The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1876-05-20
THE WORKING OF PRISONERS.

a bill was brought forward by Hon. II
Waterhouse, Representative from Honolulu, tc
amend Section 2l5 of the Civil Code, relating tc
the working of prisoners the amendment being
to strike out the words or otherwise, as the
Marshal, with the approval of the Minister Of
the Interior, may think best, - and to introduce
in their stead, after the word works. the
words, " and roads, - so that the Section, as now
amended, shall read All prisoners sentenced
to imprisonment at hard labor shall be constantly
employed for the public benefit, on the public
works and roads - also to repeal Section 216,
Immediately following. The bill as read has
passed its first reading, and ON it's second reading,
was referred to a select committee.
In regard to the existing law, we have never
entertained any doubts of the injustice of bring
ing prison labor into competition with the labor
of others who " earn their bread by the sweat of
their brow > and we recommend, as far as our
advice may be worthy of notice, a careful consid-
Grafton of the same. We are not advocates of
extravaganza charges for labor, nor do we endorse
the principle of = strikes :" founded on such a
basis yet we still think that the worthy laboring
men of our country should not be subject to the
cheapening effects that a competition with prison
labor must bring with it.
Good honest labor in the heat or our tropical
sun, is certainly worth the wages that is now
paid for it, and We cannot wonder at complaints
from the " bone and sinew " of the land, when
it is reduced one half by competition with the
labor of %felons, for whose support they (the
people) are already taxed their proportion.
We have heard, as an argument against this
proposed law, the possible frequent repetition of
strikes that have occurred on our wharyes but
tlrO lDrongs can never make a right; and if the
repetition of these be as frequent as is imagined
possible under such q law, there are more ways
than one by which the difficulty can be remedied.
IF such be the case, there are other marts of
labor from which we can draw a supply of steve
dores and wharf-men to supplement the need
and if the Hawaiian, with such knowledge will
sin against the light. he is deserving of the con-
sequence he would thus dare.
Let them be warned but not injured by the
degrading competition referred to.
Should this law be passed. there will be need
ed a remodeling of the prison arrangements, and
a system of work to keep the time of prisoners
employed that will at the same time help to pay
the expenses of their living. But as this is a
subject requiring thought and study, we refrain
from making any extended comments, especially
as the effort now being made to amend the exist
ing law may. after all, be abortive.
Perhaps it might be well, however, to suggest,
in conclusion, that a further amendment might
be land perhaps really ought to beg introduced,
that an exception should be made with such as
are imprisoned for deserving bonded labor, as it
would otherwise be an injustice to the planter,
and perhaps an encouragement to the dissolute
and idle to impose upon their employers.