The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1884-01-25

The following article culled from the /
Times Democrat. will throw light upon the
ever present ami much discussed convict |
labor question. Our State Legislature is
d cut TO consider its disposition 1t is an
important one. considered from either Il
financial or humane standpoint:
Three of the leading Northern States,
New York. Pennsylvania and Massachu-
setts. have just had occasion to pass upon
this matter and their contradictory dccis-
ions show that the question is still an open
one. First OF all. should the convicts be
employed ut some work or supported In
idleness? Pennsylvania favors the former
method, but New York voted at the late
election by an overwhelming majority of
100000 against convict labor. 1t has tried
both systems. Under the old one the psni-
I Tertiary cost the State for its support
from Sl50O0O to S200,000 year; when the
only self-supportlng but yielded an income
of from $4,000 to $4,000 year. The
workingmen in New York, however. Bit
terly opposed this system, which brought
the State into competition with honest la
Dor to its great injury. and announced that
they preferred to support the convicts in
idleness rather than have them as rivals
and competitors.
The Massachusetts Legislature recently
appointed committee to investigate this
question. The practice of working the
convicts prevails in the "Old Bay State,
the greater portion of them being employ,
ed in the manufacture of hats. and on such
terms that the outside matters are under
sold. as they have to pay taxes and support
their families. The agitation has been sc
great in consequence of this condition o
affairs. that the committee was appointed
to look into the matter and devise soue
remedy.
: II renorts ~qey' ~ H~-'7- ~es9 81.
: not only fol me S,;tre, but for the convict
ras well, and in the interest of good morals
ifa criminal Is locked up tor ten years il
complete idleness, when he is turned on
again, lie becomes of necessity a criminal
having no trade TO follow, whereas. if HI
is taught something. he will probably be
come industrious and honest when agai,
at liberty. And to encourage the convc
to work at his trade. the committee think.
that while the greater portion Of the prof
derived from his labor should 60 to tn,
State, some, at least, Of il should be credit
Ell to him. This will encourage him t.
work and he will moreover go out of tn,
prison, not wholly naked and destitute
authorities interviewed on this question
was in favor of working convcts. which i
was shown, was better In every respect.
The only problem, therefore. left is t
decide how these prisoners can be employ
ed with the least injury to honest. hard
working mechanics That. in the NORTH
at least, is the great prison question.
the convicts could be divided arount
among various industries laugh,
shoe-making, others the manufacture o
hats, etc. it would prevent that unhealth,
competition which ensues from employing
all the laborin one prison in single branch
and it would, moreover, not flood the mar
ket with men skilled in only one trade
This, at least, Is the solution of the prob
lem suggested by the The Massachusetts
committee, and this system will be enforc
ed in the Massachusetts, prisons if it is pos
sible; and they will be changed iuto i'm
mense workshops, where every branch o
industry Is taught"