New-York tribune., 1886-01-11
PRISON LABOR IN NEw-JERsEY.
WHAT THE SUPERVISOR or THE STATE PRISON HAS
TO SAY ABOUT IT.


TRENTON. Jan. 10.-Thc main interest of the
report OF tho the New-Jersey Prison.
in Governor Albeit hands lies In Its discus
sion OF the OF the piece price plan. tho system
OF employing convict labor which the NewJersey
LEGISLATURE resolved must succeed the contract
system. Tho advocates OF tho new system,
prominent among whom tho Governor.
clsimed that the state would lose no money
by 1t, introduction. aud that FREQ labor would bo pro-
tectcd against the unfair competition with convict labor
TO which tho contract system subjected II.
The report that the cost OF maintenance OF tho
prison has fallen short OF the earnings for the year end
Ing October 81 1885, by S13607 45. OF which Sl3l7i 20
10 the five months Of the year. This
was due to tn enforced dieness OF the prisoners dur
Ing the change 10 the piece price plAn and the
seauent loss earnings during tho three months stop
page made necessary start the new ~ stem properly
The average daily number OF conViots III confinement
was 500 OF ~ 1854 The total earnings
from the employment OF conyicts was Sl5,3l0 80. In
stating the results Of the system the Supervisor
very fairly that the trial of 1t has been too limited
To admit OF wholesale approval condemnation, but he
significant comparison OF the results attained by
industries carried under the sysems aud shows con-
clusvey that any such comparison Is wholly against
the piece price plan, either source OF revenue or
as means OF protection to free labor For instance
shoe con ractor who paid so day under the
tract syheIn for each convict employed by him now
averages SO cents per per day but this produc
ton has been from 20 to % per cent 30 that
this pays 5153 FOR what would have
cost him 62.5 cents by tho contract system.
Indeed this Instance the most favorable to tho "piece
price plan all those cited by the Supervisor Downs
and Finch manufacturers OF shirts collars, etc. are now
averaging only 27.74 per day per man. falling of OF
nearly 80 per what they paid the State when
tho contract system I'm force. or course In add
ton TO this OF to the state this enables the
contractors put their goods the market at ess
cost of manufacture than ever before; fact which
piece price" plan protects FREQ labor The Supervisor
other disadvantages In practice O TINS new
system aud especially calls attention to tho Tact tnat
the contractors charge all spoiled ana defecuVe
work To loss which the contract system put
upon the contractor himself. 49,, -,
The Supervisor concludes his discussion OF this SUD
Ieet by saying In my opinion. far more effective
plan OF emp Oyng PRISON labor, both Tor purposes OF
revenue aud OF protection To FREQ labor woud ne 10 TO-
store system ard at the Same tme 10 pro
hibit the prison authorities from contracting LOT the
labor OF the c0nyics price less than say 90 ceuts
day and retaining the clause In regard to the
number OF mon 10 be employed In any one industry.
Under this plan doubtless many small manufacturers
would found who without sufficient capital TO es
tablIsh plant themselves, would be only Too glau 10
avail themselves OF the facilities for manufacturing OF
fered by tho state and consideration thereof, Wiling
to pay a fair price for the labor OF convlcts.' 49,
It IL understood In Trenton that the Governor IN ms
message to tho Legislature Will, IA usual put ponlCal
considerations before facts aud support the view OF ms
| henchman Keeper Layerty as 70 the piece price
plans Mean while friends OF Mr. Laverty industh
ousy hunting through the laws to hnd where MS author
ty 10 make any report at all comes Irom lhe ndica-
tlons that the Legislature VIII nave sOmethihB W
say In tho matter OF tho convicts' employment