The Penn's Grove record., 1919-08-01
C0Nv|CTS WILL
Do ROAD WORK
Commissioner Lewis, Highway
Department and Prison Au-
thorities Get Together.
OPEN AIR LABOR Is BEST.
Had Been Made by the
Highway Department That the
Quota of Prisoners Promised
Was Not Maintained.

Trenton.-State Commissioner Bur
lette G. Lewis OF the department of in
ditutions and agencies. communicating
With State Highway Engineer William
I. Thompson, assures him that the
highway department may rely with
reasonable assurance upon 800 on
lets for road work.
Complaint made by the highway de
Dartment that the quota of men prom
Sed for the respective road camps was
.ot being maintained prompted the in
%estigation aud the letter from ON
Missioner Lewis. Lack of laborers, J.
vas asserted, seriously interfered witt
Efficient and economical road building.
Commissioner Lewis in his communi-
cation to Mr.. Thompson refers to 3
resolution adopted by the managers of
he state prison, requesting Principal
leeper James H. Mulheron to increase
he number of convicts on road work
o 300 and to maintain these figures
che resolution added that because OF
he moving population at the institu-
ion no guarantee could be made that
he compliments would at all times be
;ept up to the required quota.
After presenting before the men,
lers of the Board of Managers and the
Principal keeper of the prison the sub
stance of the recent conference be-
ween the State Highway Commission
md the commissioner of institutions
nd agencies, at which conference the
Highway Commission requested a def
lite promise as to the supply of 125
Aen for Monmouth Junction, 100 men
or road camp No. 2-B and 10 men for
he proposed camp at Budd's Lake.
Commissioner Lewis addressed the
'ollowing communication to State
Highway Engineer Thompson;
Put 300 at Work.
Erhe principal keeper and the mem
lers of the Board of Managers of the
Prison have given careful considera-
ion TO the present organization, to the
matter of escapes and have adopted a
resolution covering the matter of I'LL
ny up the quota desired for road camp
work to the number of 300. The fol
lowing motion was made by Mr.. Rich
ard NJ. More and was duly passed at a
meeting: That the Board of Managers
authorizes and requests Mr.. Mulheron
to bring up the number of men at road
camp No. >, Monmouth Junction, to 125
men road camp No. 2-B, West Portal,
10 100 men, and the camp TO be eStab-
lished at Budd's Lake to - men and to
keep the number at these figures, but
that in view of the moving population
no guarantee be made that such COM
plement would always BE kept up to
The required quota
THE Board of Managers stated that
they did not feel that they could make
in the above resolution, that it was as
strong as any contractor could make
truthfully at the present time. that
they would be willing to exceed the
quota at times if there was room for
them at the camps. that the labor turn
ryer in industry is so great today that
The Highway Commission should bear
this in mind when criticising them be-
cause the prison has a labor turnover
and that the Highway Commission will
ton of roads in this state by pushing
the responsibility from the commission
upon a contractor to maintain the full
complement of labor when contractors
are confronted by a situation where
the labor supply is precarious and
where the labor turnover promises TO
be even greater in the future than it
has been during the war.
"As l stated to your commission. the
State Board is the main contractor,
the institutions bearing the relation of
subcontractors, that the institutions
have the labor in sufficient quantities
to permit the filling of these quotas,
that the situation is one calling for
administrative control and CO.
operation by the Institutions, this
board and the Highway Commission.
that we appreciate the cooperation of
the Highway Commission and that
most of the difficulties which occurred
the spring period should be
eliminated by the new budget provi-
sions, which became available July 4
last.
"In view of the possibility of secur-
the 70 men either from the state
prison or from the reformatory, l feel
hat your commission is warranted
from every point of view in making
the proposed investment in equipment
for the establishment of a new camp.
doing this you will not only be pro-
yiding work for idle hands and thus
the state many thousands of
but you will also be making
provision for the actual construction
roads in the state when the labor
is diminished still further, as
t is bound to be, a fact which is fully
recognized by the war department, de-
,artment of labor and reports of cham
,ers of commerce throughout the coun-
ry."
Favor Open Air Work.
With respect to the possibility of
limo nm the reouired UuOdo with in.