The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-12-18
Convict Competition.

ment is an undoubted wrong to the latter
class. It requires but very little consider
atomic make this manifest. Experienced
and thoughtful men have condemned the
practice whenever the experiment has
been tried. The manufacturers OF CARR
ages, boots, shoes Nc, in the state OF
Maine have long felt the affects of this evil.
We are therefore not surprised TO find that
the National Carriage Builders Associa-
ton at its recent meeting, discussed this
question and took strong grounds in oppo-
sition to the policy of the Maine authori-
ties. We quote from the proceedings had
at that body
Mr.. j. W. Britton of \. Y stated that he had
learned with surprise, that the State authorities
of Maine have for several years been engaged in
the manufacture Of carriages al the State prison.
Instead Of hiring out the labor Of the convic~
TO contractors, as is customary. they have or
ganized Il large carriage shop in the prison.
These carriages are thrown upon the market in
competition with the regular trade. Mi. Brit
ton concluded his remarks by offering the fol
lowing resolution
Whereas. This association has heard with
State of Maine is now employing the inmates OF
its prison in the manufacture Of carriages for
lis own account and profit. and selling them in
direct competition with its own citizens, to
their great and serious injury. Therefore be it,
Resolved, That the Carriage Builders Nation
al Associate of the United States in annual
meeting assembled. earnestly and >olemnly pro-
test against practice so unjust, and 50 directly
infringing upon the rights Of the citizen
Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to
forward this resolution to the Governor of the
State of Maine.
Mr.. Britton then called upon the President
for his views as he had heard nothing from him
on the subject.
Mr.. kmbalI said that although it would seem
that he was largely interested IN this question,
being carriage manufacturer in Maine, he
was. probably, the least affected by il of any in
the State, as the largest part of his sales We're
made in his repository in Boston. But 1t does
interfere with other manufacturers. more es-
pecially those i'll the eastern part OF the State.
The warden OF the prison. who was appointed
Il few wears ago, happened to be carriage
maker by trade, and thought that this huainrss
could he carried on with profit. The state had
expended since then large amount in the cree
ton of buildings and purchase of tools and
machinery. The plan has been claimed Is very
successful and profitable to the State. But he
doubted whether, if the facts could be a>cer-
tanned and an account Of stock taken, at its real
value, if such Il favorable showing could be
made On the contrary he had no doubt the
State would lose largely in the end by the oper-
alton. He was of the opinion that when the
matter was brought before the Governor and
Council and other State officials, most of whom
he knew personally and regarded as honest
men, desiring to do right by all the citizen, of
the State, that they would give the subject their
careful consideration, allowing the carriage and
harness makers to be heard on the subject if
they desired, and would then act fairly in the
matter, and in his opinion would soon change
the mode of operation. Mr. kimball spoke at
length, and closed by saving that he did not
wish to be understood as opposing convict Ia
boz but he was decidedly aVerse to the govern
ment, either State or National. entering into
manufacture on their own account. His re-
marks met with the warm appreciation OF the
members.
Mr.. Brtton followed with some remark, CO.
NEEDING fully with the president, and stated
that the question did not interfere with the en-
ployment of State prison labor by contractors.
but was directed against their employment by
the Government itself.
Mr.. Simmons of Maine who had introduced
the subject for the consideration Of the As>ocii-
ton, was called upon for some remarks but
stated that his views had been fully expressed
by the previous speakers The resolution WAS
passed.
1t is not surprising that this protest is
entered While no one can object to the
punishment of criminals, there must be a
very decided objection to making their
employment incidentally punish a worthy
class of citizens. 1t will be seen at once
that competition with the state by private
manufactures must be a ruinous one In
the first place the state treasury is drawn
upon to erect buildings, and provide tools
and materials; then convict laborers, fed
and clothed by the state, are trained until
they acquire the necessary skill. The arti-
Giles they produce are then thrown upon
the market to compete for buyers with
those whose private and often inadequate
means are obliged to provide whatever
facilities they have for carryin on their
work. If the merchandise produced by
convict labor cannot readily be sold at the
ruling prices OF private manufacturers, it
will be sold at some price even if greatly
below the cost Of production. For the
deficiency that results, the public treasury
is drawn upon and it will Of course follow
that the tax payers OF the state are obliged
to ultimately provide the means, and
among them the very class the state is in
juring by this unjust competition
Mr.. Kimball has hit upon the farest and
easiest solution of this difficulty. If the
state has large number of coavicts
trained to the business Of carriage making,
whose labor it desires to turn to the best
account without injustice to any interest,
let their labor be hired to the highest bid
der therefor The employer will doubt
less be some man or firm of skill and
abundant means, who while employing
the labor to his or their own personal ad-
vantage cannot enter into unjust OF in
jurlous competition with other manuf:lc-
turers by having the state treasury to
draw upon Now that the carriage max
ing establishment at the prison has been
destroyed by fire, the time seems oppor-
tune for beginlng new order of things,
at which no one shall have just reason to
complain. We hope to see this matter
thoroughly ventilated both by the public
press and in legislative debate, feeling
certain that investigation will show the
policy of the state to have be en- wrong
DR.. Germane, of Rockland, was tried
before the u S. District Court, 1T Port