The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-26
BY The CONvICTS.
Proposed That They Run State
Oil Refinery.
New Measure Appears in the
Senate.
TO BUILD AT ONCE.
Would Appropriate 100000
for the Building.
Also $4,000 for Place for the
Prisoners.
TO BUILD AT ONCE.

In the senate committee meeting on
oil and gas. held this afternoon, a new
state oil refinery bill was introduced
to be recommended Dy the commit
tee for passage
The new bill was drawn by Senator
Samuel Porter and the committee
from the oil fields composed of
Messrs. West from Feru, Parker from
independence, Fife from Kansas City,
Judge West of Topeka, Perkins of
Lawrence and Stewart of Humboldt.
The bill lays especial stress on the
feature of convict labor in the state
refinery.
Senator Porter said this afternoon:
''The senate committee on Oil and gas
has decided not to wa-r on account
of the senate resolution requiring the
attorney general to pass on the con-
stitutionality of d state refinery. The
committee will at once consider the
bill and report back to the senate As
there was some question as TO the
cOnstitutiOnality this bill has been
made very strong on the employment
of convict labor in the state oil re-
hnery. the same as at the state bind
ing twine plant, and this feature IS
embodied in the title
The senate committee on oil and
gas is composed of Senators Benedict,
WoOdson, Buschow, NOftzger, Smith of
Edwards, and Brewer.
The state refinery bill as prepared
by Senator Porter and the committee
representing the oil interests, is as
follows:
section 1. For the purpose of pro-
viding proper employment for convicts
In the state penitentiary and the state
the Kansas state penitentiary IS here
by empowered. by and with the ad-
vice of the board of directors of said
penitentiary, TO purchase site for the
erection of an oil refinery and to con-
struct. maintain and operate thereon
an oil refinery for the refining of
crude oil, and to make the same and
its by-products, and to keep such re-
hnery in repair and furnish therefor
the requisite machinery and equip
ment, and necessary facilities and in
rumentalities for ~ receiving manu-
featuring, storing and handling crude
oil and its by-products-
Sec. = For the purpose of con-
structing, maintaining and operating
such Oil refinery, said warden and
board OF directors are hereby author
lied to employ cOnvictS in the state
penitentiary or cOnVicts in the state
industrial reformatOry, or both. and to
provide at said refinery suita BILE and
humane facilities for the housing,
feeding, grading and overseeing of
said convicts and the work to be per
formed by them Said warden and
board shall employ such assistants in
the construction and equipment of
said plant and in the operation there
Of. and only such as shall be necessary
to properly construct, equip and oper-
ate the same with said convict labor"
The bill provides an appropriation of
$4,000 to house the convicts and $780,
600 to build and maintain the refinery.
Section 4 provides that when said oil
refinery shall be constructed and ready
for operation as herein provided there
shall be deposited in the state treasury
to the credit of said revolving fund
the said sum of two hundred thousand
dollars, and said warden is hereby author
lied to dTa " and disburse the same as
herein provided. as the same may be
necessary for carrying out the purposes
of this act All moneys derived from
the sale of manufactured or refined oil
or by-prodUcts arising from refining of
crude oil shall be by the said warden
paid into the state treasury to the
credit of said revolving fund" and ii
IS hereby made the duty of the state
II easurer to carry as a separate ac-
count upon the books of his office the
said revolving fund" All payments
out of said fund shall be upon war
rants of the state auditor, drawn upon
verified vouchers made or approved by
said warden.
To enforce the law the act provides
An section Z that:
For the purpose of CARRYING out
Sne provisions of this act. said warden,
by and with the consent of the gov
ernOr, is hereby authorized to employ
an assistant. to be styled 'oil refinery
assistant whose compensation shall
be fixed by the governor not to exceed
twenty-five hundred dollars per an
mum, and such oil refinery assistant
shall continue in such employment at
the pleasure of the governor. such
compensation to be paid monthly out
of the revolving fund y
The measure also provides that the
convicts shall be employed to con-
struct the refinery.