The Saint Paul globe., 1905-02-22
PRISON TWINE IS
BONE OF CONTENTION
Block, ZeIch and Durant Bills
Before the House
Committee

The house binding twine and prison
committees yesterday Jointly consider
ed the Zelch bill, affecting the proposed
purchase of additional land and erec-
ton of new buildings for the Still
water prison; the Block bill, requiring
prison made binding twine to be sold
at cost, and the Stone bill advocating
the return to the revolving fund of all
profits of the Saltwater prison binding
twine plant.
The two committees spent two hours
in discussing the merits of the respect
I've bills, but finally adjourned without
action.
The Durant senate bill, the duplicate
of the Zelch bill, is on the house calen-
dar and will come up for action Thurs
day. 1t is proposed to transfer the
fight to the floor of the house. The
bill would give one-half of the net
profits of the prison for the next two
years to the purposes of purchasing
16O acres of land near the present pris-
on and for the erection of new build
ings.
The Block bill would give the twine
plant no profits and the Stone bill would
divert the profits to the purposes of
carrying on and enlarging the twine
plant at the prison. The alternative is
to provide funds for putting into effect
the Durant-Zelch bill by direct ap-
preparation.
Members of the-board of control and
Warden Wolfer stated that they had no
choice in the manner in which the
money for the improvements is obtain
ed, but they considered the plan pro-
posed by the Washington county men,
bers entirely feasible.
Implement Men Act
1t was proposed that the Third dis
trict implement men, who met in St.
Paul Monday. were opposed to ap-
preparations for further enlarging the
twine plant, for they declared that the
prison twine was bought by only the
better class of farmers and they were
compelled to give credit to those who
did not purchase the state-made twine.
Friends OF the prison Improvements
fear that direct appropriation will
be hard to get through the legislature.
Ward Stone argued for his bill. He
declared that the history of the twine
plant showed profits of $535. 200 on an
original investment of s275,000. This
had In large part been earned in the
past nine years. The plant should be
enlarged until 1t produced the maxi
mum quantity needed by the farmers
OF the state. The books showed 1914
per cent profit to the state and 20 per
cent profit to the consumers of bind
ing twine. He contended that the earn
fngs of the plant should be used
toward its development
Warden WoIfer Explains
Warden Wolfer told the committee
that all the earnings of the plant had
gone into enlarging the facilities for
making more twine. Automatic sprink-
lers and the repair of buildings had
been made from the fund. He explain
ed the necessity for the enlarging of
the prison, but said that not for fifteen
years would the old prison plant be
finally abandoned. No intention existed
TO build cell block on the land to be
purchased, but a building to house
some new industry is needed and op-
portunity will be given inmates who
need fresh air to engage in farm and
garden work. The number of prison.
ers is increasing, the warden said, but
not out of proportion to the increase OF
population in the state. The number
of tubercular inmates is not large;
there had been but one death from
tuberculosis in the last year, but there
are inmates who il is desirable to hard
en- by farm work against the time when
they are paroled to work for farmers.
Warden Wolfer said that the plant can
be improved IL the Durant bill becomes
law, and there was opposition to a
direct appropriation from many quar-
ters. The twine plant had passed
through its hardest days and is now
in healthy condition. No difficulty is
being experienced in selling the prod
uct.
Charles A WEIGHT, of Northfield,
made long argument in favor of us
ing home grown hemp in the manu-
facture of.twine at Saltwater. He ar
gued that it would help the farmers
who raised the hemp, who were in
many instances the men who bought
the twine. Others said the plan is i'm
practicable.
New House Bills
H F. No. 345: BY Ekman-Appropriat-
ing $1,000 for bridge in town of Politz,
Roseau county. Roads and bridges
III. +: No. 346: BY Kelly-Fixing the
term OF office Of county officials at four
years. Towns and counties.
II. F. No. 347: BY Deegan-Amending
sections 11S3-17s5, statutes of 1894. relat
ing to road taxes Towns and counties.
H F. No. S4S: BY Fosseen-Preventing
the removal of legal actions to federal
courts by foreign insurance companies.
H. F. No. s4s: BY Hayes-Providing
that cities and villages shall pay the fees
and expenses incurred in criminal prose-
cutions. Municipal legislation.