Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-17
TuE STAND CLEVELAND TOOK.

TnE STAND CLEVELAND TOOK.
As bearing on the probable reasons for
refusing his assent to this bill, the follow
ing passage from President Cleveland's
message to Congress in December, lNSG. is
of interest. Discussing the adyisability of
building separate prisons for nited State
prisoners. he says
With prisons under its own control the
government could 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 re
gard To the rights and interests of our labor
ing citizens. instead of sometimes aiding in
the operation of system which causes
among them irritation and discomfort
Il pom consideration of this subject ii
might I've thought WISE to erect more than
one of these institutions located in such
places as would best subserve the purposes
of con, enienCe and economy in transporta-
tion. The considerable cost of maintain
ing these conviCts. as at present, in state in
stitutions would b. saved by the adoption
of the plan proposed; and by employing
them in the manufacture of such articles ~
were needed for use by the government
quite large prcuniary benefit would be-
realized in partial return for our ontlay.
rHE riEPo.E OF THE BILL.
The Senate committee on education nj
labor. in recommending the passage of the
bill reported as follows;
The purpose of this bill is to provide that
the expenditure of the moneys taken by
taxation from the American people, upon
the public works of the United States
whether for wages or materials which are
created by labor and therefor substantially
a. u whole are really paid ont of the ma
tioual treasury for labor, shall be paid to
honest and respectable American citizens,
or to those who, having resided in our coun-
try six months, shall have declared their
intention to become our fellow citizens.
The practice prevails largely along the
line of Canada and elsewhere of paving ont
the appropriation. for rivers AMI harbors.
public buildings and for other public pur-
poses to cheap labor from abroad, which
Immediately returns whence it came. AMI to
convict labor. or for materials produced by
such labor. to the exclusion of our own
people. and TO those who avail themselves
Of the Enclean profits derived from the half
paid toll of the criminal classes.
DEMOCRATS AFreovEp FIcK ruES.
In connection with this subject of reform
of prison methods. il il striking coiBei-
,lence to find Hon Charles +. Peck. Com
missioner of Labor of the State of New
York, approvingiy quoted by democratic
committee of the Democratic House Of the
Forts-eight Congress. Mr.. Peek was then
newly appointed to the office of Com
missioner of Labor by Gov. Grover tieye-
| Land of New York. and there was no one
I who suggested then that he was dis-
I ioyal to the Governor when he made these
/ criticisms The Committee on Labor oi
| the House of the Forty eight Congress. re-
porting on hill TO prohibit the hiring OF
I contracting Of convict labor to private in
diyriaaIs- says:
/ rErk's STARTLING DISCOVERY.
/ Hos. Charles r. Peck, commissioner Of
! the bureau of labor statistics OF the state o.
I New York, in his report Of January 10
! 1881. SAYS
sNotw itistansling the fact that this or
der was male by the attorney general o
the [ nitea States the order sending to tli'
! several penal institutions of the state IL
conriets under Law OF Congress, ! va
unable to reconcile the idea that there va
Ill