The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-03-26
ANTI-CONv|CT
LABOR MEASURE
House Committee Gives Bill
Full Approval.
VIEWS OF GOVERNOR WARNER.

Ses"'S e'S So''P'SeS 0So's'o" W ~
Contract Labor In the Prisons of
the State and Substituting There
fore the Manufacture Of Commodi-
ties to Be Sold by the State-Rail.
way Legislation Acted Upon.
Lansing, Mich, March 23.-The
Clarken anticonvict labor bill has the
unanimous approval of the house COM
mittee to which it is referred and will
60 before the house with the recon-
mendation of the members of that
committee to give it impetus.
During the week Governor Warner
sent to the legislature vigorous mes
sage in which he discussed this sub
ton Of all contract labor in the pris-
ons of the state and the substitution
therefore the manufacture of commod-
tiles to be sold by the state. The gov
ernor does not favor the plan of work
ing the convicts on state account, be-
leving that they would under this sys-
tenn compete to very large extent
with free labor. He would have the
prisoners employed in the manufacture
of articles now controlled by trusts,
care being taken to select such indus
tries as will cause the least competi-
ton with free labor. A further objec-
ton to the state account system made
by the governor is that, at best, it
would give employment to only lin.
tied portion OF the prison population,
which now aggregates about 200
Binder Irvine Plant.
Citing the fact that during the first
season of its operation the Jackson
prison binder Irvine plant earned the
state a net profit of $12, 900 in addition
to crediting the convicts employed in
this industry with 10 per cent of the
earnings as required by law, the gov
ernor advocated the material enlarge
ment of that plant, expressing the be-
lief that no trouble will be experienced
in disposing of the output He furth.
er suggested the manufacture of grain
bags and rope as commodities which
can be manufactured at a profit and
for which there is constantly increas-
ing demand.
Attention was directed to the fact
that for labor of convicts under con-
ract to private parties the state re-
ceives an average of only so cents pei
day per capita for ten hours labor, and
that even at 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 having averaged s33, 1000
per year.
Money Paid to Prisoners.
In addition to this all repairs and
improvements have been paid out OF
the earnings of the prison, and during
the past eight years total Of $4S,-
900 has been paid to prisoners as a re-
ward for good behavior and faithful
service The state should be able to
do better than this for the reason that
the convicts in it's prison are for the
most part long time men, where as by
far the greater number OF those in the
Detroit house of correction are sem
fenced for terms of less than one year.
In view OF the fact that the existing
contracts have several years to run, it
is realized that the new plan suggest
ed cannot be inaugurated at once. il
being necessary to permit these con-
tracts to run to expiration.
1t is suggested in the message and
provided in the Clarken bill that a
commission be appointed TO investi-
gate the entire question and report to
the next legislature its conclusions as
to the proper industries to adopt for
the employment Of convicts.
Railway Legislation.
Considerable proposed legislation af-
fecting railroad companies was acted
upon and considered last week. The
senate, after considerable discussion,
passed the Anhut bill which provides
that after Jan. 1, 1910, all freight ca
bosses must be equipped with rear
platforms. Another bill passed by this
body prohibits the transportation on
passenger trains Of kerosene, benzine,
gasoline or naptha, save in quantities
sufficient to supply the needs If such
trains. The house devoted consider
able time to the consideration of a
bill permitting the charging of 10
cents extra fare in all cases where pas
sengers pay their fare on trains in
stead Of purchasing tickets at stations.
The conductors favor this proposed
law, which is designed to discourage
passengers trcm paying fare on trains
and thereby consume the time of con-
ductors, which should be devoted, in
the interest of The travelling public, to
the running of their trains. On the
other hand II is urged that such law
would increase the revenues OF the
companies and penalize passengers who
were late i'm arriving at stations.
Champion Bill Discussed.
At conference participated in by
members OF the house railroad commit.
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