New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-16
ANTI-CoyvrcT.LABOR MgHTISG.-A meeting

In oopo.l,ion TO the employ Of convict labor vas
held In Temperance Hall Brooklyn. last evening" Sam1
Solomon presiding The hall WAS nearly Filed by nm IN
telligent assembly " worbingmen John woodruff the
first speaker said tho question they were met 10 oon
der was one which twenty five years since. bad
rovontoLizei the state and law was passed prohibit
ng the learning ~ trrfes in our prisons In 1897 tho
~ cigar making was introduced Into the prison
M Sing Sing Tie speaker did not believe that adults
could successfully be taught cigar making tho great
trouble would DO it's Introduction IN the female and
s,snben b. Cushing. formerly State Attorney Gen.
y, sad the contractors hired convict labor at the rate
Of ten cents per day. II the profit was good for the
contractor why not Tor the st'e no re,srfed 70 'so
the coumupity be mingles with mechanics IN shops
and especially with epprenticea in reference tn THIS
matter workingnen should frat petition then demand
A letter vas read from Edwin James approving tho
object OF the meeting. While labor was TO be regarded
the foundation OF reformaory discPnne anu yo'ui
both On this country and IN England and no objection
had been successfully urged against H. stu the proposal
that contractor should hire the esrnngs 81 oonvees
and bring such labor into competition with the honest
inustrous and unconvicted working classes appeared
70 him 70 be In violation Of every principle OF public pol
hey. would afford premium 70 crime woua ead 70 ths
prisons and subvcrt every sound principle of prison
discipline The attempt 10 transfer the profits Of Grim
inl labor 20 contractors wa. once maze LII England 'u'
Ronyrr NJ Porn said he wss a laborIng man. and
We there because he favor Of fair play for every
yorker on Gods earth whether white. black or brown.
The principal complaint-what probably caused the
formation OF that AssOclatoDwas that cigsr-mnking
vas carried on 70 considerable extent In tho State and
County Prson. The Board Of Supervisors had lit
TO have that trade taught II was ono easily acquired.
and tho products easiy dispOsed o. II Cigar making
were taught merely TO young denqusnts It would DO
hard question 10 ded with But tho labor farmed
out 10 and the Supervisors Of Kings County
BY their action bringing down the price Of honest
labor.
Robert d. Grove said he was hot from the work.
shop Lord Bacon had affirmed that the welfare Of the
people WAS the supreme law. and In the light Of this
principle II was clear that Government had right 10
bring convict labor into competition with roc labor.
Mr. Grove introduced pauper statistios In 1921
there was one pauper TO every l2j inhabitants In New
York; In 1884, " 20; In 1856 10 "a In 1857 ~ IL
and late message Of Gov Morgan asserted that there
was pauper 10 every ten Of the population Of tho
City Of New York The Contracting for convict labor
had tendency TO the increase OF psupcrsm.
John Commerford wns introduced ~ having been Tor
~ years engaged In the case tho meeting had mot 70
advance He gave some "reminiscences connected with
the movement which resulted In the passage Of law
prohibiting the learning Of trades In prisons and then
opened up the general subject OF taxation. His plan
10 tax property instead OF poomes. II man wns
worth his millions he would tax the first 10000 three
per cent, the second $4,000 i've per cent tho third
$50 900 six per cent, and 90 on In the Same ratio
The meeting addressed by other speakers. and
resolutions adopted expressive Of the the
assembly the subject Vi convict labor which con-
cluded The lrocesd'Dga