The Winslow mail. (Winslow, Ariz.) 1893-1926, 1925-03-13
SENATOR MOORE
MAKES DEFENSE
OF CEMENT BILL

Senator Bob Moore, of Navajo
county, whose bill for the estab-
Iishment of a state-owned cement
plant, to be operated by prison
labor. was before the state Legisla-
ture Tuesday of last week, made a
brilliant speech in it's behalf before
the legislators on that day.
Mr.. Moore said:
ARIZONA has long been at the
mercy of the cement trust, or a
combine which has fixed the price
of this commodity In view OF this
fast, coupled with other good rea-
sons which I will presently state,
senate bill No. % has been intro
duced in this legislature. At pres
ent there are no cement plants III
our state The long haul and the
extremely great weight Of this very
necessary and much used commod-
ity only tends to increase the price
to the consumer.
''This measure proposes the es-
tablishment of plant near the
state prison in Pinal county, in
which would be used prison labor
Our state prison at present is tax
burden on our state and this propo-
sition will, if carried to success
full conclusion, not only relieve this
situation but will make it at least
self-supporting, if not profitable.
Mr.. R. B. Sims, warden, appeared
before the senate committee on
state institutions in the interest OF
this measure, and made the state
ment that the prison had ample
labor to operate this proposed plant
and more than enough to keep the
farm going in good shape. He
stated that in his opinion it would
be of much benefit to the men upon
their release from prison, as the
good wholesome work would keep
their muscles hard, enabling them
to go to work in any field open to
them.
GAS to the effect upon free labor.
AS introducer of this bill, and for
the last thirty years member OF
organized labor, it was only natural
that I should look into the effect
this would have upon free labor.
am now, after making investigation,
convinced it will prove a very bene-
fetal move, in that it will furnish
many more laboring men employ
ment in our state, as it will en-
courage improvements in many
cities and towns. l am reliably in
formed the California legislature
now has the same proposition be-
fore it, Endorsed by the labor unions
of the state.
s'In the construction of the Roose-
welt dam, the government called Tor
bids three times, rejected them on
the grounds that they were too
high. and constructed mill OF
about the capacity of the one pro-
posed in this bill, and operated the
plant for three years. 1t made $685.
452 barrels of cement. At the COM
pletion of the dam the mill was sold
at scrap price, and effected saving
of slightly more than $500, 900. This
saving included the amount paid for
the mill. The government has done
practically the same at Arrowhead,
Elephant Butte and other places;
in fact, it was business PROPOSE
ton, and viewed as such. The ma
tional reclamation service used
business methods, and the result
speaks in clearer language than |
can use.
"Now that we have a highway
taxpayers to spend millions, shall
we not follow the example Of the
federal government and make prep
aration for saving the money of the
state for the state? The estimated
saving which would be made is
SI.67 per barrel. The highway pro-
gram alone calls for about 100000
barrels year Our cities, towns
and irrigation districts will all feel
the effects of cheaper cement.
81 have had members of this SEN
ate call this socialistic measure.
Mr.. Chairman, if it is you may call
me a socialist, and l offer proof, as
in the case of our federal govern
ment at Roosevelt, that we have a
socialistic form of government. But
not so, Mr. Chairman. 1t was and
is only good sound business, and
our government is government
based upon good sound business
principles, and as a democrat 1 pre-
sent this proposition for considera-
ton, and the cry of socialism will
not deter me in my purpose to save
for the tax-burdened state the
amount this will surely save.
"In conclusion, may l say we are
still far from the nearest cement
plant? We are still confronted
with a higher freight rate than
caused the government to erect the
mill at Roosevelt. Shall we let
this opportunity pass to make this
saving for our taxburdened state?
], for one, will answer with my
vote: No! We will nOt!"