The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-02-12
1onyl., Inhor mud the state.


sufficient public opinion can be brought
to bear upon our Solons to induce them to
experiment for themselves in the matter
Of changing the present unsatisfactory
system. Kentucky has about made up
her mind to make some alterations in her
method of managing convict labor, which
is similar to that adopted in this State,
and tho Courer.Journal suggest that the
only question which tho Kentucky Legis-
lature ought to consider, is whether 1t
should be employed to enrich anindividual
lessee or contractor, or be utilized for the
State, and pay the expense Of the keeping
and guarding OF the convicts and give the
surplus, or profit, to the State.
The tax payers have serious burden
imposed upon them in the payment Of the
cost OF prosecuting and handling crinni-
mails: in the maintenance Of lunatic and
other asylums, and the State, by proper
system Of convict labor, canDrelieve them
Of the ever increasing burden. The new
Constitution OF California requires that
the convict labor shall be used for the ex-
elusive benefit OF the State. Based upon
this reasonable and proper requirement
we Gnd the following plan set forth in the
San Francisco BuLetiR:
Gan prisoners should be put to work.
A mere life OF idleness, save on the most
lneagre fare, has no terrors for the ordi-
nary criminal The system should be
universal. The State convict should labor
on State works, the county jail-bird for
the county and the city petty criminal Tor
the city. In n country where the poorest
labor is worth dollar day, 1t is sheer
waste TO keep up go many in idleness.
Then 1t would be better for them. They
would have better health, and the exer-
else would fit them for active usefulness
when restored TO freedom.
"Should this plan be accepted, mill
tary man wonld be indicated for the COM
mand. The staff would assimilate to that
OF u regiment, aud the discipline have a
military character. Two thousand labor
ers and 200 guards and oyerseers, on loot
and horseback, would leave behind them
every day vast body oil work. When
the State, county or city could not find
work Of their own, contracts could be
taken to make roads, bitches, drains or
entertainments by the mile. The State Ia
in need Of numberless canals that can not
be made for want OF the capital and cheap
labor. Here are both, and, in our opin-
ion, the sooner they are applied to the
purpose the better. s.sas
desperate characters could still be con.
fined to the prison cell. A system oil
claiming and surveillance would amply
secure the rest, with themounted guard to
complete the circle. fI7f -
''Eor the vicious and troublesome the
coarsest fare only should be provided.
The tractable and industrious should have
tickets for good conduct which should bere-
deemed in little luxuries. Every induce
ment should be offered to inspire useful
ness and save cost. There should be reg.
ular grades, as in school, the hardest
labor, and the minimum Of comfort for the
depraved, while good conduct secured q
happier time, and shorter term.
''fhe cost would scarcely exceed that Of
our present system, while the work done
would DO almost Il clear gain to the State.
The cells at San Quentin cost more than a
nice cottage, while the outfit for the open
field would be merely nominal. -4
1.-THE equipment Of such camp to the
best advantage, the best form of|moving
kitchen, storss, workshops and other
Offices would become u nice study, and the
experience acquired would be exceedingly
useful in case OF war, and every o1ficerftted
to take his proper place in grand army.
"The convict force could at once take
charge Of the great question of,miniug
debris. II could direct it in such channels
that it would become as profitable to the
plains, as its product is to the mountains.
1t could be made to construct great EN-.
bankments, I'LL swamps, and clean out the
streams and the bay instead OF destroying
and damaging everything,
"There are few maudlin souls, who
will End such scheme full OF objections.
1t Is degrading, it is inhuman to subject
persons TO hard labor in public who have
never been accustomed to it, and cruel to
apply that necessary coercion or privation
that will be required TO make them efficient
workers.
"But we reply that they themselves
have been cruelty unmindful Of the rights
ofothers when they committed the crimes
that caused their confinement. That
, manual labor with the pick and shovel is
the basement-door to civilized life. II Is
the A, i, G Of usefulness. Those who
were either incompetent or unwilling to
step higher, and accepted crime in pre-.
ference, are very properly remanded to
the foot OF the ladder, made TO begin
again, to come in at the open door, the
strait.gate, the basement story, learn to
earn their own living, their bread by the
sweat Of their brows, and acquire the
physical force necessary oenable them to
do so.
"And society must protect itself. Some.
thing is due TO the taxpayers. We have
In the State 10000 voters, partners, as II
were, in our State affairs. We have
still less number Of Taxpayers. Every
100 OF them have seventy.fiVe women and
100 children 10 maintain, and. the last to
school. And in addition, they have one
lunahc, one sick person, one pauper, and
two criminals to support. The last are,
for the most part, as able to work as those
who support them. They have no claim
to q life OF idleness. They have no claim
to, a light Office work, or light skilled
labor. They are the very fellows who
should shoulder the pick and shovel, be
remanded TO the foot Of the ladder, and
II there Is any hard work to be done 10 do
It. And so every man would vote, If the
100 could be brought together and see the
men they have to maintain, and the other
charges they have on their hands,"
We think tho above suggestions are in
many respects worthy the attention OF the
members OF the Legislature. The leasing
system "must go" and they will have to
provide substitute for it, The recent re.
ports Of tho Prison Committee of the
Massachusetts, and Connecticut Legisla-
lures, show conclusively that outside bust,
ness is not injured or interlered with by
prison labor, except where large forces
Of n nrisnn ara nmnlnrnh ar, 40 .....,1