New-York tribune., 1885-02-20
EXPENSES OF THE PRISONS.
EFFECTS OF ABoLIsHING CONTRACTS.
DISCUSSION IN THE sENATK-HEARfSG BEFORE THE
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.

DISCUSSION IN THE SENATK-HEARfSG BEFORE The
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE.
tFRoM REGULAR CORREsPOSDENroF OF TIE TRIBUNE.I
ALBANY, Feb. 19.-The effects of the abo-
ltion Of the contract system in the State Prisons were
incidentally brought under discussion In the Senate to-
day on resolution introduced by Mr Nelson calling
upon superintendent Baker report to the Senate the
amount OF money he will ask to have appropriated for
1884 over and above what required In 1888 Some
objection to the resolution being unnecrs-
the substance Of the Information asked for having
already been furnished in the report OF the suer
ntendent Judge Low said that detailed informa-
ton required than that given in the report. II was
subject OF the utmost Importance to the people OF this
State and time that they made aware OF the
consequences OF the experiment which the Democratic
party had launched upon the State. n that party.
represented in the last Senate had the and
good sense OF OF its members-the Senator from
Westcheter Nclon 1t would have put tho State
into such predicamen the subject OF convict labor
1T finds itself He predicted that the
effects OF the Democratic legislation fully known
and realized the people would demand return to the
contract system The resolution adopted. superin
endent Baker says that the change the convict labor
system will the state S.2OOOOO the coming year,
and that II the law continues II Is until all the
contracts expire annual appropriation OF 50 100000
will be required to maintain the State Prisons which
under the contract system were self-supportiDg.
The Assembly Committee State Prisons gave
hearing this afternoon bills providing system OF
labor in the prisons Of the State that will form sub
situte for the contract plan abolished by the Legsa-
There large attendance OF workingmen and
others Interested this question. Mr.. Perry. stove
manufacturer had voluminous statistics to show that
impossible FOR convict labor to njure materially the
labor or wOrkngmon lie quoted the Of the hatters
who opposed so strongly the manufacture OF hats In
PRISONS aud yet he stated the number NJ atters In the
country was 2267l. turning ont annually product
worth S29OOO OOO ana the convict batters number only
326 Al per cent, and the idea of injury from
such competition was absurd. He held that convict
labor yields less than 40 per cent Of paid workngnrn
Take 100 convicts men, women and children. and the
product OF the convict labor will be little than one
There great deal Of loose talk in the LEGISLATURE
and else where OF convict labor running citizen labor but
tn re Is hardly shadow OF truth In IT, and IS used
chiefly FIR political purposes. 1t Is "A matter OF small
consequence - citizen mechanics aud laborers whether
the contract piece price system viii he continued in
the PRISONS but II Il OF great consequence To them and To
all taxpayers that the public account system shall be
forever abolished The contract system has been hnan
cal success while the public account system has heen
It has worked well only In the manufacture OF articles OF
single construction. Whatever system semployed there
and faithful III administering tho discipline OF the prison
Neither the contractor instructor has any influence
sknowlrdge OF what Is done The task Is fixed by
the warden his deputy The hours OF labor are regu
lated by the authorities and no contractor has the power
Moses w. Dodge represented the manufacturing
citizens interest and opposed to The contract labor
sy em because II cheapeBed the market for outside
inuracturer- in various articles OF demand Hc be
heve good solution OF the problem would be to break
up the largo ma OF prisoners and divide them
lie counties of the state ami employ them upon the
par and construction OF public highways.
Mr. Palmer. ch irnan or the committee. said they had
been for trying tie views of people ln
tcrested the question Of prison labor and so fr they
had not been successful Ills suggested that the
cOmutce take definite action the bills before them,
a. they could afford u lose any more time.
Waller Howe said that he agreed with the chairman,
and moved Nr Palmers bill be substituted for his
aud reported fvoriby to the House. as urgent
action needed. Tor IN few weeks 1000 men would
pr of the state and there would be no
provision to employ them.
Franklin NJ Dunaher asked to be heard In behalf OF
number of worsngmrn lie said that they were not OPP
posed the b providing that the work OF conVcts In
future be done State account but III were opposed
the contract system entirely uot because II cheap
product convict labor bat because It helped
q cneapcn the price Of citizen labor Here was MI
Perry employing 1000 his stove contract,
n sing Sing prison. paying only hfty-siX cent? day
head or little $500 for thousand men, while an
outside manufacturer OF stoves has TO pay $1,000 adsy
similar labor The outside manufacturer therefore.
II IN his heai to cut down the wages OF his work
men because he easily be- undersold by the prison
contractor 1--WE contract he held Mt. Perry
would clear over ~ 100000
Mr. Howc's motion to make q favorable report OF the
Palmer bill carried by vote Of 10 3-Messrs.
Palmer, Howe Barrager and Prddy IN the Affirmative
Messrs stcber, Hooley and jackson IN the negative.