Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-08-22
CONVICT LABOR.


profess to be oppose TO the employ
ment Of conyic, labor in such manner
AZ TO como in competition with free
labor. In the days OF American slavery
the Republican party claimed that free
labor was degraded and rendered less
respectable ON account Of the existenc"
of slave labor. The advocacy OF this
idea on the stump and in the news
papers OF that party gained them tens
OF thousands OF votes. Political men
knew IL all to be clap-trap, and that
there was no sincerity among the lead
ers who advocated II. II slavery was
degrading TO American free labor, how
much more so must il be to be placed
In competition with convict hborY
This state OF affairs has been going on
at the Idaho penitentiary ut intervals
for years, probably with the view OF
ascertaining how the people would en-
dure il. As often ms complaint was
made the newspapers noted il and il
was stopped. probably because of the
effect it might have had on last falls
election. Since that time the party
has become more reckless and as soon
as an opportunity occurred where a
profitable arrangement could be made,
a portion OF the men were set At work
upon the stone quarry in the neighbor-
hood Of the prison Being interviewed
upon the point, Secretary Pinkham,
one of the penitentiary board, said:
II is true that number of the con-
victs have been employed in the man
ner stated, but this is not IN violation
of the constitution, as the quaries are
the property Of the State aud situated
upon the penitentiary reservation The
contractor, +. 8. Chase, pays the State
so cents day for the service OF each
convict, and in addition percentage
OF the yslue Of the stone quarried,
which amounts TO about ID cents
day additional per man. The board
of State Prison Commissioners have
adopted this system after long aud
careful deliberation.
The fact that prison labor was 80
employed is here admitted, and the
low rate Of so cents per day with a
contingent ID cents, has very singu-
lar APPEARANCE. Inquiry discloses The
fact that stone quarrymen have been
paid 80 90 per day, and why the con-
tractor should be- able TO secure the
services Of these men at a rate So low
can only be matter of conjecture.
Hundreds OF laboring men have b en-
here during the season ready and will.
ing to work who could not obtain EN-
ployment and were obliged TO leave
loYn in consequence. Here is pos
tive injury done the city by keeping
from its limits a number of laborerr
yho would have expended their earn
ings among the merchants, boarding
houses, etc, and convict labor substi
tNtfh III tuSlI HiiNNo.
The Secretary makes various lame
and impotent excuses, among which
he mentions that the Legislature ap
propriated S25 900 for the maintenance,
Of the institution, and the rapid in
grease in the number OF prisoners "a
demonstrated in the last four months
viii bring a deficiency against lh'
State unless something were done {,
prevent it, He also says that the mum
her OF conyicts employed in the quar-
ries during the past month was no
over fifteen.
The board hesitated LONG time. bu
finally the representatives of the cci
tain parties now building houses an
others. that they could get such sion
nowhere else prevailed, and the resul
WIS the employment Of the cnnyicii
1t would be interesting 20 know VIII
''the others" were. As the employment
was made by Republican board an
those gentlemen who could get ston
nowhere else are all bright and shinin
lights in the Republican camp. it
hut fair to presume that 1.-THE Others
were oi the same kith and kin an
the Republicans as party must
held responsible for The act Of emplo,
ing these conviets, thus bringing col
Wet labor into competition with fr,
labcr.
II il had boen the intention Of Il
gentlemen comprising the board
have affected saving to the State q
account of the wages Of these eonvic
would il not have FIJI wed that ih,
should have obtained greater rewa
for their labor. When the State pa
So cents per day for their kee ping
seems very poor policy to permit the
H. be hired for so cents with a possii
contingency Of Is cents more. win
nut strike most persons as being
scheme TO favor political friends
that they could procure cheap rock
the bank building on Eighth sire
the extension of the opera house bio
aud the proposed palatial home on /
c. a.