The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-18
MUST TAG EACH
CONVICT MADE
HANDKERCHIEF
This Is the Opinion Handed
Down by County Counsel Which
Fav0rs Manufacturers.
SAYS PRESENT SYSTEM
IS VIOLATION OF LAW
Will Present Decision at Meet
ing Of. FreehoIders' County Pris-
on Committee at Penitentiary.

Local manufacturers have won the
preliminary slirmish in the fight they
are making to compel the labelling OF
tagging of ali handkerchiefs made In
the Essex County Peniteptf ~. So az
ste distinguislas the artirle AZ prison
y ~ III Yictory is regarded by the
anufacturers hs very important in in
dustrial circles.
County Counsel Joseph L. Mdnn will
appear at the meeting of the county
prisons committee of the Board of Free
holders at the County Penitentiary q,
Caldwell at o'clock this afternoon and
submit his opinion in this very iinpor-|
tant industrial proposition. The coun-
ty counsel. at his Office in the court
house today, said to a STAR reporters:
1.-THE contract made with Jerome
Schwerin and the county board of free
holders was executed according to the
law governing contracts, and after hav-
ing gone fully into the subject matter
it is my opinion:
THAT the method that has been pur-
sued is not in compliance with the
statute governing the same. Therefore,
think that the practise that has been
in use heretofore must be abandoned
and that the statute must be complied
with according to it's terms.
1.-The method of afixing a tag to
bundle of handkerchiefs containing a
dozen. or ten gross. whichever the case
may be-. is not in compliance with the
statute, and the practise. therefore,
must be abolished"
This means that each handkerchief
must be individually tagged.
Does yodr opinion take the shape Of
warning relative to the criminal re-
sponsibility that might result if the
freeholders and the contractor ignore
it and continue the practise as now??"
he was asked.
ST have gone as far as deem proper
at this time replied the county coun-
sci.
The opinion will probably have g
effect at the county
prisons committee meeting this after
noon. Every member of the comn1t-
tee will be on hand, as will also former
Senator Michael T. Barrett, who fepre-
sents the Newark Embroidery Com
pany, and the other manufacturers
who are fighting to protect the inter-
ests of the local handkerchief making
industry.
When told of the manufacturers VIC
tory Mr.. Barrett said:
My clients and myself will not con-
sent until the requirements of the
statute are lived up to. and every con-
~. ,,ricop ~, q 10 dtra,.ot,,af -
by tag or. label. l am
glad to hear that the county counsel
is of the, same opinion as myself in the
matter. 1t now remains to be seen
what attitude the committee and the
board itself will take on the subject
| do not care to forecast their action,
but suffice to say that the county
counsel has made the matter very
clear and concise"
Director Wallace Ougheltree ex-
planned that the county counsers opin-s
ON would be read at the committees
this afternoon and that it was
then the duty of the committee to re-
port on the subject at the next meet
ing of the Board of Freeholders, which
IS scheduled for December 5.
A freeholdeg. who Is in close touch
WITH the h931 <kerchi&f problem, safi|
this afternQ Mat X was doubf M
II the cou& thorities wQuM laft
intii the bard meeting "a hit b Il
stop to hon which the county
counsel Glen NJ states Is q vioj6fion of
he law. He added that the COMMITTEES
would probab1F issue its edlct to the
contractor at once.