Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-07-07

bluffs almost without number in this
state that can be bought CT aapIv.
The cost Of constructing a new prison
would not be one-quarter of what we
came near to getting into the binder
twinery; and, mind you, after the
prison reconstructed it would he
source of revenue 10 the state rather
than an expense. The legislature re-
cent voted to appropriate 100000
for the construction of a hospital for
the criminal insane at Oshkosh. The
old state prison might serve for such
a hospital, and the 100000 thus ap
propriated be held up for time and
used as long-distance starter to,
ward the erection of tle new peni-
tertiary | suggest. Rock breaking
would be healthy. outdoor work and
could be pursued all the year round
by all male prisoners One of the
arguments that we heard advanced
against the binder Irvine plan was
that Irvine making is combining, dusty
and nerve-racking. Against stone
breaking in the open none of these
objections would lie. Here's the
point. Every town, city and village.
and every county, in the state want
cheap crushed stone. and the need
will grow. It can be furnished in
vast quantities by convict labor, the
cheapest possible. and then sold at
cost. The chief expense in securing
il WOULD be the TRANSPORTATION
charge. and the state could, without
dorbt, obtain longtime, exceedingly
low rate from the railways,-for the
railroads are especially interested in
promoting better rural roads. There
is no need of abandoning the Wau-
pun prison. The buildings there
could be utilized, as I said before, for
the criminal insane or for some other
purpose, as the state grows.
Being a new project in Wiscon.
sin, the state policy of constructing
good roads must of necessity be
largely experimental, and it I'M
doubtedly will take many years, even
with state aid, to build the principal
roads of the commonwealth. but would
not the work be expedited and the
money appropriated and expended
produce greater results IL the state
should pursue course along the lines
suggested? If it is the policy of the
state and the mandate of the people
that Wisconsin furnish its convict
labor with something to do, what is
there IilynIu 10 h,.sv
turns to the people than to execute a
plan like the one suggested? Here.
firmly believe, Wisconsin has a
chance to lead in progressive legis-
lation of the most practical character.
In this way it can actually nav for
new prison within two or three years.
II it wants to that soon, cover the
cost of operation and maintenance
coneurrently, and employ every male
convict all the time, promote good
roads, make them so cheap that every
town may indulge, and have an enter
prise of benefit alike to all classes.
rural as well as urban. and turn ont
product more largely non-eompeti-
tive with the output of free labor
than any other that is conceivable.
The matter is one to which the legis-
lative commission, of which Assem-
blyman J. r. Jones Of Sparta is chair
man, might, | believe. he warranted
in giving the most thoughtful CON
sideration. It is a plan involving
genuine economy Of a perpetual nat
greS
Assemblyman Cady is one of the
few democratic members of the legfs-
lature representing a republican dis
trict. that in which Baraboo is 10. |
Gated He is the author of a more
liberal veterinary law and also of an
net, modifying the personal injury
statute, extending the period of notice
from one to tw years.