New-York tribune., 1886-04-05
PRISON LABOR QUESTIONS.
NR. BAKER ON THE STATE ACCOUNT PLAN.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO ONE MANTLE STATE
MANUFACTURER PAYING NO WAGES.
sFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TEIBuSEl
ALBANY, April 4-GOvernor Hill and the
Democratic members OF the Legislature apparently
determined to make the State Prison convicts deadly
competitors with the honest workngmen OF the state
They violently oppose plan Of managing the State
prisons except the Estate account" system which
gives the Superintendent OF Prisons capital OF 2ioo
0oo, the labor OF 2.4O0 men, all manufacturing
plant and material needed There is interest TO he
paid on the capital nothing for rent OF buildings or Tor
the lease OF manufacturing apparatus and nothing what
for the labor OF the menthey many slaves
Governor Hill and the Democratic members OF the
Legislature have overihrown the contract labor sys
TEN, under which there check upon the compeu-
ton OF the convcts with wokingmen for manufactur-
had pay something for the labor of the convcts
great deal OF money for their manufacturing plant ana
interest their capital But under the new policy OF
the Democratic party the State itself becomes the man
ufacturer.
Foreseeing position which the State being
driven by Democrats two leading Republican mem
bsrs of the Legislature Senator Barager and Assembly
man Palmer time ago drew up btu authorizing
the supcrin tcndent of Prisons the "pece price
system OF labor In the State prisons, modification OF
the contract which 1t believed destroysits most
obnoxious fea,ures II this system were adopted the
State would not have to furnish capital to supern-
tendent OF Prisons Baker to employ such
convlets as he would put to work under II. II
would advantageous in Mr.. Bakers opinion to ADOPT
It and employ a portion OF the State Prison convicts
under it. Sand he:
In my opinion 1t s highly DANGEROUS to intrust such
large of money to any one individual as are given
carry the public account system. III the long
run Will he corrupng to the public service Think Of
giving TO any man to expend for the state an
expenditure practically unchecked. cannot watch
point. aud am sure my successors cannot Ihink
three different points III the state at sing sing AT Au
burn and al Dannemora Necessarily have TO trust
where I'm the long run | say the system will be de-
moralzing to the State service Dishonest men VIII not
and when they once get will find methods OF
making money purchasing material tor the state and
the of the manufactured prodnct which Will not be
easily discovered. but which Will nevertheless be cor
ruptng and demorallzng and will OishOnOr the state
Notwithstanding this appeal of Mr.. Baker the Demo
Gratis show Willingness pass the "piece price" bill
Indeed they defeated the bill in the Assembly, and
have made such resistance TO it in the Senate that Is
apparent IT cannot be passed. Under these circum
stances Senator Barager, the chairman OF the state
Baker paper showing the appropriations that 1t will oe
necessary for the Legslaur to make II the decision Is
count system. Mr. Baker has prepared his report He
Of the prisoners have expired go in Zoo d6e the
State prisons an an appropriation rS of $2,4OoooSS
100000 has already been given him this year to
employ under the iblic account system such con
employed having expired. Mr. Baker states that he
will require 100000 for the 492 men now idle at
Auburn Prison. order to keep them at work till the
end of fiscal year. September 80 Furthermore to
continue the State account industries already estab-
lshed in operation until September 30, II VIII be nee
essary appropriate 100000 additional making
SGOOOOO required 10 emp all the convics until Sep
tember 80 He also that the amount required tor
the state Industries already established for the
fiscal year beginning October l, 1856. is Sll0OOOO
This great iueluLes $500 900 for 400 Idle
at Auburn, but whom Mr. Baker desires TO employ;
and 100000 to keep employed l30 men now engaged
Sns sing prison on Laundry contract which expires
September 30 Half Of the iscal beginning Oc
tober l. 1856. will not have passed when In February
Perry Co. Tor the labor OF 900 cOnyicts
sing prison will expire. To keep these men en-
Mr. Baker states that he Will need apprOprd-
lion OF 100000. The appropriations needed for the
prisoners may therefore be divided as follows:
Til October l. 1850 souo'VVVV
From october 1856 TO october J. lss7... 2io0OOO
That the Democratic Governor and members oi the
desire to commit the State unreSerVedy TO the
public system they should at once Introduce
bills approprating the sum OF s. 600 in addition to
the 100000 they have already granted for this year
Senator Barager intends TO put them TO this test He
has the bins already prepared IL has piece-price O
Is defeated in the Legislature he will at introduce
them Then the wOrkin gmen OF tho state can know who
Is responsible Transforming the state prisons into
mighty backed by the unlimited capital
OF the sta manufactures that pay their hands moth
ing. and therefore compete in the deadlest way
with the workinemen who are now striving to raise
tneifs sta anda rl pf W.