The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-12-12
Commission Appointed to Report
on Question Holds Import
ant Hearings in State
Capital
PREVENT UNJUST COMPETITION
Intention is to Put Prisons on State
Account Work as Soon as Con-
tracts Expire-WiII be Self
Supporting.

| Marquette, Mich. Dec. 12.-IWarden
Russell, of the Marquette prison, has
returned from Lansing. where ne at
tended a two days hearing held 10y
the members OF the prison labor com
MISSION, presided over by Governor
| Warner. The full commission was
present and besides Wardens Russell
and Fuller. representatives OF the
manufacturers and other interests
were heard. The commission has
practically decided on the nature OF
It's report, and the document itself will
soon be ready for transmission to the
legislature. The sessions of the hear
ing were most harmonious the ideas
OF the prison wardens, Governor War
ner and the members of the commis-
sion being in close accord.
1T is understood" said Warden
Russell yesterday, that the commits
sion will recommend the displacement
from the prisons of contract labor. II
VIII be proposed. however. to bring
about its abolition gradually, the pow
er 10 move in regard to it being en-
trusted to the board OF control. When
ever contract is dropped 1t will be
replaced by the employment of the
convicts i'm some productive industry
on state account. under such condi-
tlons as the board OF control of the
particular prison shall see hit to put
I'm effect 1t is proposed TO ask for
legislation assuring the prisons a free
market for everything they produce.
Under this system the state will get
all the earnings of convicts, ex-
cept such as IL might be deemed ad-
visable to give to them i'm lieu of over
time.
No Unjust Composition.
The commission has i'm mind pre-
venting unjust competition with out
side labor by the adoption of a policy
of not underselling manufacturers of
articles of goods similar to those
turned out in the prisons. II would
be the aim to make the prison output
so good that it could command "a mar
ket in competition with goods manu-
factured by free labor at equal price.
A representative of the Michigan
Manufacturers association I'm attend
ance at the hearings said that If this
restriction was made the manufactur-
ars would have no objections to the
Of the convicts on pro-
ductive industry, even IL they output
ted articles and goods that came into
competition with the manufactures of
free labor. The product OF the con-
vfct labor would be but a single drOp
In the bucket of industry. 1t isn't the
volume of prison made goods that the
are concerned about.
but the bad results that follow on the
selling Of convict made goods at too
low prices.
"State Use" System.
'"rhe observations of the commits
sion on it's trips TO prisons, both east
ana west did not incline the members
TO favor the state use system that
has been extensively copied Under
hts system the convicts are employ
ed manufacturing articles used I'm the
prisons and in other state institutions.
without exception. under this system
The states have been unable dispose OF
enough of the prison manufactures to
be able TO Keep the conVicts busy. and
IN every state where the system has
been introduced IL has been accom-
panied by a tremendous increase i'm
the cost OF maintaining the prisons
that has had to be cared for by direct
While IL is impossible to make ex-
ict figures, IL rs the rough estimate
If the members of the prison COM
mission that the adoption of the state
Use system would increase the cost
II maintaining the Michigan prisons
'3OOO0O or more annually. besides
'reating conditions that would make it
iicult to carry on reformatory work.
What the commission desires to
10 is To secure the Introduction of
ystem that will make the prisons
Yearly If not entirely. self supporting,
~ securing to the state rofts now
soing to the contractors, and that, at
he same time, will give outside labor
md manufacturers no unjust compe-
ition. The commission believes that
he plan il will outline to the legisla-
ure will accomplish this