Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-01-16

lam treatment or the question OF
convict labor in his message to the
legislature:
Public Roads.
The improvement OF the highways
of Oregon has become vital and
burning question, and the time has
arrived when there should be APP
pointed a state engineer, whose duty
IL should be to supervise the con-
struction of all newan permanent
roads. The state could afford to
utilize the labor of a certain number
of the convicts in the peniteniary for
the preparation of crushed rock nec-
essary for the construction of such
highways. and am sure that quar-
ries could be established at points
where arrangements could easily be
made with railroad companies to
transport the output thereof to
points easy OF access in those coun-
ties which desired to make perma-
nent improvements.
employment Oh NOnNlCNSs
There has been much agitation up
on the subject of the employment Of
convicts in such way as not TO
compete with free labor. AT the last
session Of the legislature. senate con-.
current resolution No. 81 provided
for the appointment OF a state road
commission by me, consisting of Ave
members, whose duty II should be to
Investigate the feasibility of the con-
struction of macadamized road
from Portland south to the Callfor-
mia line with convict labor. The
commission is TO prepare n bill upon
this subject II they find the building
OF road as indicated is feasible.
Since the last session. agitation
has been commenced in other quar-
ters of the state for installing a jute
mill within the walls OF the peniten-
tiary.
Insistent upon doing away with the
present system of employment OF
convicts and advocacy of their en-
ployment upon public highways
grows out OF the claim that the man
ufacture OF stoves not only competes
, with free labor but prevents the es-
tablishment OF independent indus
tries OF other stove plants within the
state, whilst the advocacy of the es-
tablishment OF a jute mill grows
largely out of the high price requir-
ed TO be paid for jute bags last year
and the inadequacy then OF the sup
ply to meet actual demands
II must not be assumed that there
is no objection TO the employment
of convlcts In bag-making, or that
there is no objection to their employ
ment in road building. There are al
ready in the state four establish
ments manufacturing bags, em-
ploying an average OF l2S per-
sons, paying an annual wage
of $55,275; a miscellaneous expense
account Of $4,000; a clerical hire
of fourteen persons at a total salary
OF $4,000, with an annual product
OF s5O3, 3,0OO.Those engaged in this
industry object TO the installation OF
a iute mill and bag factory at the
prison. On the other hand, there are
four stove manufacturing plants in
the state, one OF these being operated
by convicts in the penitentiary
These employ twenty-five workmen,
fourteen salaried persons. and 150
convicts. Workmen receive from
$3.50 to 1915 per day, nine hours.
The product OF the last year. a part
OF which was shipped out of the
stae. had a total OF s14s,s90. while
there was imported from the outside
during this time stove manufacture
product to the value OF t592,7S0.
These figures are obtained from
the report OF 1906 OF o. p. Hoff, la
Dor commissioner. From these fig-
ures 1t will be seen that there are
more people engaged In the state in
the manufacture OF bags than in the
manufacture OF stoves. and there
will be as strong objections urged
to the employment Of convicts in this
industry as in the manufacture OF
stoves. To install jute plant would
necessitate an appropriation of at
least $3.50. 900; s125. 900 for plant.
100000 for the purchase OF jute
and $4,000 for operation until the
jute shall be sold, and II Is porbably
true that these estimates are low.
The present force OF convicts would
be entirely insufficient 10 manufac-
----~~->~~-~--