The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-08-22
In Favor Of Hand Labor Under the
Public Account System.

as many perpleXing questions as that OF
prison labor. 1t has so steadily grown in
importance as to command not only nation
al legislation in this country. but also like
consideration at the hands of all foreign
powers AS to its Importance. it can be
placed beside that great question of the
tariff now SO vigorously agitated throughout
the country. and command as careful con-
sderatiOn.
Notwithstanding the innumerable views
of penologists and others who have studied
this question in all its many aspects it still
remains an unsolved problem. In the east
ern states where there is, perhaps, greater
agitation, notably New York, persistent
demand has been made from time to
time for expert consideration by those
competent to deal with it. The New York
Times recently alluded to it as follows:
There is an urgent need of thorough
consideration of the prison labor question
by those most competent to deal with it, for
the purpose of clearing the public mind OF
misconceptions and delusiOns, preventing
mischievous legislation, if possible. and
promoting the adoption of an enlightened
SYSTEM
1t is absolutely impossible to invent sys-
tenn of convict labor that will not possess
Objectionable features as to its effect upon
free labor, consequently the only thing that
can be accomplished is to adopt system
that possesses the fewest real disadvantages
in this respect. Such a system must of ne
cessty embrace the best reformatOry advan-
tageS, because the question OF how to re-
form the criminal is foremost OF all others.
The unceaSing increase OF the prison pop
ulatiOn in this country has at last convinced
the most skeptical penOlOgist that the chief
aim is to secure the maximum refOrmatOry
results. Hand labor under the public ac-
count system, to my mind, embraces more
real advantages than any other that has
been tried or suggested TO quote c. ID.
Wright. u. S. COm'r of labor: 1.-The plan
would involve the carrying on Of the indus
tries of prison for the benefit of the state.
without the use of power machinery. tool
and hand machines only being allowed.
The cOnvicts could be constantly employed
under the direction and supervision EN-
TIREI.Y OF the prison officers. The Objec-
lions to the contract system or piece price
modification are done away with, and one
of the very best advantages would be to
leave the state free to undertake the best
and most humane efforts for the refOrma-
ton of prisoners"
There are many other valuable advan-
tages cited by MIR. Wright. but space does
not allow of their enumeration. About the
first objection that would be made is that
hand labor product cannot find market
with that produced by power machinery.
Were we considering the financial results OF
the question the objection would be real,
but as we are looking wholly to the i'm
provement and instruction of the convict in
practical trade it is only an apparent dis
advantage. inasmuch as the experience of
the Eastern Penitentiary of Pennsylvania
proves conclusively that goods made in this
way find ready market at fair prices.
Another apparent objection that would
be put forth is that in this age Of modern
improvement it would be useless to learn a
trade without knowledge of power machn-
cry. | class this as an apparent objection,
and in support of my views l cite several
industries carried on in the different priS-
Ons in Pennsylvania, such as cOOperage,
boots and shoes. brOOmS. brushes. etc.,
carpeting, clothing. furniture, stone cut
ting. and cigar making, and in Maine and
at the military prison in Kansas, harness
and saddlery is made under this system.
Does not good tailor. cigar maker stone
cutter, shoemaker. cabinet or furniture
maker, cooper. carpet weaver or harness
maker earn good wages without knOwl-
edge of power machinery? A man who
possesses knowledge of any one of the
above trades can command wages equal to
the average paid by other trades where a
knowledge of power machinery is neces-
sary. This fact l can easily prove by re-
liable statistics. but space will not permit
of its introduction in connection with this
article. l will devote an article later Oh
to it.
1t does not necessarily follow that the in