New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-26
CONTRACT LABOR IN THE PRISONS.

/ A REPORT FROM SUPERINTENDENT PILSBUEY-IHE
PRISONERS MUST LABOR TO MAKE THE PRISONS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES COMPETITION FROM
HE CONTRACT SYSTEM
ALBANY, March 25.-In compliance with n
resolution OF the Assembly adopted IN May last superin-
tendeut Plsburv In report to-day the subject
labor In the State prisons II is accompanied
with communications from n number Of eminent men,
Superintendent Psbury reciteS OF the arguments
in favor OF contract labor made IN his annual report as
published In TIE TRIBUNE.
Mr.. Pilsbury says mat no system Of prison labor
which human Ingenuity has yet been able 10 devise Is
free from objections but that long The people Of
demand that tho prisons shall be sefsustan
ing present contract system is to be preferred be-
cnuso Il produces the best financial resultsl 10 does
not Interfere with outside mechanical Industries
more than any other syate productive labor that has
vet been devised 10 gives the prisoners some kuowl
edge Of handorsfs. and inforces habits OF indus ~
without which they almost sure 20 return 70 Grim
nal career and with which they enabled 10, and In
many instances do, lead honest and useful hyesupon
their dlsoharge; It Is not injurious 70 health
The cost maintaining the prisons OF this State for
the last fiscal year was $50 ga 15 in 1876 the cost
WAS e6O5 O4O So II IA claimed that these results
are due entirely to the contract system but under any
There are 23524 coDyiots in all the prisons OF
the United States employed al productive ,sS -6d
labor who compete. according to the census OF 1870
with G66 625 wOrkmen--esS than per cent-emplOyed
the Industries IN me same states, auu Win
2Ge 30 wormen-less than per cent--in the whole
United States engaged In the same lndus
fries as are carried ~ the prisons
The percentage would he attn less n the
uc-easa n number Of mechanics and ahOrcrS since
1870 were Known The percentage Of number o prs
engaged In the mec1fhlc@i IruSiIe' Whicn ar,
aried on IN those state Prisons Of NewYOrk 90 pared
with tho whole of free lahOisrs emGloyed In the
same industries he United states is IA follows
Boots and Shoes 206 r9n gaOiS 10 hats, Nnoudiug
hot and cap Makers. 49, laundry work. % leather
aud leather goods 81 The PERCENTAGE OF prison pro-
ducts with reference 70 he saDa industres Il consider
ably lees than his A considerable mum Der OF the CON
wet abnrrs employed at trades and TO mat eNtont
competitors In tie free laOOr markets OcIole as
well as after their Incarceration.
The number Of prisoners employed under
contract I'm The prisons OF kS state on the 3lst or Jas
usry lat wss lao. Tho whole number employed 1t
the industries ~ th, same tate iast year was
Cpl showing decreAso of over 10 pev cent az the be-
cjuung OF re current The skilled aOOrerS OF The
nr,aope are considerably lees than ! per OF the
yyh0Is number OF free labOrers in The State.
II sdiflcut to AM bus who willing 70
assnme The uVolVsd Ia prison GeDsra0s and 10 ms
frequently happened tbs aRs etAer states rhs5 hon
eds o. prisoners haYo remained IN ideness for long
prrind, because there demand for thar lsbOr Ia
this State ths industries have bsen dvesshtd rs the
interests OF The prisons would ADMIT.
With the possble exception Of rbe rat trade do not
believe that the sbor 81 this State into
furious position with any mechanical pursuit az thc
presat tnc II. OF tae hSttsri claiIn tbaiT
business ~ Injured by Tia contract ~ Clinton, 10 be-
nInved M rhat Oroupafi0n. but 10 20 this
contract 10 alleged by he contractors that lot 2ls
uer cent she has sold IA New YORK cay are OF prison
Manufacture aud not 10 cent o. tho mats sold In
Nav manufactured IN ths STATE. Numbers OF
contractors for pT1sOn labor employ large proportion
M outRfe ire labor In the joint production OF their
wares and vet all of this combined product Is erro-
neOusy charged to tha account ot convict competition