The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-01-17
tenn will end in disaster and failure to accom-,

| IL is possible to suggest a comprehensive
system of prison management, including the
| abolishment of the contract system, which is
practicable and can, with wise management,
| be made not only successful, but, at the same
| time, by such SYSTEM there can be secured
| a most valuable reform. There is no doubt
but that the contract system does, in some de-
partments, seriously iniure honest labor, and
| the honest labor of the State has right to
| ask that this injury be reduced to minimum.
And it is the duty of the General Assembly to
secure such result.
| That the convict must be compelled to work
| is proposition so sef-evident that no one will
dispute it-that his work shall do as little
| harm to honest labor as possible is the end to
| be sought, and prison management should
have for its main object the reform OF the
convict.
! To accomplish these desirable purposes, 7
! would suggest first, that all sentences be of
| an indeterminate character, life sentences ex-
cepted, the term of confinement to be deter
mined by the prison managers; would pro-
vide that eight hours constitute aday's work;
| that two hours each day be devoted to the ed
| ucation OF the convict; that the judge, when
! he sentences a convict, certify to the board
| managers the facts that secured the conYic-
| ton, with statement of the general charac-
| ter of the convict
| The board of managers should adopt a sys-
| tenn of rules providing for promotion for good
| conduct, and reduction of standing for bad
conduct. AT a certain degree of promotion the
| convict should be entitled TO wear citizens
| clothes, and certain further degree of pro-
| motion should entitle him to his freedom, to
! go oIt of the prison with right to his earn
| ings he to be a convict still, bearing the GER
| tificate of the prison managers to that effect.
| Good conduct outside the prison for stated
| period, the convict reporting once month,
| his report certified by his employer, should
| entite him to a full discharge and restoration
to all the rights and privileges of a citizenship.
In this connection the police and peace Otti-
| GERS of the State should be required by law to
assist in all proper ways Il convict who has
| earned his freedom, thus making the police
| his friend instead of his enemy, as is the case
now.
| The reason why prison labor is injurious to
| honest labor is because it fixes the price of
1ohn on NJ n
| does not equal one per cent. of the labor of
the State and probably, in any one article
| equal more than ten per cent. of the total
product, yet this ten per cent. fixes the price
| in times of depression OF the ninety per cent.
| of honest labor engaged in the same manu-
| facture. To employ the labor of the cOnvictS
on State account would not help this feature
of the trouble. The State will sell the prod
uct of prison labor and il does not matter
what safeguards yOu may undertake to cstab-
fish, the fact remains that prison labor must must
| be sold at less price than honest labor
| or it will be found that it cannot be sold at
ALL
The commission herein referred to have
gone into the question of how far the labor OF
| the penitentiary may be employed in supply
ing the wants of the public institutions Of the
State, and from the data they have furnished,
| and my own observation, am quite sure that
| all, or nearly all, the labor of the convictS
may be so utilized; certainly so if the coun-
| ties be required to take the product of prison
| labor, or far as they may need it. in pay
| ment for their cost bills against the State Tor
| prison labor to be used by them in supplying
| their jails, children's homes, work houses and
| infirmaries.
The great importance of this method of
utilizing the product of convict labor lies in
| the fact that by this method no price is made
| for it, and thus no injury is done to honest
| labor. To carry out any scheme looking to
| the abolishment of contract labor, great care
must be taken not to do injustice to the con-
for the 1t ys system large
investment of money must necessarily be
made by the State in furnishing the machin-
cry and materials to conduct the business of
employing the convict. To achieve success
will be found perpleXing and difficult task,
requiring ability on the part of the managers
of a special kind, and years of patient atten-
ton to every detail.
The most important consideration. if this
step be taken, is to require by law that the
Furthermore in the matter of the length of
term of office of the managers and officers,
and compensation, there should be Hberality
enough to secure the best official talent that
can be found. Unless permanency and sta
bility can be given to the management and
high order of special ability secured, the work
of reform of prison management and the
aboishment of the contract system had better
not be undertaken.
BOARD OF STATE CHARITIES.
The Board of State Charities has, during the
four years of my administration, performed
most valuable service to the State. speaking
now; with long experience ana cIose I atLentloI i
to their work ! cannot too strongly urge
upon the General Assembly a more generous
support than they have received in the past.
ADVISORY BOARD OF PARDONs.
Four years of experience in dealing with
the matter of pardons strengthens my belief
in the general wisdom and propriety of estab-
fishing an advisory board of pardOnS, and
your attention to this subject is earnestly in
vited.
INSPECTOR OF MINES.
l. The Inspector of Mines estimates falling
off of the output of the mines of one ana a
quarter million tons, as compared with last
W., e ft.ih tod To nnf do
pressed condition of the iron industry, into
which the consumption of coal so largely
enters
cidents occurred in the mines during the
year. and he estimates the coal production
for the wear ending November Is at 1000
tons which makes one life lost for each 316-
346 tons of coal mined. No other State in the
Union, IN which mine inspection laws are in
force makes as favorable a showing.
There Is growing disposition on the part
of miners and their employers to settle all
disputes without resorting to the unwise
method of strikes.
INSPECTOR OF OILS.
The law regulating the manufacture and
sale of oils is being rigidly enforced through
out the State: manufacturers, dealers and
consumers continue to yield cheerful COM
pliance with the provisions of the statutes
and the working of the law is giving Sat1StaQ
ton to all concerned. While a few slight ac
cidents have been reported, which, on inves-
tigation, were proven to have been caused by
carelessness, it affords me pleasure to report,
SO far as have been able TO learn, from The
use of Ohio legal oils as an illuminator, no
lives have been lost nor property destroyed.
The number of barrels inspected and con-
sumed during 1888, in the State, amounts to
2S6,9l.
PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING.
The work executed by the Department of
Public Printing and Binding during the year
ending November 10, 1888, has increased nine
per cent over that of the proceeding year,
while the total cost of materials and labor,
comparing the same periods, increased but
fraction over one per cent.
JUDICIAL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
The Legislature, at its last session, submit
ted to the people of Ohio a proposition to
amend the judicial article of the Constitution
and the people, at the October election, rati-
fled the proposed Constitutional amendment.
The principal change, so far as the COnStitu-
tional provision is concerned, made by the
amendment consists in the establishment of
Circuit Courts, to take the place in all respects
of the old District Court. But legislation is
necessary to provide the number of cir
cults and the boundaries thereof, and
the number of judges in each circuit,
the time of the election and term of office of
the same, and the salary thereof, and the Leg
islature also has the power to pass laws regu-
lating the jurisdiction of said court. The
amendment and it's ratification by the people
resulted from a long established opinion in
A. II