The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-01-30
TWlNE PLANT UNPOPULAR
Hon. John Bowler Thinks Prisoner
Should Be Used to Break Rocks
and Make Clothinu,

Pierre, S. d., Jan. 23.-The board OF
provide $4,000 for the establishment
OF a Irvine plant at the penitentiary,
The proposition is to erect and equir
the proper buildings for the manufac-
ture of Irvine and sell the labor of the
conFicts to some responsible manufac-
turer. h argument for this move-
ment is that it will afford healthy, self
sustaining employment for all the con
victs within the walls Of the peniten-
tlary, where scape can be prevented
and better discipline can be enforced.
The idea of contract prison labor,
however, is repugnant to many citizens
n legislators. Hon. John Bowler, the
former warden of the penitentiary
says the importance of keeping prison
ers employed cannot be overstated, yet
he does not deem the twine proposition
feasible at present. Mr.. Bowler thinks
the stone quarry affords the only prac-
ticable employment for the prisoners,
though he has every reason for know
ing the hazard Of working them there
and the opportunity it affords them for
conspiracy and deviltry. Sixty to IS
per cent Of the prisoners are available
for quarr work, while the remainder,
ilC lIllIlhS, SIlCulu ne eIlplOyGu III the
domestic and farm Service and in MAX
ing clothing for the inmates of the va
rious state institutions. Only a few
sewing machines would be required to
put this plan in operation. A few days
training will fit an Intelligent mar to
cut plain garments n the peniten-
tiary could thus provide all of the
clothing required at the insane asy-
lums, reform school and other chari-
table institutions.
Senator Perkins proposes to appro-
pirate $4,000 to provide for a suitable
testimonial from the people of South
Dakota to the cruiser South Dakota"
His bill leaves the expenditure Of this
sum to the governor and secretary Of
state without limitations.
Senator Williamson and Representa-
tive Sampson of LAX have twin bills
for the appropriation of $87,0 900 for the
erection Of a center building at the
Madison normal. The original plan for
the main building at the normal, made
nearly twenty years ago, provided a
large center with two wings, one of
which was built. The plan now Is to
build the big center in accordance with
the first scheme. The Madison normal
is now crowded to it's utmost capacity
and pupils are turned away.
The speaker has appointed as the
new standing committee upon public
library and State Historical society the
following members: Kehm Of Lincoln,
chairman; Apland Of Turner, Kribs Of
Brown, Carroll Of Kingsbury, Goddard
of Sully, Clancy of Clay, Hale Of Bon
Homme.
The revised codes have received the
approval of the governor and are the
LAY SO far as the enactment is con
.cerned, though by their own terms they
DO not go into, operation until the first
day of July next. All amendments to
existing laws made by this session will
apply to the codes of 1903.
Oliver Gibbs of Prescott, Wis, for
merly a prominent South Dakotan, re-
siding at Montrose, is pressing for the
settlement of an cot against the
state for $S15, expended by him in pro-
noting the exhibit at the Columbian
exposition. The former auditor says
the account is just and should be set
tied, but Mr. Gibbs has failed to get the
favorable attention of every legislature
since the worlds fair, including one in
which he was q senator from McCook
county.
Senator Saltrnarsh's bill to a]ppropri-
ate $4,000 for the liquidation Of the
BID wolf bounty claims, which were re-
pudiated by the state two years ago,
will no doubt precipirate a hard fight.
There is no doubt that the state was
scandalously imposed upon, but it
seems likely that the claims, some OF
which, at least, are equitable and just
will sooner or later have to b" paid.
DR.. Sebiakin-Ross of Yankton is in
the lobby for a few days. He will be
remembered as the superintendent Of
the Yankton asylum during the Lee
regime. He now asserts himself an un-
compromising republican.