Cochise review., 1901-02-23
PRISON REMOVAL.


 Yuma has had several close calls in the past to retain the penitentiary on the banks of the Colorado. Once when Harry Carpenter was speaker of the house, the prison removal bill was choked off at the last minute of the legislative session, when enough pledged votes were ready to pass it; but the prison bill was carrying on it's back bill for the division of Apache county and the member from that county and Hon. Geo. Skinner, of Gra- ham, got the floor sometime along in the afternoon of the last day of the session and refused 70 yield for any purpose until the clock marked F that night. When Skinner had concluded, Harry Carpenter declared the house adjourned amid the rage and impreca- tions of the friends of the removal bill. That was eight years ago.
 Now it looks as if Yuma was up against the real thing again. The su- perintendent of the prison reports that the old prison is now totally unfit for the accommodation of the increasing number of convicts; the governor in his message recommends that new prison be erected for the accommodation of not less than 800 prisoners. Now comes the committee appointed by the house to investigate the condition at the pen itentiary and recommends that a new location be sought for it. The REVIEW has heretofore opposed the removal solely on the grounds that it would en. tail heavy burden of expense, which should not be undertaken until necess- ity compelled it. So far as Cochise county, as we'll as the other counties in southern Arizona are concerned, the transportation to Prescott would be about the same as to Yuma now. "
 Of course the main object which should be kept in view in seeking To- cation for the new prison is to find a place where prison labor can be util- ized. If there are better opportunities for utilizing prison labor, at profit to the territory, at Prescott than exists at Yuma, this matter should be carefully weighed; if there is no advantage in this then we should say that the cost of maintenance would be cheaper at Yuma. \"
 It will be many years before Arizo- na's prison can be made self-sustain- ing. As yet there never has been any demand for prison labor to be used in- side of the walls of the penitentiary, whereas, in many of the states great factories of various kinds are run with in the prison walls by convict labor, directed by skilled foremen from the outside. This has proven to be the most profitable and human way to keep the convicts at work, still, where. this system exists there is great objectio n from citizens of the state who are thus brought into competition with convict labor, there can be no prison labor that is not in competition with other labor.
 Wherever and whenever possible, men sentenced to prison should be made to work, and as far as possible, earn their subsistence.
 When the new Arizona prison is built, no matter where located, some suitable factory buildings should be erected within the walls and it is pret- ty certain that men will be found who will be willing to employ portion of the labor at least, in the manufacture of marketable articles-shoe factories, saddlery and harness shops, are among factories successfully oper- ated with prison labor.
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