Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-02-07
CONVICT LABOR
Un for Discussion in the House Of
Delegates.
A Long Debate, in Which Mr.. Robertson
Wages a Hopeless Contest
With Haif-a-DO,en
Opponents.


Opponents.
The question of convict labor was up for
! discussion in the House of Delegates yester-
| day afternoon and was discussed for more
| than an hour by hall a dozen Of the best
sneakers on the floor. all OF them, with one
| exception, opponents Of the measure before
The House, the outcome being the amend
ment and indefinite postpOnement Of the
bill seeking to relieve the working classes
Of this much complained of evil, and the
consequent assurance that the present peni
Tertiary policy will he col.iuue1 in the ia
turr.
The bill before the house was II. B. No.
20, changing the present law by providing
that latter the expiration of any contract or
contracts now in existence the Board OF
Directors should not make or enter into
any contract or agreement with any person
or company for the labor Of any convict to
be used in the manufacture OF tobacco or
cigars, or for the construction or manutac-
ture of wagons and other wheeled vehicles,
or any part Of a wagon or other wheeled
vehicle.
When the bill had been read and the
Speaker had announced that the question
was upon ordering it 10 its engrossment
Mr.. Marshall took the floor and
OPENED THE DrGiTE.
lie said his impression was that the bill was
d stroke at the efficiency Of the penitentiary.
1t would effect the interests Of the institu-
ton very materially The institution now
was almost or quite selfsustaiuing, and he
thought it would be hardship for the tax
payers to be compelled to pat their hands
into their pockets for the very large amount
of money to pay the running expenses o!
the institution. lie knew the object of the
bill was to prevent convict labor from co.,
ing in contact with the honest workingmen
of the State at large, but the taxpayers OF
the State were already complaining of Oner-
GUS taxation, and he would hesitate TO place
any further burdens upon them.
Mr.. Dyer moved to strike out the
words: The said board, after the eXpra-
ton OF any contract or contracts now in ex-
istence. shall not make or enter into any
contract or agreement with any person or
company for the labor OF any convict TO be
used IN the manufacture Of tobacco or CT
cars, or for the construction or manufacture
Of wagons and other wheeled vehicles, or
any part Of a wagon or other wheeled vehi-
Gle, AID followed his motion with speech
embracing
TIE SAVE LINE Or AEGr NENT
advanced by Mr.. Marshall lie knew con.
vict labor ought not to be brought in COLI
tact with honest workmen, but at the same
time he would choose that evil rather than
the far greater one of throwing the cost Of
maintaining the prisoners on the tax-pay-
crs.
Mr.. Robertson advocated the bill. The
fact that convict lab0r-cspecialy in the
wagon shops-existed at M0undsyile was a
curse to the wOrkmen OF the State. The
policy OF allowing the Western Wagon Com
pany 10 secure the services Of convicts at
nominal sum per day had resulted III the
closing Of numerous large firms in this city
and State. the discharge Of hundreds of
workmen and heavy reductions in the daily
pay Of those few who still found employ
ment, and the spaaker appealed to the Dele
rates to aid him in lifting from the shout
iers of the laboring classes portion OF the
heavy burden now depressing them.
Mr. Marshall again took the floor in re-
ply TO Mr.. Robertson. He submitted that
it was unjust ior the gentleman to stop the
making Of wagons and cigars, but TO
REFUSE TO AFFORD RELIEF
to other trades lie denied that the compe-
tition OF penitentiary-made wagons had
caused depression in the wagon industry Of
the State 1t was not that competition so
much as the competition OF large Eastern
and Western firms.
He again announced his aversion 10 The
idea Of keeping fclons in idleness at the ex.
peuse Of taxpayers.
Mr.. Robertson objected to Mr.. Marshall
setting up false argument and then COM
batting it. The bill did not contemplate
the keeping Of convicts in idlcneSs at the
expense uI he taxpayers. 1t merely closed
the wagon and cigar shops and put the con-
yicts at something clse He called for the
ayes aud nays in the amendment Of Mr..
Dyers. -
Mr. Powell opposed the bill in vigorous
speech.
Mr. Post said the pcutentiary was now in
,, better condition than ever before. According
to the superintendent report, the receipts
during the last year were only $l6O less
than the expenses. he knew this state OF
affairs bore heavily upon
THE HONEST wOEEITTMGH
Of Wheeling. He S7mpathzed as much
Tith such men as any one on the floor OF
The House. But suppose he said, you
rg.Nt kn tt.4 ,-l., Il ~, l.
Of the Webster Wagon Company. What
would De done then with the 100 cOnvictS
now employed by that company? They
could not be left in ideness, and the qucs-
ton Of giving them employment which
would not conflict with some class of art-
FANS would be problem impossible OF solu-
ton. lie thought the evil complained of
WIS greatly exaggerated; some hardship
had undoubtedly, been wrought, but not to
the extent popularly supposed.
Mr.. Edwards thought the Board of Di-
reCtors would
NEVER MAKE ANoT; In TOBACCO CONTRACT,
and hence the bill was aimed directly at the
wagon company 10 prohibit the making
o. wagons would not otloId the relief
sought, for other penitentiarcs were turning
out the same class OF vehicles, and people
who wanted "penitentiary wagons would
get them after the abolition OF work at
Moundsyille as easily as they did now. The
Webster wagon company was the reverse of
bad thing. Last year Mr. Webster paid
in Wheeling for iron 9l,73L7O; for ium
Der 10 West Nirginians $50 273.s7; for free
labor SlSS09.07, and for convict labor
1900 less than for free labor.
The House then proceeded to vote on
Mr.. Deans amendment-the effect of
which was to leave the law as at present.
with the following result: Ayes, Messrs.
Anderson, Arnold Beard, Callson, Cham.
bcrs, Chew, Crockett Davidson, Davies,
DayisSon, Dean, Dyer, Edwards, Ferguson.
FerTell Fisher, Fortney Gilkcson. Gilmore.
Glover, Hayman. Haymond IIinkle, Haw-
vermalc, Jacob I.aidley, Marshall, McClung,