The Washington critic., 1888-07-10
WASHINGTON, JULY 10, 1883.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND AND CON
VICT LABOR.

PRESIDENT CLEVELAND AND CON
VICT LABOR.
Some of the political agitators of
Republican proclivities among the la
Dor organizations of the country are
attempting to create a prejudice
against President Cleveland because
he recommended that several peni-
tentiaries be erected in which United
States convicts could be employed in
the manufacture of such articles as
were needed for use by the Govern
ment.
These agitators assume that Presi-
dent Cleveland's recommendation is
IN favor of convict labor, and that it
an'agonizes the rights and interests
Of the laboring men.
The facts in the case are simply
these: In his message to Congress,
December 6, 1856, President Cleve-
land commends the report of the At
torney-General in which he favors
the erection of penitentiaries for the
confinement of United States convicts.
He goes on to show that United States
prisoners are confined in some thirty
State penitentiaries and that the Gov
ernment has no direct control over
their treatment; that in the interest
of humanity and reform the prison
ers sentenced by United States courts
should be confined in prisons over
which the General Government has
exclusive control, and that this can
only be done by the erection of peni-
tentiaries by the Government, The
President further said;
With prisons under ,ts own control the
SSQyeer,imen. oOGia deal with the somewhat
vexed question OF convict labor, so far as its
convicts were concerned, according TO plan
OF its own adoption, and.with due regard to
the rights and interests Of our laboring citi-
zeDs, Instead of sometimes aioing In the
operation of system which causes among
them irritation and discomfort.
The passage in the same message
which the political labor agitators
take exceptions to is as follows:
q Upon consideration of this subject II might
be thought wise TO erect more than one OF
these Institutions, located in such places as
would best subserve the purposes Of conve.
Dience and economy in transportation.
The considerable cost Of maintaining these
convicts at present in State institutions would
be saved by the adoption of the plan pro-
posed, and by employing them in the manu-
facture Of such articles as were needed for
use by the Government quite large pecu.
MARY benefit would be realized In partial
return for our outlay.
Unless it is proposed to keepIthe
United States convicts in idleness, to
what better use could they be en-
ployed than in "the manufacture of
such articles as were needed for use
by the Government ?"
THE DISTRICT Appropriation bill,
as finally agreed on in conference, in
creases the salary Of the Superintend-
ent Of Police from $4,000 to $1,000.
What has this. efficient, energetic
and in all respects admirable official
done to he subjected to such a pitiful
insult at the hands Of Congress? If
the Chief of Police cannot be given
the salary that he ought to have, let
this hundred dollars be stricken out.
II would be a disgrace to pass the bill
in that shape.
THE IRooUoIs CLUB at Chicago is
getting up celebration of the 400th
anniversary of the discovery o.
America by Columbus, but this
needn't stand in the way Of prompt
Congressional action in behalf of the
Permanent Exposition.
The RETIRING EDITOR of the Post
took look ahead before he stepped
out, and this is what he saw:
II the Democratic leaders have any doubts
of the success of their ticket at the coming
election they can easily .dispel them by com
ing 10 Washington. The President is about
the most confident candidate In history.
Why Is thisf Because he believes in himself
gentle reader, and trusts but little TO any
other agency. He has good cause, he
knows he is a good man, and he leaves the
rest 10 fate. The American people may not
all eonf5le in Democracy, but there is a
strong impression at the White House that
they know a Cleveland when they see him, lei
the Harrlsons and Mortons be where they
will. II will be Austerlitz or Waterloo
Nothing can be more certain that that.
This may be a compliment to the
President and it may be whack at
him, but it is the most fortunate
thing in the world that the Demo
cratic party, in its present emergency,
--neh self-confdent, serenely
I. ,al man as Grover Cleye
4 vPsIl 10 head Of It. If he were
H,sa'puWman for the occasion, the
occasion would have to go without a
man.
RED-sTocRING PUNCH is General
Clinton B. Fisk's fayorite summer
drink, and will probably become tho
camInign beverage of the Prohibition
party. 1t is Il compound Of lemon
sugar, egg and ice water, warranted
10 cheer without inebriating.
TUE COLD WAVE got in last night
dripping wet, but none the less ac-
ceptable.
Ir is RELATED Of Mr.. Levi p. Nor.
ton that in his earlier days, away ur
in Hanover, New Hampshire, he was
a tailor, like another prominent
figure in American history, who was
once elected Vice-President, and af-
terward became President Of ting
United States. But this is notlS u
against him. Meth /
Johnson was b"