Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-24
TfiIfrinE Convict Labor.

The following commune alton to the District
Commissioners from Mr.. Wm. ID. Wise gives
,ome practical REd important ideas uFou the
matter Of utilizing convict Labor in way TO be
seTyiceabie to the community aud advantageous
to the prisoners the mstlyes:
10 he CoBtmissiCHsrs 0S TIE Cify or V-dski1qioH.
GEETLKNsH: Having a. early a. June, 1890
ca led attention 10 the pl Opriety and Importance
OF using convict labor Ia carrying on improve
ents Oh the main drainage vi this city, along
james Greek ami the canal, and IN improving
the navigation OF both branches OF the PosOuac
by deepening their channels, and IL retaining
iarEe quantities. OF ground along tn ir banks by
Ia's.nS them to proper levels for wharvs and
other shipping purposes; and stil believing in
that policy, am gratiied to see that you have
10 some extent adopted simi ar measures by
employing sucn labor on the streets OF this CITY
and hCpe YOU may ind IN TINS experiment.
good Teasous fOT also applying it To the before
named extensive fields On tue TiyeE now wide
open for such labor.
That convict labor might be thus probably
employed cannot be doubted. That by judiciOus
maDageDeI 1T IL might be made hi ighlY benehcia
- the poor unfcTtunates themselves, appears
equally pisn. hey are all human, however
low they may have fallen, OfCensT, perh4ps,
through weakness OF extraordinary Compilations
than JETorgh innate vice. Aud the belief is
becoming extensively entertained tdat but few
of them, IL any. have sunk 80 low ia dept aytty
as to be quite beyond the reach of such kindly
and wholesome influences as often strongly
impress the less viciOusly inclined, or even men
who have not yet in any way fallen ur Ter con-
1emhat4On- VIZ kindness and other Inc6Oti
70 well-dOipg. Nearly all the business men OF
this city ~ no have considered the question ia vor
the employment of our cOnvictB on the improve
ments Hamsd. A nd our courts favor it too. My
plan was pre- sented TO and was warm Y approved
bv the inspectors of Prisons, of whom the late
Peter Force WAS chief at that time.
would Dotrecommend the payment of wages
TO the cOnvicts. Retter let that go, whatever
their labor may be worth, towards defraying
the expenses OF their keeping. Still [ would
by sll proper means encourage them to labor
IN. n.a S.r kHAsr
mird. And as an iuducement to do 80 faith fltI-
ly. and thus DIT themselves for future useful
ness, tor taking care of themselves, and of such
ss may have claims upon them, / would assure
them that at the expiration OF their terms or
whenever they might be discharged, they all
oave paid to them Sums in money equal to, say
ten cents day for each days good behavior;
and perhaps, IN some cases, the terms OF their
service might be Curtailed.
Ii - believed that an assurance of such re-
wards, distinctly understood to DEPEND wholly
on their good behavior and faithtuIness in ali
respects, together with the dpDrOUdE OF their
conduct thus expressed, would have highly ber-
ehcial effects on their minds and on their con-
duct. That it would act as a stiRulant OF the
p1rest CE sracter Tor promoting industry, their
present good, and future welfare; a2d, as a nat
uTai con5equtnce, add greatly TO the prese Mt
Much wOnld OF course depend on the charac-
ter of the men entrusted to the care and super
intendence of The conyicts thus employed. They
should be strict N The enforcement OF necessary
rules and regulations, but also Just am humane.
As quick to perceive and approve whatever
there nay be CONNIE Idable IA the conduct
OF those Under tEeir care, as 90 condemn what
is wrong; and no tEuEts, nor insults shou Id
he Permitted u come to tIe cOaTicts from
any sOUrre, either from the oversaers
or from those who may visit or pass by them.
For these reasons their employment on the
uveT, away from crowded streets, would seem
20 be the best place for trying the experiment.
There they might be kept quite safely at all
times when not at work, in home ships or In
snitable floating vessels Of any kind desired
always anchored near the work, and readily
moved from one locality 10 another as the pro-
sress OF the work might require, thus saving
the necessity OF daily marching them through
the streets from and to the prison, a place
which 1t Is believed large proportion OF the
e2nvicts would gladly exchange for useful en-
piOyment on the water, in dredging the chan
nels OF both branches OF the Potomac and in
nlling up such low grounds along the banks as
may be reclaimed and improved as Indicated
a work on which hundreds of men might be
proftabiy employed for several years 10 come
large proportion Of the appliances required
for such work, such as dredges scovs, &c. the
Navy department or the government have al
ways on hand, often unemployed and rotting,
when Their proper use as suggested would rather
teDd to preserve them.
If the foregoing plan meets you views in re-
ga d 10 convict labor, we who have commercial
interest in this District would be pleased to
have its adoption recommended 70 Congress by
your honorable body.
Very respectfully, W. ID. WISE.