Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18
Convict Labor DimcuIties.

The convict labor question presents
difficulties which the ablest OF those who
have attempted to deal with it have not
been able 10 overcome. It is conceded by
all Who have given the question careful
attention that the cOnvicts must be en-
ployed. To condne them in idleness
would be a punishment too terrible to
contemplate The Keeper Of the New
Jersey peuitentiarv. in late communica-
tio1 g. the Governor Of that State. makes
the remark that If the conyicts in his
charge are maintained in idleness
a Iar-e percentage OF them viii be
driven 70 a ma1-hOuse or an early grave.
..Only those he says, acquainted with
prison management and who have
time and again heard the piteOus appesls
Of conFicts deprived of work to be re-
stored 10 the same. can form some idea
OF the terror Of the punishment inflicted
by the state ia keeping them confined in
their cells in idIeness. and how the main
tenance of discipline and the enforcement
Of the rules for health and cleanliness are
made almost impossible under such
state OF affairs
There is another very strong reason why
cOnvicts should be kept employed. II is
the cost o. maintaining them il idlensss.
The taxpayers feel that the expense Of
experimenting criminals and maintaining
courts 10 try them is = burden sufficiently
heavy. To support the large number of
conyicts in each Of the States would re-
quire very considerable increase in the
rate If taxation.
The labOring classes. however, regard
it as extremely unjust that they should
be compelled to compete with convict
labor. In several states they have sue
ceeded in breaking up the system under
which the labor Of the conyicts is sold to
the highest bidder.
Tney also object to the employment Of
the convicts by the State, because the
products Of the labor Of the convIcts come
in competition with the products of their
labor. It must be admitted that there is
some reason in the position assumed in
this matter by the laboring classes, but
how can the objections which they present
be Oyercome2
There are, doubtless, 80, 600 cOnvicts in
the prisons Of the different States. The
number may be larger, and it is increas-
ing every year. A proposition to send
convicts to Alaska and employ them
there in agriculture, mining and in other
WAYS would Undoub tedly meet with
great opposition, and yet such a DISPOSE
ton OF them might meet. better than they
are met now, the difficulties Of the con-
wet labor question. OF course, before the
OPPOSITION could be carried into effect
t1era would have to be Federal and State
legislation.
The -ys-am Of employing conyicts out
side the penitentiary, which prevails 50
generally atthe -Outh. occasions less COM
paint than the employment OF the con-
yicts under contract in the penitenuaries
al the North. As the population of the
southern States increases, however, pub
Ec sentiment VIII require the convicts to
be kept within the prison walls.
Charges are not infrequently made that
coayicts at the South are treated with
great cruelty by the lessees and by those
immediately in charge Of them at the
conyic. camps. 1t has also been charged,
particularly by Mr.. Gable, that there is
- much profit in convict labor that ne
groes stand very little chance Of being
dealt with fairly by courts and juries, the
aim being 70 keep the ranks Of the con-
Yicts null
These charges, though often investi-
gated. have seldom been sustained. In a
very late article Congressman Hammond,
VINO was Attorney General Of this State.
and. consequently, had every facility for
learning the truth, reviewed the sravest
r Mr. cables charges, ard showed them
90 oe without foundation.