The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-02-05
CONVICT LABOR.

One of the great pro blems of the age
Is, how criminals can be utilized so as
to pay all the expenses Incident to in
carceration and at the So ue time create
revenue for the state. In some of
the states the problem has been solved,
and crime has been made to pay it's
way, and add materially to the reve-
nues of the state.
According to the census report there
were in the penitentiaries of the United
States in 1890. As, 23S criminals of all
grades, from the sneak thief to the de-
faulting cashier. In 1880 there were
IS, 53S convicts in the penitentiaries of
the country; an increase, in ten years,
of 9, sos.
OF the 49, convicts, 1,791 are fe-
males, leaving 4S, 442 males. If we de-
duct 10 per cent from the males be-
cause of incapacity for work. we have
3o,O9S robust cut-throats, burglars.
thieves-in a word, criminals of high
and low degree, at work in various en-
ployments, producing wares, in COM
petition with honest, law-abiding work
ing men, making crime pay, and earn
ing a revenue for the state.
To accomplish this end, penitenti-
aries are being transformed into great
Industrial institutions The state
equips them with the most improved
machinery, then assigns men to various
contractors, who grow rich off of
criminal muscle and skill, and from
the same source the state secures a
small revenue.
The states, at least some of them,
exercise toward their convicts the
greatest possible consideration. The
penitentiaries are palaces. such as poor
men, who obey the law, cannot expect
to inhabit The inmates of these pa
latial institutions are provided with an
abundance of wholesome food, we'll
cooked and served at regular hours.
They are in many instances supplied
with books; the most slxillful physicians
are employed to look after their health,
and ministers of the gospel are called
to attend to their spiritual wants.
Regular hours are observed, cleanli-
ness commanded, and sanitary science
is called upon to protect the criminals
against disease.
We have on our tables the reports of
two penitentiaries, having 1919 prison
era OF theae 1870 are employed in
various manufacturing establishments,
and the wages the contractors pay for
their labor is given as follows:
In the manufacture of hollow ware
$50 men were employed, 100 at 60 cents
day, 100 at 55 cents q day and so at
40 cents day.
In the manufacture of saddle trees
100 men were employed at Sc cents
day.
In the manufacture of brush and
wire goods 1870 men were employed at
4S cents a day.
In the manufacture of cooperage 1875
men were employed at go cents day,
and IS at SIS cents day
In the manufacture of chairs, frames
and furniture $50 men were employed
at so cents day, and so at SO cents
Gay.
In the manufacture of boots and
shoes 100 men were employed at SO
cents day.
In the manufacture Of knitted fabrics
200 men were employed at 4S cents
day.
In the manufacture Of harness 25
men were employed at As cents day
and 25 at 4S cents a day. There are
seven different prices paid, ranging
from 40 cents to go cents day, as fol-
age being 40 81 cents day.
The cost of maintaining the convicts
is set down at about 80 cents a day;
hence, the profit per day for each man
is say II cents day for the state. 1t
will be seen, therefore, that the profit
to the state would be 500, 700 year.
Assuming that the labor performed
by these prisoners at 40 cents day is
worth outside of prison walls 81. 25 q
day, it is seen that the contractors OBJ
tain convict labor at 76 cents day less
than honest labor is worth. 1t follows,
therefore, that while those who employ
honest workingmen equal to the num-
ber of the employed convicts of the
penitentiaries referred to, viz: 1920 at
81. IS a day each. or 81, 5S7.50 a day for
the whole number, the prison contract
ors would pay 40 cents day, each, or
for i, $50, $5O2 70 day, clear gain to
the contractors of 81, 034 so day, and
for year of 800 working days, S3lo 400
With such margin of profit it is
seen how prison manufactured wares
can be placed upon the market in COM
petition with goods manufactured by
houest men, and while making profit
for the contractors utterly destroy the
trade of honest men and force them in
to idleness.
Here it is seen that the state and the
contractors make clear profit off con-
vict labor in one year, amounting to
1911, 100, the state receiving $50, 700 and
the contrac tors $310, 400, the total rep
profit resulting from the
of wages
In support of this policy variety of
reasons are assigned: First, that the
state needs the revenue to tighten the
burdens of taxation; second, that the
health of convicts demand that they
should be employed.
Manifestly the state needs revenue,
but there can arise no contingency
which warrants the manufacture of |
goods by convicts, which forces honest
men into idleness, want beggary and
crime, which is just what state does
when it hires out its convicts at 40 cents |
q day to perform labor worth to an
honest man Ito put it low 81. 25 day.
A state that pursues such policy |
multiplies criminals and populates its
penal institutions. 1t is policy that
wrecks honest homes, breaks up fam
lilies, makes tramps of husbands and |
fathers, and creates conditions for |