The Pulaskian., 1917-03-09
CONNECTS WILL
 WEAVE CLOTH
AMENDMENT OFFERED TO SUN, DRY CIVIC APPROPRIATION BILL IN CONGRESS TO MAKE THIS
 A POSSIBILITY.

House of Representatives, caused q special rule to be brought in by the Rules Committee making appropriate sa part of the Sunday Civil Appro- priation Bill the provisions appropria- ting for the establishment of a textile mill at Atlanta Ga, and a furniture factory at Leavenworth, Kan, each to be operated by the men confined in the federal prisons located at those points.
 In the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill are the following paragraphs:
 For the erection of shop buildings or factories and their appurtenances, S92,500; for the purchase and installa- ton of woodworking machinery and the installation of the same in the shop buildings or factories, and for other necessary equipment prepara- tory to manufacturing furniture and Woodenware. S202.5 in all, $2S5,. 000.' This comes under the heading of Leavenworth, Kan.
 Atlanta, Ga, Penitentiary: For the erection of shop buildings or fac. tories and their appurtenances, $129,- 800; for the purchase and installation of cotton textile machinery and the installation of same in the shop build ings or factories, and for other neces- sary equipment preparatory to manu. facturing cotton textile goods, $3153- 900; in all, s445,O0
 The opposition against these proyi- sions was very strong and objection was raised on the ground that they constituted new legislation and should not appear in the bill. After time had been spent arguing pro and con upon the merits of the appropriations, they were passed by in favor of succeed ing legislation. It's was then that the rule was brought in which resulted in the replacing of the paragraphs in the bill and of their final adoption
 The textile and furniture interests are up in arms over these provisions of the Sundry Civil Bill.
 The problem of finding employment for the inmates of these prisons has been under consideration by com mission composed of the Chief of Ord nance of the Army, the Chief of Ord nance of the Navy, the Superintendent of Prisons Of the Department of Jus tice, and the purchasing agent of the Post Office Department. They recent lv submitted a report to Congress rec. ommending the establishment of tex tile manufactory at Atlanta and a fur. niture factory at Leavenworth. but suggested that nothing at this time be done in the way of an industrial plant for the McNeil Island penitentiary.
 It is pointed out that manufacturing industries are successfully conducted in number of State prisons. Furni- ture making and weaving are found in several penal institutions. Great Brit aims mail sacks are made by the pris- eners.
 Prison Factory Would Affect Com
 petition.
 The effect of the competition of fered by the textile factory may be seen from the following table showing the quantities and prices of textiles purchased by the Quartermaster Corps of the Army during the fiscal year 1916. All of these commodities were purchased in the usual way of invit- ing proposals and making awards un. der competitive conditions. The man. ufacture of these textiles by the prison would mean loss to outside manufac- turers.
 410.600 yards duck, 8 ounce-per
 yard ................. .$015S 1,652.S59 yards duck. 124 ounce
 per yard .......... .231 95,245 yards duck, No. 8, 34-inch
 gray-per yard .......... .241 80,000 yards duck, 6 1-2 and
 ounce, bleached-per yard =. LIS 6oO00 yards duck, unbleached,
 40-inch-per yard ......... .1745 25,000 yards duck, white, No. 8,
 22-inch-per yard ....... .1515 201 ,590 yards duck, shelter tent
 per yard ............... .195 525.231 yards drill-per yard . 10 750,000 yards denim, blue--per
 yard ................ .23 1,312,354 undershirts, cotton .... .277 l .587,S53 pairs drawers, cotton. .26e 56,S00 undershirts, woolen .... 80 52,012 pairs drawers, winter. .. ,297 2S3,GS1 pairs stockings, cotton .06s
 The Chief of Ordnance during the fiscal year 1916, purchased for tho Ordnance Department of the Army approximately 100000 yards of cotton canvas duck 150,000 pounds of cotton waste, and 50,O00 yards of cotton sheeting.
 The Bureau of Supplies and Az counts, of the Navy Department. ls