The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-09-26
Disposition. Convict Labor.


l wish now to refer to another table from
the same authority. 1t is an analytical
table, showing the effect of the employment
OF convict labor in competition with free
labor and its sociological aspects to GER
tain extent. OF the Minnesota state pris-
on speaking of contract labor) it gives an
swer to the following questions in this man
ner: does it cause reduction in wages of
free labOr?" Yes" In sales of gOOds?"
Yes" ''In products or work dOne?"
"Yes." To the question OF, What is its
influence upon convictS morally and physi-
cally?" The answer in both cases is,
Not good" A fOot-nOte adds, "Particu-
larly as to the state prison. Not applicable
to reform school and Bethany Home,
where public account system prevails. of
which the contrary may be said" In col
umn devoted to remarks it says, ''ln state
prison no refOrmatOry influence exists. Con-
victS and free labOrers work side by side
under contractor, with injury to both. Con-
tractors heavily underbid all other dealers.
A political issue therefrOm."
The next thing to which | deSile to call
attention is a series of Investigations of
eleven of the principal states of the United
States, taken from the same work. The in
vestigating committees consisted of gentle
men chosen by their respective legislatures
as being peculiarly fitted for the duties as
signed them. and it is to be presumed that
they acted mpartially. They are nearly
unanimous in their condemnation of the
contract system.
In 1871 NJ. S. Myers, E. C. Wines and
Thomas Fencer. New York labor commits
sionerS. report to the legislature as follows:
The contract system of labor is bad and
should be abolished. The industries of a
prison, as we'll as it's discipline. ought to be
managed by its head. The opposition of
the wOrkingmen of the state is to the con-
tract system alone. and not at all to indus
trial labor in prisons: and not only do they
not oppose such labor. but they desire that
criminals should be reformed as the result
of their imprisonment; and they believe
that this can be effected only through in
dustral labor in combination with other
suitable agencies and as a result of the
acquisition. as far as that may be possible.
OF trades during their incarceration. In
'S4, the New York bureau of labor Stats-
ties. reports to legislature as follows: The
contract system. as at present administered
here has been found imperfect for the tOl-
lowing reasons: The object of the law is
the reform of the cOnvicts. The object of
the contractor is to make money from
his labor without regard to his reform. 1t
is destructive of prison discipline neces-
sarily. from the fact that the prisoners are
for ten hours a day under the cOntrO! of
the contractor and his agents, who are in
nOwise interested in their reformation.
1t renders impossible diversity of employ
.ment suited to the different capacities of
the prisoners and the conditions necessary
to their moral training. 1t is the intention
of the law and the best interests OF society
that the terms of the best conducted prison
ers should be shortened. 1t is to the i'll
terest of the contractor to keep them longer