Saint Mary's beacon., 1886-04-01
lCOMMU USICATED.


When sentenced Ia confinement in the
Penitentiary, il is understood, thst AS far as
the convict is physically able, he is to be
compelled To hard k6or. Prison ethics
secures him, wholesome and sufficient food,
comfortable bedding and protection from
cold. He is 10 he securely confined, and
not To be made worse either in mind or body
from his imprisonment II is due also 10
the axpayer, that the convict shall earn
by his labor, his proportion of the expense
Of the prison.
In some states, convicts are leased out for
mining purposes, digging out iron ores,
constructing railroads, farming service and
on public works. In these grades ofemploy-
mcnt they, in the immediate neighlorhood,
largely supplant and interfere, man far man,
with the humblest and most helpless of
local unskilled labor, hence the riots within
the present month in the mining regions Of
Kentucky
The system Of out Of prison work, camp
labor as it is called, produces mortality of
from TO per cent annually: il affords
opportunities Of escape, and it excuses the
pursuits OF the fugitives with bloodhounds
That the Convicts ought not to be employ
cd outside Of the prison is obvious, and it
will not be possible to work them otherwise
without interfering more seriously than now,
with skilled or unskilled labor The latter
class Of labor from its very helplessncss,
deserves consideration. and will, if opposed
by prison labor. suffer far more from the
cause previously given. An appeal is
therefore made TO the sober Judgment of the
General Assembly not 10 interfere with the
best system yet divised TO carry out the
penal laws OF the state. The prison officers
have done their hest - avoid conflict with
local skilled labor, and feel assured the
result as stated in this paper, cannot be
successfully controverted.
The Maryland Penitentiary is more than
selt-supporting It's mortality is but one
per cent. Less than four hundred of its in
mates are employed, altogether on contracts.
Fully eighty per cent. Of IFS manufactured
products are shipped out Of the State.
Probably, nearly the entire ticeHty per cent.
sold in Baltimore would otherwise be sup
piled by factories, or prison shops, of the
New England or Middle States. Hence. by
the selection of various industries by the
directors, no comparative harm results, in
their opinion, 10 the skilled labor interest OF
this city or State.
Not only no harm, but the industries
there give employment and pay the highest
wages for atleastfifty competent employees,
both in and out ofthe prison, who are citi-
zens Of good standing.
The contractors also buy material in this
market 10 the extent Of, probably, quarter
of d million dollars.
Abolish the various industries now exist.
ing in the Maryland Penitentiary, much
will be lost to the city of Baltimore, large
trade interest, and sll its advantages, and
the employment of a number of citizens.
The taxpayer must, then, meet all the ex
penses. The Legislature must provide on.
| H~"sG' eu uff0 .Fvts NtCusdtu ucts1fs INE t1t
coming two years 10 that end
The Peniientiary is now self-sustaining
Its labor interferes very slightly with locaI
J interest
Its existing system gives employment, tc
many citizens Of good repute.
II causes large purchases in this market
Its health statements indicate the adapta.
bility Of its labor to the necessities Of the
| situation.
Why not let well emo ugh alones
Why net leave to experienced Directors
whose anxious study 10 10 discharge thssl
auass with the lsas, possible .aiss:s..as
with honest labor, tie sssaasaEsns Of rs;s
c. iaeess
he sEssi e!.aiscsss rsass ssss.a!a, mly
g Gs-s vel. stated In ths wosds of . .src.'
upca tie subject made many ysars ago
- considerable number cf pr:scss5 Ssll
even aife- shoss cos4ssnsn:, into Q ssr:
Atacus condition, from which .s was next
to impossible 70 arouse them: others bscams
violently insane; others sssl committed
suicide, while those who stood snfsrcsi
!alsasss better, were nc. ssscrncd."
The srsst.eas involved. IN ss.ssn manage
meat ass sss sws-
x4ycaees sAacai
ezreaeze 02sxan
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