Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-29
SLAVES OF THE CELLS.
Prison Labor on Government Works
Must Cease.

Prison Labor on Government Works
Must Cease.
WASHINGTON, March 2S.-The House
Committee on Labor has agreed unani-
mously to report favorably the bill pro-
vlding that it shall be unlawful for any
person in the employ of the United States
or Of any State TO contract with any one TO
hire out the labor of prisoners confined in
any prison or Jail for violation Of any laws
Of the United States. Violation Of the act
is made misdemeanor. punishable By q
nne Of from $500 70 81, 600 or imprisonment
from one to three years. The report 70
accompany the bill gives the number Of
prisoners ofthe United States in state pT1s-
Ons and SAYS that the system Of hiring out
the labor Of United States prisoners pre-
walls in most States.
BARBARoUs TREATMENT.
In some cases State prisons have tax
en- persons convicted Of violation Of the
laws Of the United States without cost TO
the Federal government and then in order
TO make the arrangement profitable nave
inhumanly treated them. The contracI
system. the report says, is wholly adverse
to reform. Prisoners are treated as dumb
beasts, being driven to work by men
whose only aim is to get certain amounl
Of work from them every day-men who
look upon cOnvicts as only so much ma
chlnery for making money and whose
chief recommendation for the position IS
that they are the highest bidders for the
human being hired by them.
FOSTERING ENEMIES OF REFORM.
1t introduces into prison men who not
/ only have no interest IN aiding the reform
Of the cOnyicts. but are too ready 10 op-
pose it By Offering mischieyOus indul'
| gencies to prisoners as inducement TO FUR
/ Their industrial efforts. The report quotes
/ from DR.. Wine TO show that no reform OF
/ cOnvicts is possible under this system.
AN INQUIsITION.
/ I'm former times" DR.. Wine says,
/ especially conspicuous in New YORK
/ was the fac of the establishment IN prison
/ of a power behind the throne greater than
I the throne-pOwer well nigh OmnlpOteni
/ IN its sphere-a power that cOerces, brides
/ and threatens in pursuit Of its selfish
/ ends: a power that makes and unmakes
! officers. imposes and RENTS punishment
through agents whom it has been able 10
/ bind to its will, and even stOOps TO mean
/ devices TO get a poor prisoner Whoshas
/ incurred its wrath into straits and diff
/ culties that its revenge may be gratifed
/ by the sight Of his punishment"
HONEST LABOR INJURED.
/ The contract system works great in
I jury 10 honest labor in many branches
/ Of industry. Investigations by commit
| tees Of the State Legislatures show con-
! clusively that the contract penalty car
ried on in penal institutions is directly
! responsible for the large per cent. OF re-
auctions which have taken place In
] the wages Of thousands Of mechanics
/ in the past four years. Nearly every
/ manufacturer examined by the committee
of the sixty-third General Assembly OF
I Ohio testified that they were compelled
I TO reduce wages by reason of manufacture
+ ers who employed large forces OF convicts
/ at cheap rates and underselling them
/ PAUPERIZING FREE LABOR.
/ In conclusion the report gives the fol-
: lowing quotation from the committee OF
/ the New York State Legislature which IN
/ stigated the subject: There is little room
I to doubt the evil effects of this system
upon free labor. 1t not only tends to
pauperize honest labor, but it is in great
/ measure responsible for the oyercrowded
/ condition Of many of our penal institu'
I lions"