Morris tribune., 1909-04-17
THE STATE PRISON BILL.

The harvester bill, or what should be more
properly termed, the state prison bill, is be-
ing widely discussed throughout the state. It's
provisions are not generally understood by the
country press and people, and this is not
strange. either, when members of the leg1sla-
ture who voted for the bill assert they did not
understand it and called for an investigation of
it's provisions.
The state prison population is now a little
more than 600. Years ago the state entered in
to contract whereby it agreed to furnish the
Western Shoe Co. the factory and power at the
prison that the company now uses to manufact-
ure shoes, and in addition, agreed to furnish
225 able bodied convicts to work for the COM
pany in the shoe factory. The state feeds these
men. cares for them when sick, and furnishes
substitutes for those unable to work; all this
adds to the total number of men that are need
ed to fulfill very Objectionable contract SO far
as the state is concerned. But no matter how
Objectionable, the contract does not expire until
September 80, 1914. That securely "ties up
nearly half of the total number of convicts at
the prison When the twine factory is fully
completed 300 convicts will be employed in it.
pie do not understand. With half of the con-
victs making shoes and the other half making
twine there can not be many left to work at
manufacturing farm machinery.
When the Legislature passed the bill appro-
priating $2,25O,OOO many people though it was
for the purpose of providing for enlarged
prison in order that large mandatory might
be at once established, and that the state would
forth with engage in the manufacture of farm
machinery large SCALE AS after of
fact only the foundation has been laid for a
machinery mandatory, and the real manu-
facture of farm machinery at the prison on any
scale at all extensive is yet long way of-un-
less the contract with the shoe company can be
abrogated, which is not at all probable.
The bill as passed is based upon careful
and comprehensive plan for prison to ac-
commodate the increase in the number of con-
victs that future years will probably bring; and
also giving ample room for the twine factory
and the factory for manufacturing farm machin-
cry. 1t does not carry specific appropriation
for the building of the farm machinery factory,
because, as already explained, it could not be
used, even if built now, account of the CON
tract with the shoe company.
The chief objection to the bill is that it car
ries a gigantic appropriation but is not specific
in designating how the money shall be expend-
| ed AS we understand it, it is based upon an
estimate and plan that has the approval of the
board of control and the warden of the prison
| This plan includes chapel and equipment the
estimated cost of which is to be 1900, resi-
dence for the warden at $4,000, a residence for
the deputy warden at $4,000, hot-house at
| $26, ,OOO If these figures are the index of what
the plans call for, extravaganza will run riot
before the prison is completed unless the most
rigid restrictions are provided for in the expendi-
ture of the vast sum provided for by the bill.
The tendency in such large undertakings of a
! public nature is decidedly pronounced to pro-
vide for the trimmings first with full knowledge
and assurance that the substantials and neces-
saries will be provided for later by subsequent
appropriations. The people, like Jones, pay the
freight. The mum Der of freeman who have the
privilege of worshipping in sol 900 edifice is
limited; few people live in $4,000 palaces, and
they are slow to believe it necessary to provide
such a house for their servant Just because he
happens TO be charged with the care of fe1ons:
| Grant county farmers prosperous, but not
all of them maintain hot houses that cost $780,
! 900 for the propagation of roses and perhaps
strawberries during the winter.
1 These are, we believe legitimate objections
| to the bill the main object of which is com