New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-01
THE PIECE PRICE SYSTEM.
RESULTS OF IT'S USE IN NEW-JERSEY.'
CONFLICTING OPINIONS RESPECTING 1T IN THE
PRISONS.

CONFLICTING OPINIONS RESPECTING 1T IN THE
PRISONS
TRENTON Dec. 81 (Special. rela-
tions likely to be developed between State Prison
Keeper and the board of inspectors and
visor of the State prison when the annual reports to the
Governor printed. Keeper Laverty has been crcu
lang advance sheets Of his report In which he warmly
approves the "piece price" system OF employing the
conviets put in operation few months ago, and full
soney praises Governor Albeit for alleged services In
securing the adoption Of that plan Supervisor Henry
L. Butler who has direct charge Of all matters relating
to the employment of tho convicts to-day expressed
views diametricaly opposed OF the keeper He
said my report is prepared. but has not been sent TO
Governor, and in advance OF tnat do not care to
public any portion OF IT, will say, however that
my views the piece price system do not agree with
those of Mr.. Laverty do upon what ground he
base tho views that he expresses 30 strongly MY
report will show that under the system there has
been Of from 10 20 per cent in the amount
work Of each convict and although the State may re-
ceye large return for the labor formerly still In
consequence OF the increased production manufacturers
enabled place the goods upon the market at less
than before conclude that the contract sys-
will yield good, II not better, financial results to
the State and afford much II more, protection to
outside labor than the piece price plan, ana that the
piece price plan is beset with many difficulties from
which the contract system entirely free that any
price that be obtained for making goods by the piece
will not suffice to prevent that competition with free
labor which was evidently the intent Of the law. The
only OF the law which to commend 1t as
preventive OF undue competition with honest labor is
the clause restricting tho employment OF more than 100
men in any one industry Ny experience leads me to
believe that system OF employing convicts has yet
been devised, whether for purposes OF revenue or
for the prevention OF fair competition with free labor
that superior the contract system. shall recon-
mend "A return 1t with provision that price less
than sKtyfve or seyenty-ive cents day shall be ac
copied for the convict labor"
Controller f. j. Anderson, president OF the Board Of
Inspectors, said this evening. after day spent with In
spector Post and Treasurer Tohey In work upon the
boards report my own opinion and that, think. or
every member OF the board Is that theoretically the
piece price system better and practically II Is much
than the contract system both as to putting con-
victs In petition with free labor and to making
financial return to the State. We have tried IL far
enough to show that the new plan will result In the
making goods OF better quality and at less cost
the manufacturers than the old system. Our report
is not yet complete, but VIII state that while 1t Is too
for decided statement OF the effect OF the change
either upon the prison revenue or upon the interests OF
honest labor yet from what has been In the few
months establishment OF the system IL Is the
opinion OF the inspectors that in neither OF these respects
will the law effect tho purpose intended by its passage
the contractor employed at his risk. Now tho State
furnish certain amount OF goods OF a certain
quality In certain time The risks all The State,
aud better goods and more OF them are made. while all
the losses from careossness ignorance or ilwil fall
the state"