New-York tribune., 1884-01-10
PRISON CONTACT LABOR IN OHIO.

PRISON CONTRACT LABOR IN OHIO.
In the message which he has just sent to the
Legislature. the retiring Governor of Ohio
dcvotcs some attention to the prison contract
labor system And inasmuch as that is one Of
the leading problems which confront our own
Legislature il is well to note what he has to say
about it.
The Governor states that from the nvcstiga-
ton which lie has given the subject he IS
inclined to the opinion that to abolish the con-
tract system, and TO substitute what is known as
the State account system, would end Sin
disaster and failure to accomplish the end
sought At the same time, he believes that a
system can be devised which will be a marked
improvement upon the contract system, and he
calls upon the Legislature to secure the
necessary substitute. While expressing his
views on this point he says there is no doubt
" that the contract system does, in some depart
"ments, seriously injUro honest labor, and the
@bonest labor of the State has a right 10 ask
" that this injury be reduced to a minimum
As aids to the solution of the problem he makes
several suggestions. One of these is that all
except life sentences bo of an indetcrminate
character, the term of confinement to be
determined by the prison authorities; another
that eight hours constitute a days work for a
convict another that two hours day be
devoted to his education another that at Il
certain degree of promotion the convict shall be
allowed first to wear citizens clothes and then
to have his freedom and the right to his
earnings, but subject to the supervision of the
prison authorities-a full discharge and restora-
ton 20 all the rights of citizenship being con-
ditioned upon good conduct outside of prison
for a stated period.
AT the last session of the Ohio Legislature a
commission was appointed to report during the
present session upon the contract system and
the general subject of prison management
The commission has looked into the question
of supplying the wants of the public institu-
tions of the State with the labor of the peniten-
tiary. On this notable point the Governor
writes: GFrOm the data the commission has
furnished and my own observation | am quito
q sure that all or nearly all the labor of the
"convicts may be so utilized, certainly so il the
counties be required to take the product of
"prson labor in payment for their cost bills
"against the State for the prosecution of Grim
q inals the product of prison labor to be used
I" by them in supplying their jails, childrens
homes, warehouses; and infirmaries. The
great Importance of this method of utilizing
the product of convict labor lies in the fact
athat by this method no price is made for it
and thus no injury is done to honest labor"
II will be seen that the Governor of Ohio Is
not like the Governor of NewYork. nom
committal on the subject of convict contract
labor lie has positive convictions on the
subject and does not hesitate frankly to express
them. He differs widely from our own
Superintendent of Prisons, whose report has
just been presented. Mr.. Baker believes in
standing by the present system and. it must be
said presents weighty reasons in favor of so
doing. On the other hand. the opponents of
the contract system are well fortified with
salient facts. If our law makers fail to dispose