St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-13
EXPERT CoNvlCTs' VIEWS
Generally Opposed to Contracts.
Some Thoughtful Suggestions.


S. B. Tripp has had considerable ex-
perience with the conditions of labor as
applied to convicts. He has been an in
mate of the institution for eleven years,
and in that time has become first-claSS
mechanic, being likewise man of espe-
cial good sense and good Judgment. He
passed through the contractors regime
and remains stOutly in favor of the
state account plan as opposed to the
contract system. He said 1.-THE state
account plan would, in the first place.
be better for the state itself, as under
the contract system the state has a
chance to make only so much per
head, however much the convict
might actually earn, when other
wise the state might have the same
advantage as private concern. And
then it would be more desirable from a
convict's standpoint because with the
state in charge the prisoner would have
a chance to learn all about some me-
chanical business. AS it was, citizen
iaborerS who already knew something
of the work, were put in here. and, of
course, given the best chance. Con-
victs, mainly, were used in the shops
merely as helpers, except in rare cases,
when they were especially apt or pre-
viously learned. The contractors are
permitted to place citizens anywhere
i'm any shop without the permission OF
the warden. If convict is sick or in
firm he is sent to the shop and expected
to work just the same. Of course a
warden under the state account plan
would desire to make good showing Of
work, but at the same time he would
not have the contractor to fight and the
convicts' complaints against the con-
tractor to continuously investigate and
satisfy. Ninety per cent of US here are
opposed to the contract. Prison disci-
pline would be better under the state
account system, because the prisoner
the citizens, and would consequently be
watched less closely, and think most
convicts would do better. If they felt
themselves less under conspicuous sus-
picion of the guards.
HIS ENERGY WASTSD.
Tom Murray has given the subject
much highly intelligent thought, and
has written upon it in the prison paper
with much force, though eleven years
ago, when he was fifteen years of age,
he was unable to read or write. lie
saws: ..If had father or mother I
never knew them, neither have sis
ter, brother or relative to my knOwl-
edge; and l had no opportunities Of
gaining knowledge until | was fifteen
years old. The world has been my
school and teacher. The stripes that
now cross my back are imprints from
my teachers rod" He is opposed to
the contract system. When coming
here and being put at work his restless
mind made him desire to employ all his
faculties, but he was narrowed down to
the dull monotony of Watching revOlv-
ing shaft, and at the end of the day
would 90 to his cell. knowing that the
most ignorant "bloke" could have done
what he did and do it as well. He in
Cured the ill-will of his fellows by SO
much display of energy, and would
hear the whispered tauntS: "Y0u jay,
you; amt you earning your 9 cents
day?' Take it easy; you don't get moth
ing for it." Consequently, he lost
energy. There is nothing to learn; no
incentive. Something is wrong when
prisoners work for 45 cents day who
are capable of earning So a day: when
men work all day for 45 cents, and in
the three hours they have to them
selves each day in their cells can make
fancy boxes and earn as much as dol
lar each night. The man who does the
most work here should receive the most
COufiuunel ON Sixth Page.