Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-16
DISCUSS
CONVICT
PROBLEMS
Taxpayers Talks on Bills For
Jute Mills and COnvicts on
County Roads Both Carry
Hnn1redS Of Thousands

state committed to the bag-makInl
business by putting in a jute mill II
the penltentiary In place Of the pres
ent stove foundry. at cost OF from
$3.50, 900 TO 100000, and the goot
roads people want the convict labol
parceled out to the different coun
ties. as the counties may demand
for road work. and will ask for az
appropriation OF s25O,0O0 to carry
ont the provisions OF the bill they
will Introduce.
Both these plans are open TO serl-
GUS objection. Taking first. the jute
mill plan. this proposed with the
expectation that a jute mill would
cheapen the price of bags to the
wheat and wool men. but the expert
ence OF both Washington and Call
fornia goes 10 prove the contrary.
and the price OF bags Is regulated.
as II has always been. by the bag
trust, and the only benefit OF a iute
mill would be 20 cheaper the price
Of bags TO about 90 per cent OF the
bag users. and all others would pay
the price OF the bag trust. and their
part OF the taxes necessary TO pay for
the bag material and raw material.
would go 10 enrich the man who
would get the state-made bags. as
the state. with an Investment OF even
100000 could not begin to make
all the bags needed. To run a iute
mill the state would have to build
new buildings. buy large quantity
OF expensive machinery. employ
many expert and high salarIed men
10 act as foremen. 20 teach the con
victs aud see they do not waste too
much material; buy every year a lot
Df raw material. and the already
heavily burdened taxpayer would
have TO foot the bill
The iute mill would keep the con
victs employed only about half the |
line The work IL both unpleasant |
and unhealthful. and defeats tho |
main object OF a convict labor bill. |
shlch Is 10 give the prisoners some
hing to do all the time.
The good roads bill as framed bl
he committee appointed for that
purpose. Is utterly impracticablc. and
would fail 10 compass the object for
which II was framed The conyicts
hould not be- taken from the con-
tant authority and supervision OF
me- superintendent OF the penlton
iary and that OF his suhordinates,
"a these men make a study of habits
nd dispositions OF the men con.
ned. and can handle and care for
hem better than any man. or set of
len eau, who are not so posted
m of the opinion that not many
herins Ia this state would want TO
AXE so on 60 desperate criminals.
uard them and care for them two or
iroo months while they are working
n county roads They would be
ary dificult to handle: would al.
ass be- plotting to set away, aud In
he end the roads would cost the
,unty more than n they Rppropri
ed the money and employed their
sn citizens 10 do the work ani paii
lem for a. Convict labor 50 en-
owed would come In direct compe-
Hon with every farmer and every
rmeT's boy, who want Ia earn q lit.
3 money by worklng ON the roads
Now. as taxpayer would like
ask tho legislature, why not let
'll enough alonos Why make any
anges at allf Il not the present
an OF carlnE tor and working the
avlcts In this state. Infinitely bet
r than any plan Ia force in any of
n sister states All must admit
Al the one object to be obtained Il
a convict labor bin Is 10 give the
lsoaers something 20 do all the
nc Tho present stove fouutir,
~ this. and heigher o. the plans
opposed would do g. Al present
the eonvicts aro employed an the
Ae, aud the state is setting from
a'eeo 10 sso.eoe a year 20 help
taxpayer 10 pay for their keep
q. beat of all. no one Is asked for
appropriation % from sa50.00O TO
10000 % set this done The
70 already has the foundry build
= And necessary power, has no en-
'is of Any kiad 20 employ or aay
50 quantity Of raw material 10
each year. The work Is healthy
consie's iike I, as well as tAev
, any Kind ot work They work an
ume and 80 Eiye their guards
'Foaele and the state less ex.
,se.
WY noi leave the whole matter
she hands q the governors Hel
elected BY both Repuelioan ana