THE STATE PRISONS.
The Committee on Prisons report on the bill [H. R. 440] to lease and hire convict labor, recommending the indefinite postponement of the bill.
Mr. EDWINS--The Committee make this report thus from the fact that the subject matter is embodied in the other prison bill. They think the other bill ought to be brought before the House the early part of next week, and not take up the time of the House with side issue bills.
Mr. KENNER said: This is a bill to prohibit the Directors of the State Prisons from letting prison labor at a less compensation than so much. The State of Indiana may just as well have $125,000 from the Northern Prison as $78,000. We can just as well get sixty or seventy cents for each day's labor performed by prisoners as thirty or forty cents. This bill is a proper one, and I hope the House will lay the report on the table and let the bill be considered as any other bill; let it stand upon its merits. I want the House to go upon record and say whether the honest laboring men of the State shall be compelled to compete with prison labor at forty cents a day.
Mr. FANCHER--There is now a bill before this House which provides for the reorganization of our Prisons--prescribing that the Governor shall appoint five Directors, three of whom shall be Republicans and two Democrats, etc. I am opposed to this bill, and hope the report will be concurred in.
The House adjourned until Monday at 2 p. m.
