New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-30
CONVICT LABOR.
ATTACKS MADE UPON THE SYSTEM Az
ALBANY

| TAXPAYERS INTERNATIONALLY THE FINANCIAL
| RESULTS or THE SYSTEM HAVE REALLY BEEN.
| IvRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or rHs rRfsuNuI
| ALBANY, Jan. 29.-Ths annual sttssk Of iabor dem.
asogues on tho management of tho State prisons has
begun Each winter the Representatives labor organ
zations hang upon the brass rail that sncrsiss the
Senate and the Assembly chambers and urge change IN
the system OF employing the convtots In the prsonA
The aim OF these agtators Is to prevent the conviss
from working upon anything which ID rmunerstvs.
FOR years the state prisons have been supporting
BY the labor OF the convIcts The professional work
ngmen ask that nothing that the mako shall be
sold outside OF the prison walls. They would have tho
State support the eoavcts In practical SIeuess a. IL did
fsrmeryas yearly cost to the axpaysrs Of 100000
Perhaps tho taxpayers Of the State will have somerhins
to say to the Senators and Assemblymen upon ths mat
ter II they look with favor upon no labor plan
Debate in the Legislature on the subject mas been
precipitated by the request of the of
Prisons for money to continue employing the convict
under the State account" system That system
only lawful method Of employing the convicts To
ecuie the superintendent must have capital He takes
tie States money. employs It in purchasing raw
materials and manufacturing plant puts the cenvcts at
work, sells the product OF their labor which now L.
either shoes, clothing shirts, collars, axes
and the money to the State But having re-
turned the money the State he must get the consent OF
the Legislature to IL again. That Is now superin
tendent Lathrops position He has returned the money
he obtained the State last year and asks the
Legislature to Inappropriate for his use The sppro-
priaon 1t is obvious involves no taxation OF the people
The Assem- bly, promptly passed the bill rcappropristing
the money, but the Senate few days ago hung mp
the measure and there IL danger OF all labor ceas
ing in the prisons Some OF the Senators have been
listening to the defamation OF tho labor denaeogues
and arc inclined to give considerable attention to their
talk 1t oddly happens that of the Senators who has
besn influential In hanging up the Prison Ap-
anf
It Is to suspected farmers will be somewhat dis
pleased him If they ind their tax bills increased by
O hafmillon dollars appropriated by tho Legislature
to keep the convcts in leness It Is plain also that
the Senate hangs up" the bill very long suits will
be brought against the agents and wsrdens of the
prisons for non-fIlfment OF contract: they having
accepted orders for goods other manufacturing
establishments wond do. Some Of the Republican SEN
ators protest against the nacton the DILL saying that
soon IL something 10 not done Governor Hill Will seize
the opportunity to write to the Legislature message
complaining Of the fact that the convfcts are kept in
ideuess and that sequence there great demora
| izatIon In the prisons.
The upon the system of keeping the couvcts at
work has led to INSCRIPTIONS distortion or tho
rures respectug tho financial results OF thst SYSTEM
One Of this Is the display of an extract nom
tho CONTROLLERS last report IN which the expenses
for prison purposes stated. aud then 10 compare
those gwen In the report Of the -uperuteoi-
ent OF Prisons. Tns comparison shows an apparent AIS
! crepancy which n sustained by examination would
prove under the state account stem the prisons
I
S6voO0o AMI above their carngngs-wlis the re-
port OF Superintendent Lathrop shows deficiency iO
The OF the prisons or only aDouf
$50 for 1887. IL proper 10 state that ths
deficiency solely caused by the fact that the labor
agators succeeded IN persuad1ng the eeis Iuge TO
abolish the contract labor system under ~tlch the
prisons self supporting. aud to substitute tne
state account" system. and that while mdkluS the
change OF system 700 convets were necessarily !e Ior
four months OF last year An examination oI tue Con
trollers Hgures and those OF tho superintendent OF
Prisons shows that they actually agree. The apparent
Disagreement Is caused by the fact that the Controller
o0ll ged 10 charge against the prisons ainouHts
which relation To the question or wue her or not
the conyicts employed At loss 10 the state russ
Controller charges against the prisons Ia the Last
three years such $4,000 10 Iebuld tue shops
DESTROYED by fire sing Slng 5000 for sewer AZ
Clinton 81 900 for shops nj Clinton, S4Opo ioi
building wall around Clinton Prison. e2zooo Iot
for Discharged Convics. $4,000 for HE
Transportation OF prisoners from las to the PRISONS
$4,000 foI the exI OF the superintendent OF
Prisons office at Albany. and $1,000 Tor the building ot
stats road II is obvious that these amounts canoi De
considered In deciding whether not the superintent
ent Prisons the given him ny fhe state
keep the cJnvie.s work Is getnk return Tor inc
InoJey The accounts in regard 10 manufacturing mus
kept separate from those In relation TO repairs u the
prisons. That the Superintndent has done and az
staten his report OF hast year shows deficiency OF on