
shall be divided into two general class
i abls-bcdied males and females and
/ less vigorous males. The able-bodiea
! males are 10 be retained at che psni-
4 tentiaiy at Anamosa, and the other
class is to be retained at FIT. Madison.
The bill provides that the convicts
/ shall perform all the work necessary
I 10 the operation of the state institu-
i tions. such as erecting buildings, max
4 ing clothing and shoes. cooking, etc.
i The able-boelied men shall be contained
i at Anamosa aud shall be worked in the
stone quarries, and upon road work at
! the request OF any city, town, county
or township. The municipality where
i in the road work is done shall keep the
l ccnvicts while there are engaged ia the
work desired. When not employed in
4 stone and road work the convicts will
be placed at manufacturing articles Of
| merchandise, which shall be put on the
market, at market prices. Ten per
/ cent of she receipts from such labor
| shall go 10 the man performing it.
/ The second Titus DILL, in the senate.
4 provides that conyicts shall be divided
into three classes. The first class is to
be known as the industrial class and is
TO do industrial work as it is done in
4 ordinary industrial schools. The sec
lond class is to manufacture all articles
used by the various state institutions.
The third class shall include those con-
Nicts who are not able to work in the
first two classes. The bill provides
that they shall be engaged at work
: tended to promote their strength and
/ health. and as far as possible shall
/ manufacture articles for use in state
institute ions.
The Theunen bill is practically the
same as the last Titus bill.
II is expected there will be a bill in
), troduced within few days providing
that private banks must submit 10 ex-
animation by the auditor OF state. At
81 present tue lJilNatS Dai$hs u iONu uliil-
Der abou1 300. and are operated purely
as private institutions. They are not
compelled to submit to examination.
The house and senate committees on
schools will hear arguments for and
against the compulsory education
measures already introduced, Wednes-
day afternoon OF this week. Senator
4 Hayward is champloning the cause OF
i in behalf OF this measure. Represen-
tatives of the Lutheran church, nclud-
3 ing several western states, will appear
aud argue the other side of the ques-
!. tion. TO date the only objections tc
{ the compulsory educasion bills have
). come from the Lutherans, Who want
the measure SO worded as to exclude