The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-01-10

tIRhl6N.
Formerly our STATE leased their
labor 20 manufacturers, but in 1903
il abandoned that policy. During the
operating ci HAT policy, attempts
were made 20 distribute the evil eff
ieets Of tae employment Of convict
labor over as wide range Of indus
tries as possible. Many plans were
deyiced to shift this burden from one
industry to another, causing e1ntin-
ual unrest and dissatisfaction among
various classes Of our citizens. But
think it is beyond dispute that the
employment of convict albor. where
tried, in connection with public road
work, has caused least complaint
both in this country and in Europe
With this fact in mind, | suggest
an inquiry into the feasibility of fur
nishng employment for our conyicts
in connection with the movement fol
good roads. Under the law enacted
by the lac General Assembly, en-
vie.s arep emitted to be emp Dyed in
the manufacturing Of crushed zone
and osher road material at Chester
to be given free az the papitentiary
to such oounsie7 as may apply for TAG
same. on condition that the material
shall be spread ON some public road
IN the county wlthin 3 year.
Little advantage has been taken OF
his provision BY cur counties en- A..
count Of tie expense involved In rail-
road transportation. | suggest, there.
fore, an inquiry into the adivaabilitY
Of The state furnishing read ma'er a.
FREQ ct a point within the county. to
be dc 1ignated by the local authori-
tier. a state commission world b.
able 10 negotiate with the railroads
throughout TIE state to greater adj
vantage than a county or road dis
'r.ct. Whore this plan has hcen ried
the railroads have conveyed such
material practically at cost, becauce
of tie direct advantage 70 thc1i of
good roads In egualiz.ng traffic
throguout the year
Inquiry also could be made by your
COMMITTEES as to the feasibility Of fur
nishing crushed ctone or ballast to
tine railways in exchange FIR trans
nort0tioa of road material 20 the
counties or districts.
Information has heen furnished me
by experts in the matter Of road
building and The c0ct thereof, to tle
effect that o suitable Stone road could
be bgiit at cost of les than Si,Q09
per mile in the county. gh ull che
material lee delivered free by The
tate, Fol owing the plon of isua'ny
boRds in payment thereof. spread OF
er a series Of from seven 60 ten years,
rs has bcca adopted elsewhere, the
burden upoa real estate within sui.a-
Bile road districts, taxable for such
purpose, would be very light.
Under uch system, the cost of
the state would nc. be great The
convict is g charge upon .the state.
He must be supported whether he
worfa or is idle. The additional cost
o the stefe for machinery, transp1r'
.aticn, cts would be comparatively
small. therefore suggest that y-u
cons ider whether CT not Y you'd 10
advisable fer the STATE to undertake
to utilize the labor OF conyict9 in the
manner cut ined.
in She event that You determine
that such en- application Of ccngict Ia
Dor IS not feasible, I urge you
through your committee 70 gather in
formation and devise sone plan wh'c1
viii meet with the apprccgal of our
people and enable our state to make
Z beginning in this great work.
Faesory laspeo ioT.
Illinois is the groqtect manufactIr-
ing state in the union. Our advance
ment 10 this 20 ition has ben SO
recent thpt same abuses have grown
VI as incidents to such raoid develop
mont. For their correction former
legislatures have enGcier laws rogu-
'ating the conditions Of work IN oar
minC.. our factories, our sweat shops
aud by our children
former legislature enacted what
d. known as the Child Labor law"
Y0ur attention may be- called 10 soua
harlsnlps incident rs the enforce
acut Of Ibis law As whole it, l.
beneficial aud aaluiary with tfc
growth of manufacturing here. tie
State viii he callel upoa more ard
moro to supervise tie conditions OF
labor, making such conditions rafc aa
well as SANTA airy. Under our present
law, the emp'oyc in many instances
assumes tire risk OF dangerous occi-
patton II is not Justification of suci
conditions 20 answer that tho emp'oye
need nc work unless he is willing
20 arsume sucl risks Work Is a
ways a necessity Of existence In Our
large cities work with machinery is
the only kind which a great many Ct
our citizens can obtain. AMI. in TIC
event OF disablement. the citizen ami
his family frequently become caarg s
upon the state The s;ase therefore
will be called upon to enact laws n
project the citizen against unneces-
sary hazards in ruch occupations
suggest that such laws as you may
deem it wise to enact in this regard
could I've enforced BY the factory in
speu0fs without additional expense.
Arbitration.
I'm connection with mat,ctg rciaf-
ing 10 labor AMI employment, ! cal
the attention # che general as-em-