New-York tribune., 1885-03-19
LABOR IN STATE PRISONS.
r.voRrNG THE apIEcE PRICE" SYSTEM.

rur DyMocRATs IN THE ASSEMBLY TRY TO DELAY
ACTION on THE BILL.
frRox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBoNh'I
ALBANY, March 18.-AfteI a session OF eleven
weeks the Legislature has done something at Iast
proyidng work the State Prison convics one thou
sand OF these men idle, and the Super'heeh'
of Prisons has been unable put them to WORK. OWING
tn lack of money and authority to have them enpoyeu
a A limited 10 the public account system or 10 some
mobilization of it, The modification most favored is the
niece price system which has proved success at he
Elmira Reformatory.
To day bin authorizing the adoption OF the piece
nr,oe system was reported favOraby by the Assembly
Committee on Prisons Since the session began TINS
committee under the leadership OF Mr. Palmer OF C-
ton has been doing its utmost to frame some Oh "o
would be satisfactory to all the members OF the Assc
bly, II was found impossible. however, 10 get MI
Hooley of Troy, who last year led the LABOR
I'm the Assembly, accept the piece price system
lie introduced bin of his limiting the nnmpefoi
convicts to be employed at any single trsde III tne
rrjsous majority OF the members OF the committees
had suspicion that Mr. Hooey did not desire any iegs
laton at all on the question this year. 1t was perceived
also that the Democratic members on the committee
were supporting Mr. Hooley in all his atemI is 10 post
pone action any bill.
Mr. Hooley resisted the acceptance OF the taVoraIe e
port and moved that should be referred back 10 the
committee for another hearing The motion led 70 & He
nate az three hours which the Republicans arg leu t
immediate action necessary ana tnh PPS,
consideration or some D Oh tue
wOnld lead TO the defeat OF any such egslatlon NII
All OF the Democrats supported Mr. Ho0ley. mr ldeI
said that the patience OF the State Prison COMMITTEES h
been exhausted by Mr.. HOOeys dllatory nlotion' he
related the history of the several bills before te
ttee an told about the careful attention they ha" re
MIR Hooley threatened the Republicans with punish
nent by the workingmen II they did not accept ms D
Mr ONcl said that the Assem6lymen Would ne guliV
of arrant folly If they submitted 10 Mr. HooeSs us-
mand The Republican majority must DO sOmetniug 70
solve prison problem The Legislature hau slu uai
the contract system failure. There only relnHu
to choose from the "pubic account system OF d He t
piece price system All that the Republicans hau W
do was to select one of these systems =, -, ,,..,
Mr. oliver, OF the Democrats, thought that tne hepup,
caps did not intend do anything lie there0fe NoteH
with Mr. HOOley to delay action by sehds Ihe DAi D'0
10 the committee .,, A.. L. tono,, ot tle
workngen of his district invariably on the prison la1or
question: The workinemen desired tne sIeeuy setlie-
ent of the problem. 1t would not De Injurious 70 en EN-
70 have Mt Pamers piece price bin examined in the
Committee of the Whole. 1t could be amended III any
way that the workingmen desired. 49,
MIR Hooley's motion refer the bill back to the state
Prison Committee defeated by vote OF 20 70 81.
The vote in the majority composed OF IL Democrats
and 65 Republicans. ,,. g., .,,o
Mr O'Neil introduced bill to-day providing Tor tle
employment of vagrants az hard LABOR III the Pchi-
tentiaries. -. A.. ,,o,.o,ors ~
sparng exhibitions skating rinks and baseball natceS
shall take out a license the same as places VI "'"S0
Dent. The fee is $500.