New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-07
CONFLICTS IRON TIE PUBLIC ROIDS.

! We believe that the Superintendent Of
Prisons ha, not yet expressed himself in refer
ence to the Ryder bill, pending in the Lcgis-
| laturc. which provides for the employment Of
PR II convi,t' in rJadmlkng IL is clear that
"a public sentiment is rapidly forming, which
will crystallizc into a demand which our law
makers will be unable to resist. in favor OF a
ladicil Improvement OF the condition Of our
| highways. Consequently il is only question
| of time and apparently of comparatively
short period of time, when the state will be
| called on to dee lido upon the best way Of soly
Ing the road problem. Why not set the con-
| victs at roadmaking?
In discussing the bill in question "Thc
Rochester Union' makes these remarks:
We have yet TO see an argument based on fact and
reason against employ OF such convict labor that
can hold together and stand upon Its own merit.
Every objection raised Is born Of fear and appre-
benson borrowed from the practice in other states
Of leasing convict labor TO mcrcenary and brutal
tractors, which furnishes parallel whatever
"The Kingston Freeman meets this chal-
| lcnge with the contention that there is one
conclusive and unan>wtrabc Argument
| against the Ryder bill. This argument is thai
| 4" the convict who is employed in r,admaling
during the term OF his sentence will not be
learning trade which will enable him t. make
| an honest living when relcaScd' while :" his
exposure TO public gaze and scorn' on the high
| ways will tend "to harden him. The Ryder
| bill provides that only two-thrds Of the prison.
| Crs shall be set at r0admaking. 30 il would
| only be necessary, it would seem, TO adopt 4
iudicious system Of rotation in cmploymonts TO
give every prisoner an opportunity of learning
a trade. Besides, roadmabing is not the sort
of work that can be pursued to advantage dur
ing the winter months, so that portion OF
each year all the prisoners could be learning
trades. "The Frtcmans' other point is Of
less importance. II is doubtful, we should say
that exposure upon the highways would per-
| cepiibly tend to harden a convict. The ma
jorty of travellers along the country roads
might g'ance at the prison gangs, but very few
would do mDie than that 1t is fair +, .stlme
too, that man so sensitive as to shrink from
the public gaze while working for the State
on her highways would rarely land in a penal
institution.
1t will be interesting to learn how the Prison
Superintendent will regard the proposition.
The Governor, Is our readers know, recon-
mended something of the s)lt in his annual
message. The Superintendent may hold that
the Ryder bill gees too far. in case the prisons
are not t. become a burden to the taxpayers.
But when the people make up their minds
iadi, ally to improve the rJadS of the State and
having impoyel them to care for them in az
cordance with some intelligent system, they will
be ready t, meet the expenses. whatever they
may be- set the prisoners +, r)admaling and
the Supernt ndcnt may not be able to submit
so sati 'iac cry n ballnc,-shcet as he docs now
But the taxpayers will understand why and
will not grnmblc