New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-12
THE slavery BILL KILLED.
a NEW PRISON LABOR BILL SUBSTITUTED
FOR TT BY THE ASSEMBLY.

"a NEW PRISON LABOR BILL SubciiioiHD
FOR TT BY TILE ASSEMBLY.
MIR YATES THE AUTHOR OF THE NEW MEAS
IRE. WHICH is ORDERED TO THIRD READ
1Ns-ITs OBJECTIONABLE FEATURES
rsr TELEGRAPH TO THE rnmUsE.]
Abanv. April 11.-Assemblyman A. A. Yates,
Of Schenectady County, last summer acmeVed
more fame than be desired, by presenting to the
Assembly the bill in regard to the State Prison
conyicts which subsequently became known as
the Yates law. That law had as its cher pro-
vision the requirement that the State Prison con-
victs sbouh not do any profitable labor other
than make goods needed by the charitable insttu-
tons. 1t was found, after the law was passeo'
that the charitable institutions themselves maoe
go per cent of their own goods, ana ,hao 10"
conyicts out of the 3,737 convicts in the otate
prisons could make the remaining 40 per CENT
of the goods required by these institutions
Cut off from all renuncrative labor, tho con-
victs have practically eaten the bread OF the
taxnvers In jdleness: and, as Controller Wemple's
report. made public this week, shows, the prisons
have become yearly burden upon the taxpayers
of the State to the great amount OF ssoo,ooo'
Mr.. Yates naturally does not like to 60 down
IN tho history Of the State as the man who put
$500, 900 yearly upon the shoulders OF tnc taA-
navers Of the State; and to-day, therefore, he
disclaimed the authorship Of the so-caned
Yates law, and said that he intro
duced it merely as tho instrument OF
caucus. The law. he theoretically declared was
an error. and he proposed that 1t should be modi-
fed so far as to permit convicts to build puohc
roads. In other words. he suggested that the
barbarous system OF exposing the convlcts on inc
public roads be established in this State. IL may
be said that no Prison Reform Society has ever
thought OF such n method Of reforming convio~'
and as for competition with outside laborers. ii
is to be suspected that some day the aborers Will
swiftly object to Mr.. Yatess plan for bringing
1000 men into competition with them.
The debate Oh the Prison-Labor bills was begun
bv Major Slavery who made an argument in favor
of his bill establishing both the Stateaccount and
piece-price systems Of labor in the State prisons
Such q law. he said. would be best for the State.
for Taxpayers and for worhingmen.
Judge Greene offered an amendment directing
the Superintendent Of Prisons 10 retain ten cents
day out of the earnings of each prisoner. and Mt
the prisoners release TO give him 1-2 per cent
of the amount thus saved, to enable him 10 pay
his wav until he should obtain work. This amend
ment was adopted.
Mr. Crosby said that Assemblymen who visited
the prisons found the convicts in a bad physical
and mental condition. and asking for work. Mr..
HIT denounced all attempts 70 bring prison labor
into competition with "honest labor but he had
no plan Of his own for putting the conv1cts at
work.
Mr.. Yates now came forward with his little plan.
He said that the Yates law was not his. but the
bill of q caucus He had been denounced by press
and pulpit for urging its passage. The Prison
Ring were the only persons who we're clamoring
that the convicts should do remunerative labor.
Mr. Yates further said fhat Assemblymen were
courteous To workingmen before election, but DIS
regarded their wishes after election II he had
the power he would not permit convict 10 do any
work in competition with workingman. lie
offered his bin AS substitute for that OF Mr..
Slavery.
This bin OF Mr. Yates continues the present ex-
pensive system Of taxing the taxpayers 70 support
the convicts in ideness, with triding exception,
namely that the convicis In the pentcntiaries and
county jails may be put at work making roads
but Mr. Yates exacts big price for this trihing
concession to the taxpayers. tie extends the
ideness system in the State prisons 10 the county
tails and pcnteniiaries. The courts nave ueciuu
that the no-lnbor' Yates law OF last year does
not apply 10 county jaib and penitentiarles, out
is limited in its provision 20 the otate PRISON.
in many Of the county iais ana
nenitentiaries. the convicts still do work which
relieves the taxpayers OF the burden OF their sup
mort This condition OF Affairs u, OF course
odious 10 Mr. Yates whether 10 is odious tn MS
farmer constituents or not the next election may
show. The motion OF Mr.. Yates 20 substitute his
bin for that Of Mr.. Slavery was adopted by vote
OF 43 to AZ. ,
There were five Republicans and thirty-eighht
Democrats who voted for the motion OF alr;
Yates Tho Republicans werc; Youngmsn, Of
Albany: Bauer, OF Monroe; Martin Smith; OF
Sullivan; Brown, OF Otsego, and Mr.. Yates him
self The votes in the negative were cast by
thirty-nine Republicans, and by three Democrats
Bush, Durham nnd hnrTood' ihsfe are safS sd
20 the adoption Of such disGaceful measure
As the bill stands now, 10 Is Democratic party
measure II remains 70 be seen whether hepuo-
lican Legislature will pass II.
Mr.. Bush, a Democrat from Chemung County
broke away from his party and proposed to sub
stitute Senator Fassett's Convict Labor elii Tor
that of Mr.. Yatess. The bill prepared by Senator
Fassett. he said would meet with the approval
OF ali members Of the Legislature. II authorized
the Superintendent Of Prisons 10 use either the
IN tSe State prisons. Mr. Yates, however, pro-
tested against the bill being substituted for
his and succeeded in having his own bill ordered
10 n third reading, and made special order Tor
next Tuesday.
BUSINESS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE
THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION BILL PASSED By
BOTH HOUSES.
Albany, April IL (SpociaD-The Senate spent most
Of it, time today on the annual Appropriation Dill
Senator Grady objected to the manner OF approprat
ing money for the Cayugs Indians. He thought thai
Il should DO specified that the money should go to
the Cayuga Indians in the United States. Some one
asked him II he really didn't mean the Indians OF
Tammany Hall His objections were not sustained
and tho bill passed 1t came from the Finance
Committee conference committee Will have TO
be appointed TO settle the differences between The
Senate and Assembly on tho bill.
Senator Murphy for Senator Van Colt introduced
tbs Nev.y York Sinking Fund Commission bill, which
The Tribune explained fully this morning. protest
was received by the Senate from tho New.York Cham
Der OF Commerce against the passage OF the Now
York and New-Jersey bridge bill.
The Republican Senators had another caucus this
afternoon in regard to pending legislation Tho meet
ing took place behind closed doors IL Is understood