The New York herald., 1879-11-23
CONVICT LABOR.

SOlN N1S1 LkADON.
AN ARGUMENT SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE
INDUSTRIAL CLASSES TO THE JOINT LEGIsLA-
TIVE INVESTIGATING COMMISSION.
The members of the Joint Legislative Commission
appointed by the States OF Massachusetts, Connecti-
cut and New Jersey. to examine into tho efec. pro-
duced upon free labor by the system Of convict
labor. employed in the prisons Of nearly every
State. have departed for their homes Senator A. p.
Morse and Representative Charles II. Litchman have
gone to Boston to hear further views the subject
under investigation. and Messrs. Edward Beetle.
Samuel Allinson. W. r. Murphy, A. s. Meyrick and
S. B. Hunt of New Jersey busily engaged in
comparing views with the gentlemen representing
the State of Connecticut. Messrs. L. p. Demina. W.
II Wilcox. ]. Tierney. Edmund Tweedey and p.
L. Clark. Before leaving New York. the COM
mission received what the members regarded
very valuable information at the hands Of prominent
workingmen and tradesmen in the shape Of statis-
tcal and explanatory notes the convict labor sys-
tenn In its relation to outside labor All these
notes were very carefully compiled into an elab-
crate document, which has been placed at the dis
posal Of the commission. In opening the paper
states that the subject is of the most utmost i'm.
portance. ut involves not only the question
whether state Prison felons to be allowed to in
1ure honest labor but 1t also involves the question
rs to whether the people OF the State to be
forced from want to become ''un inmates MsV Of
charitable institutions" A great deal Of space
is given to discussion of the effect the svstem mas
upon the moral training of the convict, after which
follows brief synopsis or the kind Of trades in
which convicts are employed. The branches OF
engaged are stated to be "Stoves shoes. machines,
hats, hollow ware, axles and fles." 1t is claimed
dozen branches OF skilled labor affected either
directly or indirectly. The number Of convicts in
the prisons Of the State is placed at about 70OO
Of this number very large portion is under con-
tract. In Sing Sing Prison some 1890 to 1900
Perry Co. and about 500 with the BAY State shoe
Company. The former firm stove
facturers and have contract until Decem-
Der. 1881. They pay the men about fifty cents
day. The Bay State Company hire their men at q
like amount. and have contract until April. 1882.
In Auburn Prison Dunn. Solomon Il Co.. shoe man
ufacturers. employ 200 convcts at fifty cents day.
Sheldon l. Co. have an "axle contract for eighty
men at forty-two cents day. and "mschine''
contract for fifty men at forty cents day. George
Corning employs 100 men on shoes at forty cents u
day: and Hayden Smith contract for 100 mon at
half dollar u day who work on "hame and plate"
Foxell Jones have q contract for 100 men ut fifty
cents day for the manufacture of hollow ware.
under engagement to Carroll Il Co.. for which tho
State receives. average. less than sixty cents
day for each convict These men are employed In
the manufacture of hats.
''BoUND TO sUFFER."
"Of course" continues the memorial. "when some
thousands of men, receiving only average tfty
cents day, are competing with outside labor the
latter is bound to suffer. The manufacturer who il
the wages Of his employees. In the end. therefore.
the skilled mechanic or laborcr suffers and sooner
s Os to
fifty cents day received by the State for each felon
is barely sufficient to support him. while the scanty
toward the support of family Of half dozen persons.
The result in many instances is that our amshouses
filed by poor mechanics and the State, which
has pay for tho support of convics Obliged
to contribute toward the support OF class that
under other circumstances would be the support Of
the government Thus, the State Injuries class Of
most reputable citizens in its effort make little
money out Of the labor of the most aisreputable
In order to estimate the real injury of the contract
system on tho industrial clssses the tradesmen
examine ut length the workings Of the system in
Sing Sing Prison "The stove contract in this JAIL
they say. 'cals for 1000 men. all of whom. it is
provided. must be ablebodied and servceable this
branch of labor. At fifty cents day for each man
the daily income to the State would amount to $500.
In year the State would receive over $l5O,0OO. II
the were forced to employ outside labor
leos favored manufacturers obliged to do they
would have to pay about 81 80 day. The
annual expense to the contractor would. If outside
labor was employed. amount TO almost $500. 900.
Thus the contractor makes profit Of over 1000.
which amount would, under different
have to be expended among the honest industrial
portion of the community. Before the present
thousand workers In this branch OF bust.
ness were employed at - 80 day, aud
had steady work ,t .n tns: rate When the
however, reaction took place. The wages OF the
men were reduced almost one-half and some Of the
workers left without work. The same relative
effect has been produced upon the shoe and hat
trades. ''In closing. the petitioners earnestly pray
that tho members OF the commission will advise
their Commonweslths to use every means In their
power to remedy this condition OF things" They
recognize, they say. that it is only by concerted
movement in various States that any permanent
lief can be obtained.
PROMISES or AID
1t Is incidentally remarked that Governor-elcct
Aonzo B. Cornell has promised to look after the in
terests of the labor class whom he takes his seat in
the gubernatoral chair. After his nomination for
the Governorshp committee workingmen
waited upon him and presented their grievances.
He listened attcntivcy and the story goes. asked
them:-
what do you want me to do gentlemen
ave want you to help us to earn an honest living
and do away with the convict labor system," was
tho reply Of the spokesman.
II will do all In my power to aid you. II am
elected will that you get justice. and II should
be defeated will take OF your interests in the
Legislature at Albany. After election call around
and me and We'll talk matters more fully"
The deputaton lett. we'll pleased with their recep.
ton. and intend to pay the Governor elect
other visit