New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-07
THE PRISON LABOR SYSTEM.
THE PRESENT METHOD TO BE EXAMINED.
A noArn OF ooNMss1oNrRs ro BE ArroINTED psi

A DoARD or COMMISSIONERS TO BB APPOINTED bl
THE GOvENOE.
fTRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE 1Rlbo Nh,l
A1n,XY. Feb. 6.-The Republican members OF the
Legislature have at last policy concerhihg 'no
contract labor system in the state pilsohs'
Under the leadership Of Mr.. Howe the kepuohcaHs
passed Bill authorizing the Governor 20 "ipoia'
6 board of Prison Labor Commissioners lnS'i"''
cd TO examine into aud to report upon 'he Pi"'u
cal operation Of the contract System Io' '"'
nIovna,t Of couvicts in the State prisons, penl-
tentiaries and reformatOrios of the state ana par
ticnlarlv As TO the effect of such employment upon
prison management and discipline; upon the prlS-
orers and upon the community at large There
NOS Tins ample opportunity to be given 10
,bo stove-noulders of Albany and Troy, and the
clothesuakerS of Rochester 10 prove thar the COM
Yetition OF the cOnvicts with them was lowering
.beir WAGES. Another valuable feature of the bill
WAS its requirement that the commission should
recommend some substitute for the contract labor
custom. The bill passed the Assembly fortnight
ago. :. 100
Last night at the Republican caucus, it was
resolved 10 support the bill as party. Inc
commission was TO make its report or March J..
However. il is probable that the bill Will he so
amended as to give the commission until March 10
Tbo hill was duly reported fayoraDly by the State
Prison Committee this morning. The Republican
Senators then pushed it toward third reading. IL
was debated for over two hours in the Committee
OF the Whole.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION.
As was expected, the Democrats opposed the DILL
Their chief argument was that the bill was merely
\ deyice to gain time that the Republicans had 10
seru, intention of meddlng with the contract iaoor
system. Senators Coggeshan, COmstock and McCar-
4bv Of the Republicans. said buntly that they were
IN favor of abolishing the contract system ana
afir,ned that their Republican associates were VI
The sone opiniOn. Unlike the Democrats INV
r..r they desired 10 learn OF some gOou suoSVl'"'"
for be system before abOlisllIng II. -, 49,, 49,.
senator Coegeshal showed that the DehogIaIlt
1ecisIature and Governor a year ago had nor
Abolished the system and had then tIled 10 ueitug
the workiu gmeu into the belief that soIelHiug NJ
been done The referring OF the suPeVi |" ,lie
,corle mad caused delay of year IN acllhs iiP'u
4 For this the Democrats we're rcspOnslptc' NY
had trled TO deceive the wOrNngnen Nov I 4TTA
Tere fur her irving to deude them by 0pposlnS 1l,
Hove bN If he thought that "tiSN
]0,id nrcvent the passage of a bill TO reform inc
system lac should not support inc PM II. ~
St.pc he, IN opposition TO the blu We're WdIr ny
Senator, Vbacher Nelson DAILY and titus, peMo-
crats. and nm lis favor by senators hoinas' Lis
worth and Nee arthv, among the RePuOIc3hS. IN
fbe end The bill was ordered % thuu ieaulHE y
a strict party vote, the Democrats NoluL SH,iiS ~
The FeBublican Senators hope % have the DiH III
+be hands o. the Governor tomorrow.
Tuon motion Of Senator Baker, hePuOht"u,
resolution Was then unanimously passed mfecllns
lie Committee on State Prisons 10 report VlthIn
five DAYS q bill directing the Superintendent Oh
Prisons make no more contracts for the iaoor OF
tie prisoners.