Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-06-02
'0|NOER Irvine
MEASURES PASSED
SENATE TAKES FAVORABLE Ac.
TON ON THOMAS BILLS
AFTER LONG DEBATE.
HUDNALL ATTACKS BOARD OF
CONTROL FOR ovERsTEP.
PING APPROPRIATIONS.
Madison. Nav 2S

y AAoIlldS Dill, dppfOprlaLlng SAT, 900 Tor
the completion of the equipment OF
the binder Irvine plant at the states
prison, after a debate lasting nearly
four hours and equaling in excite
ment that which preceded the vote on
the Marsh county option bill. The
vote was 81 to 5.
SvGen the senate was prepared to
vote on the Thomas bill, 1925, provid-
ing for revolving fund of 100000 for
the plant, Senator Sanborn offered a
SUI titute amendment making the re-
vo1vfng fund only 100000, and auth
orizIng the state board of control to
borrow from the trust funds of the
state the necessary money for the OPP
skration of the plant, the total sum,
= however, not to exceed 100000. The
amendment was adopted and the bill
then passed, 20 to 4.
The consideration of the bills had
been made a special order of business
for o'clock. Both measures had
been reported for indefinite postpone
ment by the joint committee on
n claims, Senator Hazelwood and Mr..
? Shaw dissenting. Similar bills were
killed recently by the assembly by a
decidedly close vote, but the opinion
prevails in legislative halls that the
Thomas measures will receive favor
able action in the lower house
Attacks Board of Control.
Senator Hudnall, chairman OF the
committee on claims, spoke in oppo-
sition to the bill for two hours. He
made a vigorous attack on the state
board of control for overstepping the
appropriation made by the legislature
for the binder Irvine plant two years
ago. He said at the opening that he
has been consistently against the pro-
position since its inception in the
legislature six years ago. Two years
ago the board of control favored the
installation of plant and the legisla-
ture took favorable action. The board
requested that $165,000 be appropriate
ed to construct and fully equip the
pant, OuI Tie app WdS CuI
{ down to s125,000 Senator Hudnall de-
d. clared he was surprised upon his re-
turn to Madison this year to find that
the board had overridden the appro-
priation. He said the only reason the
members of the board gave for their
action was that they needed more
money and that they asked for $685.
h,,k 1xv IL fofn
that the board put up its judgment
against that of the legislature and
placed the solons in a position where
they must give the board more money.
IF the mandates of the legislature
are to be overridden by any state
board whittier are We dr;fting?" asked
the senator.
In addition to exceeding the appro-
priation, declared Senator Hudnall,
the board entered into contract with
the Watson Machine company of Pat
erson, New Jersey, for the purchase
of binder Irvine machinery at a cost
of s26.625, to be paid as soon as in
stalled and accepted. He sad that
although part of the machinery is at
Waupun, it has not yet been In
stalled and the board has paid down
$4,000, thereby disregarding the con-
ditions of the contract that no pay
ment shall be made until the macnin-
cry has been installed and accepted
Unhealthy Work for Prisoners.
He argued that the manufacture OF
binder Irvine would be an unhealthy
occupation for prisoners and quoted
from a letter written by the prison |
physician at saltwater. Minnesota, to
substantiate his argument. Senator |
Thomas asked the senator if it was
CsSa worse for convicts to work in |
binde,>tw Irvine plants than for the girls
who are in the employ of the Interna-
tional Harvester company
Senator Hudnall replied that he
took the position that if the work is
unhealthy for girls. prisoners should
not be employed at it. He advocated
the breaking of stone by prisoners and
said he understood that there is
stone ledge about four miles from
Waupun. In view of the high author
tiles that he quoted, he said it would
not be proper to employ criminals in
the manufacture of binder Irvine. 1t
was stated before the committee on
claims that 81 men would be employed
in the plant and if the Thomas bills
were passed the investment would rep
resent S605, 900. Two years ago he
was a member of the committee on
charitable and penal institutions and
the binder Irvine proposition was ad-
versely reported by that body Then
tne matter was referred to the COM
mittee on claims, and he said he was
approached by man who desired to
have a talk with him on the subject
He said he told the man that ne was
opposed to the plant ard that ne mad
better talk to other members OF the
senate Senator Hudnan declared