The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-08-25

much more for labor than they pay. ALI
The testimony Of prison contractors is { I
the same nature as that Of Mr.. Damn, to
the effect that they makeno profit; neith-
or do they undersell employers Of free
labor. The Warden Of the Penitentiary
also testi6es to the effect that they did
not undersell other manufacturers. Now,
it seems to us that the statements of the
contractors first, that they are making
no profit and, second, that they do not
undersell other manufaCturers-stand In
strange contrast to each other, particu.
larly when we consider the testimony OF
80 many OF our large manufacturers, who
cry out against the ruinous competition
to which prison contr O,orssubject them
AS to the advantages Of these men
over other manufacturers, your Commit
tee is fully convinced that no manufac'
turers, who is not an employer OF prison
labor, can carry on his business in COM
petition with prison contractors, at any
prof. to himself, and pay his employees
fair, living wages. r
The advantages prison contractors
have over other manufc Cturers are:
l. They get their labor at q much less
rate; in many instances they pay not
more than one fourth as much In the
manufacture of certain kinds OF goods as
ether manufaC nrers pay. Particularly
this the CASE in the manufacture OF
ollow. ware.
2. They hav no capital Invested in
zeal estate upon which their shops are
located.
8. They pay no Insurance on their
shops
4. They pay no rent; neither do they
pay any taxes on this property. The
State assumes the entire expense. In
this pal tiCular alone they have a decided
advantage over other manufacturers,
even if they paid the same prices for free
labor.
We therefore think it unjust that the
State should continue a system Of labor
in our penal institutions which gives
any portion OF it's citizens undue advant'
age over another, and such a large and
Influential portion Of our citizens, men
who have contributed so much to make
our State rank in Importance third in the
Union. 1t is the duty Of the State to pro-
tect and foster its manufacturing inter
ests, and not continue a system which,
in the opinion of your Committee, has
done much to retard the growth and
progress OF its most vital interest.
CAN THE CONTRACT SYSTEM BE ABANDONED
WITH Profit TO THE sTATEP
There is no doubt in the minds OF
your Committee but that the system Of
letting out the labor of convicts to con-
tractors might proftably bs abandoned,
and system substituted under which
the industries Of the Penitentiary shall
be managed by the State. Our own OK
perienCe upon this question, and the ex'
perience Of eminent prison managers,
both in this country and in Europe, we
think, justifes US in making this recon-
mendstiop.
Mr., Hubbell, a former Warden at the
State Prison at Sing Sing, New York,
testified under oath, before the Prison
Association, that a competent head
could manage the industries Of prison
much more to the advantage of the State
and the convicts, than is possible under
the contract system. David L. Seymour,
also former Warden Of Sing Sing, a man
Of large business experience, and sue
Cessfu. prison manager, gave it as his
opinion that the State could better man.
age a prison without the Intervention of
contractors. General Plllsbury of the
A. lbany Penitentary, said that, in a
financial point Of view the management
Of the industries by competent War
den would be most successful. He also
that while he was Warden in the Con-
neCticut State Prison, the industries had
been managed pant Of the time by him.
self, and part of the time through con.
tractors, and that his management of
hem had been financially the greatest
success.
Mr.. Brockway, who was superintend-
ont Of the Detroit House Of Correction
IN institution known as a short-term
expressed the SINE opin-
institution was, at that time,
md is now, managed by it's Superintend.
ant. 1t is not only self.sustainin2, but
pays handsome revenue to the city an.
lually. ..
We might cite many other prominent
prison managers who agree that the in
lustries of a prison can be best managed
~ it's head. For example, Mr.. Rice Of
Maine, Mr.. Cordier of Wisconsin, Mr..
Harvey Rice of Cleveland, and Mr.. Pat.
erson, Superintendent Of the Cleveland
Work House, all of whom are decidedly
If the opinion that the contract system
s, by no means, system under which
my penal institution should be managed
~ the Warden or other officer at the
lead of the institution. ..
In order to successfully establish a sys,
EN-, suci as we have indicated, the first
tep necessary is to place these institu-
ions, for all tine to come, beyond the
each and influence of all partisan, sec.
arian and political influence whatso.
,ver. This once accomplished, the next
tep necessary is the appointment of
thoroughly competent and trustworthy
managers, who shall hold their offices
Turing good behavior, and shall be re.
moved not without cause; and, even
hen, not until after due trial. Place in
he hands of the manager full power to
ppoint his assistants, and hold him re.
ponsible for the proper and efficient
management of the institution. This
nee accomplished, there is, in the opin-
on of your Committee, no room for
Ioubt as to the ultimate financial success
# the institution.
MULTIPLICATIo OF TRADES.
We would further recommend that, in
rider to avoid interference with honest
industry, multiplication of the various
Mechanical trades under the manage.
nent here indicated. This would obVi-
Ito any undue interference with any
particular branch of industry, and it
would distribute the burden Of convict
abor upon all mechanical callings more
equally than is now the case.
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