Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-11-01
FOR THE NOTTINGHAM.

In the Forty-ninth Congress bill passed
the House and was seat to the Senate,
where it passed February %, 1887. The
title of the bill read: "A bill to prevent
the employment of convict labor and
alien labor upon public buildings and
other public works, and convict labor in
the preparation or manufacture of ma
terials for public buildings or other public
" rks, and to regulate the manner of let
ting contracts therefor" Now every one
who knows anything about it at all, knows
that the form of convict labor to which
workingmen most object is that which is
connected with the contract or lease sys-
TEN. That is very nearly slavery, besides
being the least humane and Unsuitable
means of working convicts. The bill re-
ferred TO in the outsetreads as follows, and
we invite careful examination to the
patent solicitude of its author 10 make it
comprehensive and effective:
That in all advertisements for the erection or
construction of pablo buildings other public
" rks, or for materials to be used in their cree
ton, construction or completion and for all
supplies of every description to be furnished TO
OF for the use OF any of the departments and in
all contracts made under or in pursuance of
such advertisements, there shall be inserted a
condition that no convict or prison labor what
soeve- or the Product thereof shall be en-
ployed or used upon any public building or
Osher public work, or in the preparation or
manufacture of any OF the articles, materials OF
supplies contracted TO be furnished therefor
aid there shall also he inserted Ia said contract
the further CONDITION thai no person vino is not
bona fide resident within the limits of the
United States, and who has not declared his in
tention to become citizen thereof, in the man
ner provided by law, shall be employed in the
erection, construction or completion of any
public building or other public work
Section .. That any willful breach of any of
SAID conditions by any contractor shall author
lie aud work forfeiture of the contract, and
snail constitute a complete defense in bar
against any claim or action against the United
States for the recovery of any sum or sums I'M
der said contract; and it shall be the duty of the
officer letting any such contracts, upon being
advised that any contractor had knowingly
violated the terms of such contract, to declare
the same forfeited.
The bill was as will be seen, aimed
against alien as well as convict labor. 1t
was precisely the measure petitioned for by
the workingmen of Indiana, whose memo
rails General Harrison presented in the
Senate, and is precisely the measure General
Harrison ADVOCATED and yoted for IN the Sen
ate. The record shows that he cast his
vote for the bill and gave his reasons for
1t. That bill Grover Cleveland, as Presi-
dent of the United States, vetoed by peck
citing it. Had he signed the bill, he could
not have done as he did-buy four hundred
ragOns an Tennessee for the army which rcert
made by Tennessee conUicts. The wagons
were built by Cherry, Morrow & Co., Of
Nashville. The contract was awarded by
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and
the wagons were for the use of the Indian
Department. Messrs. Cherry, Morrow &
Go. are the lessees of the convict labor Of
the Tennessee Penitentiary, and these
Government wagons are to be made by
convict labor. There were several other
bidders, but manufacturers employing free
labor and paying honest wages could not
compete with men employing convict la
Dor at nominal sum. Mr.. Cleveland's
attention was drawn to.the prison bid be-
fore the award was made, but he declined
to interfere.
His action is in entire harmony with his
purchase of blankets for the army from
English makers, and admitting the goods
Zee of duty. How do free workmen ac-
count for this marvellous conduct of Mr..
Cleveland2 If he is their friend, has he
not most peculiar method of manifesting
it? Is there an American citizen, work
ingman or man of leisure, man of business
or of manual toll, whose blood does not
mount Indignantly at the fact that Ameri-
can soldiers are supplied with goods from
English mills, and that to the better crush
out competition Of home-workers and pro-
ducers these goods were ordered to be ad-
mitted free of duty?