The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-27
Convict Labor.

cial committee appointed last spring to
examine into the management of convict
labor by other States, and to suggest re-
forms in this respect:
The special committee appointed dur
ing our last session to communicate with
the officials of the different States of the
Union, in reference to the management
of convict labor, beg leave to report that
they did communicate with every State
in the Union, the most, if not all Of whom,
responded to our request for information
on this subject. From the numerous re-
ports received We could, and have, COM
piled large amount OF information that
might be Interesting to the House, but in
practical point of view, from the great
diversity of plans and opinions: it would
be too voluminous and perhaps unsatis-
factory in reference to the cost of their
respective penitentiaries, for in this par
ticular they vary very materially. Some
make very large annual appropriations,
some make small and others pay into
their treasures various amounts of money
realized from their convict labor.
After an examination of the whole
subject, we have come to the conclusion
that the condition of our ncighboring
State, Georgia, is more like that of our
own State in climate, population, wants
and necessities than any other State and
think she is managing her convict labor
with more than ordinary skill and profit,
and would respectfully refer the General
Assembly to the system of management
in that State and recommends its adop-
ton. About three and half years since
they entered into contract with some
responsible companies, to take charge of
all their convict labor for term of five
years, the company to pay the State for
each convict $l1 per annum. The COM
pany pays all expenses, including guards,
&c. They have at this time between
! l, 100 and 1900 convicts in the hands of
the different companies who keep them
employed at various branches of business
some on farms, on railroads, making
brick, working in coal mines, &c. Their
Legislature has been pleased with this
plan of working them, and recently en-
tered into contract with three different
companies to take charge of all their con-
vict labor for twenty years, for which they
are to pay the State $25,O00 annually.
The contractors pay all expenses from
the time of conviction until released by
the authority of the State. This contract
regulates the number Of hours they are
required to work, including all the de-
tails that may be necessary to provide for
their comfort, protection and safe keep
ing. The State furnishes one general
superintendent, one physician and one
chaplain, whose duty it is to look after
their various wants. There is not sim
gle convict within the walls of the Geor.
gia penitentiary. The contractors take
all classes of convicts, including the vi
cious and invalids. Ex-Governor Brown,
who is one of the most successful business
men of this country, and one who has
had more practical experience in the
management of convict labor, on big
scale, than almost any man South, was
one of the first contractors for this labor.
His first contract expires in April, 1879.
He, with two other companies, have con-
tracted with the State of Georgia Ito take
effect after April, 1879 for all their con-
victs for twenty years, entering into a
suitable bond, to pay the State $500, 900
in annual instalments of $25,000.
Gov. Browns argument and experience
is, that the convicts of this section of the
South, if worked within the walls of the
penitentiary, will do their work SC badly
and "spoil SO much material that the re-
suit will be in every instance in practice,
that they will involve the State in
heavy annual expense" He also takes
ground against the policy of educating
this bad population in the different me-
chanical pursuits, as a hardship against
the honest mechanics, both of the white
and black race. He also says under this
system "they will be as healthy and as
cheerful as under the close confinement
system-indeed, my observation has been
that they are more So"
When we remember our financial en-
barrassment and the large amounts that
have been appropriated from year to
year, and the amount no,0 asked for to
support this institution, we think it would
be good judgment to profit by the expe-
rience Of our sister State-Georgia-and
lease this labor to some responsible per-
son or company for at least one year, nor
more than fire years, under such rules
and regulations as may be thought pru-
dent and safe. We would also respect
fully suggest that no person or company
should be allowed to contract for this
labor who will not take at least twenty
| five convicts, and at the same time re-
quire them to give suitable bond for
| their faithful observance of the contract.
Our argument for this suggestion is,
it would be necessary for the convicts to
have strong, comfortable and commodi-
Gus barracks or stockades fot their COM
fort and protection, including a liberal
supply of reliable guards, that no person
hiring less than this number would find
it convenient to furnish; besides, it
would limit the number of contractors
which would make it more convenient
and practicable for The State officers to
| look after their various wants and ne
cessities.
From recent conferences and commu
nications with persons interested in the
phosphate works on the seaboard of our
State, am convinced we will find no
difficulty in making contracts with them
that will be satisfactory to the State at
the same time, we think it would be ad-
visabe to favor as much as possible, all
individuals or companies, working this
labor on railroads, canals or any other
public work in which the State has a
general interest. In addition to the
above, we think this system of labor will
do more to accomplish the real objects of
the law than to continue Our present
system of working them. We would
further suggest that this report be re-
ferred to the Committee on the Peniten-
tiary, who, by the assistance of the At
torney General, be instructed to make
such report as they may think prudent
under the circumstances.
The special committee, in closing this
report, ask the appointment of COM
mittee of four members of this House To
meet like committee of the Senate,