The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-03-27

~eHe "ceoaBc W hfic EeHioiateiS NAFS-
eating the Complete Abolition OF All
Contract Labor In the Prisons Of the
State and Substituting Therefor the
Manufacture OF Commodities To BE
Sold by the stste--Railway LegIsia.
ton Acted Upon.
Lansing. Mich. March o. - The
Clarken anti-conyict labor bill has the
unanimous APPROVAL OF the house COM
mittee 10 which IL is referred and Will
go before the house with the recon-
mendation of the members OF that
committee TO give Il impetus.
During the week Governor Warner
sent TO the legislature vigorous mes
sage In which he discussed this sub
Ject and advocated the complete aboli-
tion OF all contract labor In the pris-
ons OF the state and the substitution
therefor the manufacture OF commodi
ties TO be sold by the state. The gov
ernor does not favor the plan of work
Ing the conyicts on state account, be-
lieying that they would under this sys.
tenn compete TO a very large extent
with free labor. He would have the
prisoners employed in the manufact-
ure OF articles now controlled by trusts,
care being taken TO select such indus
tries as will cause the least competi-
tion with free labor. A further OBJ
lection 10 the state account system
made by the governor Is that, at best
II would give employment to only
limited portion OF the prison popula-
ton which now aggregates about
1900
Binder Irvine Plant.
Citing the fact that during the first
season Of It's operation the Jackson
prison binder twine plant earned the
state a net profit OF $4,000 I'm addi-
ton TO crediting the convicts EN-.
ployed In this industry with 10 per
cent OF the earnings as required by
law. the governor advocated the ma
terial enlargement OF that plant. ex.
pressing the belief that no trouble will
be experienced In dsposing OF the out
put. He further suggested the manu-
facture OF grain bags and rope as com.
modities which can be manufactured
at a profit and for which there is
constantly increasing demand.
Attention was directed TO the fact
that for labor Of convicts under con.
tract TO private parties the state re-
ceiyes an average OF only 80 cents per
day per capita for ten hours labor. and
that even az this low wage the state.
as a rule, furnishes buildings and
heat and, In some Instances, power.
The splendid financial returns received
by the city OF Detroit from the Detroit
house OF correction which Is operated
on the plan advocated In the message
was dwelt upon. emphasis being placed
on the fact that the net receipts OF the
city from This source during the past
fifteen years huying averaged $4,000
per year
Money Paid TO Prisoners.
In addition 90 this an repairs and
Improvements have been paid our of
the EARNINGS OF the prison and dur
ing The past eight years. 4 total or
$4,000 hus been paid to prisoners as
a reward fOr good behavior and faith
ful service The state should Dc ai,
10 do better than thia for Tho rcae0n
that he convics in iis prison arc f1r
the most part toms lime men whore
as By tar enc woaicr number AZ thls
IN the Detroit house Of correction ore /
sentenced Cor terms of less Than nne I
year. In view az the fact that the IS
listing contracts have several years 10
run. u Is realized that The new plan
suggested cannot be iuaugufa "a az
once. II being necessary 70 permit I
these contracts 90 run to expiration
II rs suggested IA the message and 7
provided IN the Clarkcn bin that
commission be appointed 10 invegti. (
gate the entire question and report Ia
the next legislature its conclusions as
20 the proper industries 20 adopt Tor |
the employment Of convicts
Railway Legislation.
Considerable proposed legislation M /
feeling railroad companies was acted I
upon and considered Inst week The /
senate AFTER considerable discussion. /
passed me Anhut bin which proylfes 7
that after January J. 1910 an freight I
cahocscs must bc equipped with rpaf
platforms Another bin passed hy I
this body prohibits The Transportation !
ON lmsrefee trains 81 kerosene. ben
sine. gasoline. on nnphtha. save ln GUAM !
titles sufficient 10 supply the needs og 1
sneh tfainf The house devoted c0n- {
siderable time 20 the consideration of /
n bill permitting the charging OF ten |
cents extra fare IN All cases whore /
passengers Gay their fare ON trains IN I
stead of purchasing tickets az stations I
The conductors favor this proposed 1
law which Is designed 90 discourage |
passengers from paying fare on trains I
and thereby consume the time Of con-
ductors which should be devoted, IN |
the interest Of the travelling public. to !
the trimmings OF their trains On the |
other hand Il n urged that such law /
would increase the revenues OF the /