The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-29


The following memorial was forwarded Il
members Of the Ohio Legislature, by Aessrs
James L. Haven 4 Co. Of this city who are ex-
tensive manufacturers Of small castings, and
whose business would be materially injured b.
the introduction Of coavict labor into the work
house, a. proposed BY the different bills nov
before the Legislature. The facts and figures
contained in ithe memorial speak for them
selves
DkAa SfR: The undersigned you'd mos: earn
estly request your co operation in postponiEs
all legislation on the subject Of work-houses-
more particularly in reference 10 employing the
labor Of tha inmates ut mechanical ira les, until
the report OF the commission which ne under
stand will prob ably be appointed By the Leg
isIaIure to investigate the whole subject, hop
ing and believing that their report will b. saeh
as 70 induce you to lend your influence 70
change the whole system, as, We have been in
formed has been found just and practicable 10
other Safes.
The history Of manufacturing In the penissn-
tiary in tho branch With which we are fsmiiaI
has been about Is follows: About three years
since Z. y T. Swan commences the mspufac-
turs OF butt hinges in the Penitentiary at
has compelled the curtaimsnt Of that branch
of busiSess in this city, the only place in the
Yves. where they we're pre- viou,lF made, q re-
duction Of the wages paid those employed at
it, AID besides entailed pscuuiary loss on all
the manufacturers, and lin our shop) ON each
and every one Of the employees, all Of whon
paftici pate in the profits Of our business.
We give the facts Of this one branch only Of
manufactures, but have no doubt tEAt others
could state the same for their trades AMI now
come the directors of our work house With o
pc, ject which must result, if successful, in
transferring TO that institution q large shop,
which has been carried on in this city for
twenty years, and in throwing out Of employ
nisnt nearly as many hands as they set 30 work
out there.
We are aware that representations have
been made TO some Of our honorable body, that
The articles intended to be made at the work
house are (lst) made elsew here by convict labor,
or (zd) articles usually brought here from other
States, or (Sd) that they will be made in addi-
zion to those made ~ the city shops.
The writer saw casters, bedstead fastneRs,
grindstone hangings, ard lock castings Hans-
factured and in process of being manufactured
there, none If which are to his knowledge
made elsewhere in penal Institutions, aud all
Of which are and have been made here for
twenty years at least and some Of them (bed
, stead fastener seldom or never brought here
from any greater distance than Ne~pOrt, Ky,
70 the knowledge Of the writer
A TO the contractors keeping THAR hsnds In
the city shop at work also, it 10 impossible.
The patterns and tools can not be uted in both
places at once; and their use out at the work.
house must, of necessity, stop city hands.
Besides, the facilities Of the contractors, and
Others in the city making the goods now made
at the work house, are more than sufficient TO
supply the demand; and We are informed that
some OF their hands were stopped for weeks
this winter, whilst the convirts we're doing
their work part Of the time.
We are aware that our city ha' on her hands
a most extravag mt institution, the running ex-
penses Of which, in Guiding in crest, vii not fall
much short OF seventy thousand dollars per
year in the future, judging fom the past two
years THE land ana building alone having cost
1851, 942 Ssl, ard would rot blame the direc
tors for trying to tighten the grevions burden,
out do object 20 having it shifted from the
grand duplicate, where it properly belongs, on
| to the shoulders in effect Of the email number,
comparatively OF tradesnen, whose business Il
to be injured for the benefit of few coutrsc-
tors and she many taxpayers.
Another way that has been proposed, is to
take bOarders;" for the great city Of Ciucin-
natl to open 4" Grand Hotel for thieves and
Migrants, for the sake Of getting few cents
per day profit of each by hiring them out "a
compete with our own mechanics. This was SC
absurd, that We presume it was not seriously en-
tertained. How justice can be done to all par
ties we do not pretend TO know, but trust that
if time is taken for investigation that way
can be found.
In the meantime We ask suspension OF al
action on Jour part, except, perhaps, resolu-
tioE or an ordinance preventing further con-
tracts until the pleasure Of the Legislature cas
be made known. Respectfully,
| JANIS L. HAVEN 4 Co.