The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-03-09
II for no 0l35f reason than that @
members OF the. revision convent -
might accurately know the senumsht
Of the people on this point


members OF the. revision conventj60
might accurately know the sentimSht
OF the people on this point
OF Local Interest Only.
There are several Joint resolutions
proposing amendments OF local inter
est only. The more important matters
OF this nature pressing for action are
those which have 10 do with the en-
ployment or convicts. AS has been
previously stated In these letters, the
situation is quite critical ana bids fair
TO become more SO unless relief Is ar
forded A few days ago Warden Full
Ter OF the Ionia prison was before the
Joint committees arguing strcnuously
In favor OF the elimination from the
constitution the provision that mo me-
chanical trade hereafter shall be
taught to convicts In the state prison,
except for the manufacture OF those
articles OF which the chief supply for
home consumption Is imported from
other states or countries"
In view OF the recent decision OF the
supreme court on this subject, Warden
Fuller declared that unless the con-
stitution is amended as suggested
there will soon be 900 idle convicts
in the prison OF which he has charge
The great financial burden and the
danger OF maintaining these prisoners
In idleness was dwelt upon. as IL
will be necessary Do employ free
labor TO do all the baking, plumbing.
cooking. painting. carpenter work, etc.
a xxrfl In
by inmates. The same situation con-
fronts the other two state prisons, so
it will be seen that the condition is a
serious one. The campaign which re-
suited In the recent judicial interpreta-
ton OF the constitution wns waged by
union labor, which, II has been sug-
gcsted, win be glad 10 cooperate 10
measures OF relief II the case Is prop
erly presented.
Binder Irvine Plant at jackson.
Petitions for the establishment of n
binder Irvine plant in the prison nj
Jackson are stlil pouring in upon the
legislature In large numbers from all
sections OF the state. The Internation-
al Harvester company, otherwise the
Irvine trust, Is equally as active In Its
efforts 20 defeat the project, its latest
effort In this direction taking the form
OF an announcement that the state viii
lose vast sums II II engages In the
manufacture OF Irvine and that mas
much ms the trust controls oil Irvine
machinery the state win be unable TO
equip a plant Just how other states
have secured machinery for plants now
being operated at splendid profits In
their prisons Is not explained by the
trust.
For some reason or other the trust
is wonderfully agltated over a condi-
ton which II insists cannot possibly
obtain. Further by way OF being con.
sistent the trust Is having its agents
circulate the story that II will be simp-
ly tickled 10 death 90 have the state
engage I'm the business for the reason
that this movement would crush out
It's small competitors and enable II TO
get a couple OF cents pound more
for It's products. Here is n con
gIomeration Of conflicting emotions
hard to beat. "You pays your money
md you takes your choice"
Opposed by Commissioners Earle.
state Highway Commissioner Earle
n opposing the prison Irvine project
because lac wants the convlcts EN-.
ployed ne crushing stone and making
good roads. Governor Warner meets
this opposition with the claim that
there are plenty OF convlcts TO take
care OF both projects II desired. In
Illinois, where the prison stone crush
ing industry Is well developed, only -
per cent. OF the prisoners are identi-
fed with H. according 20 a special re-
port made by Governor Deneen last
week Michigan could do as we'll or
better and still have more than enough
convlcts 10 manufacture Irvine.
While all this Is taking place, the
legislature Is quietly looking into the
Irvine proposition. Several senators
went 10 Michigan City, Ind. last week
10 investigate the Workings Of the
plant in the prison nj that ,lace.
Railroads Have Hearing.
The railroads had nm all day hear
ing before the senate railroad commit
tee on the demurrage bill. They made
the DeSt OF lnc opportunity Ah' HtN'i"
attorneys presenting n long array or
facts and figures 20 support their con-
tentlon that the car shortage situation
is not the fault OF the railroads at
all, but rather In large measure that
OF the shippers. who hold cars much
longer than necessary. The railroad
representatives said they would give
much for regulation that would
cause cars 20 be returned TO them
after being delivered 20 other roads.
Yesterday number OF railroad Of
ficials met with Railroad Commission.
or Glasgow and several legislators 20
consider the details OF the bills IS
tabllshing a railroad commission Of
three members 90 take the place OF the
present one man commission and TO
have. extensive powers In the line OF
regulating matters OF this kind. II Is
not unlikely that this bill Will become
n law. Tomorrow the companies will
have another field day here, when the
legislative committees give hearing
on the bill reducing lower pensinsula