The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-18
LAST EDITION.
CONVICT LABOR.
Statistics Concerning 1t Being Com
piled by House Committee on Labor.
Bv The Associated Press.

WARRINGTON, June 1S.--An effort to
eompile statistics regarding convict labor
IN the United States has been instituted
by the House committee on labor as a
preliminary TO drawing bill to
prevent competition between prison
OF free labor. Accurate information upon
this subject, SO far AS the United States is
concerned, Is to be found later than re-
port OF the commissioner OF Ia Dor made
IN 1856. Great changes lave taken
place in the past eight years, so
be relied upon as applying 10 The present
situation. Convict labor goods eau be
manufactured so much cheaper tina II under
other circums taDces that Ii is said they
drive the goods OF free labor out of The
Held and throw workingmen out OF en-
ployment.
notable instance OF this has been
furnished by the mat making trade.
report OF the Brooklyn Mat
Makers Union, who recently ad-
dressed the committee on the subject,
pointed out that the door mats used in
the capitol were made III Pennsylvania
penitentiary. The committee has re-
uuested the commits ioner OF labor to in-
vestigate the subject. Letters have been
addressed also TO thc officials OF the states
and territories for information. Some OF
the points 10 be inquired iato are:
The number OF conv.cts employed, the
class OF work in which thsy are engaged.
the channels through which their goods
are placed on the markrtard the prices at
Which sold The resQits OF convict cheap
labor was used rs an argument to re-
fute the scbcDe OF Mr.. Swift of
the fhzgorald lnduStrial Army
for tho government fac. osius for the un-
employed. Swift Is one of the most a ble
Eocialists and viii talk ngain today, be-
licvinG that ne can convince Che iegis.a-
tors. Al otkcr intercsting iilie OF inquiry
SCI on foot. by Chairman McGann oi the
conrittee, through the labor commits
sioner, concerns the results OF machinery
upon labs and production. Mr.. McGGnn
believes thai this country Is suffering from
r-procuct-on. largely caused by the
Introduction .. iahor-savipy machinery,
which displlces vorkmen while it m
creases the ontpu. The typc-setting ma
chimes, " hich do thS cork each OF three
men, he considers srcd example OF
this tendency. When tiNg are intro
duced ina printing Office two- thirds OF
She men arc displaced. They criit into
other offices. ind u dlfiicu.t 10 secure
work, are wiling 10 work chcaply for he
cake OF A liz Dg, and reduce the genera
rates OF wages. Another example OF the
came character, he ends in the history
OF labor saving machinery in brick
making. Tie remedy for this he finds in
shorter hours of labor, arguing that n
system of shorter hours will give EMPLOY
ment 10 more hands and 81 the same time
increase consumption in proportion, per-
haps, TO the production.
q When the hours OF work are shcrt-
9ned," says Mr.. McGann, "the lahorer
Goes home with tong evening on his
bands. He must have another suit of
clothes TO put on, another pair of boots,
another hat, must have books |
and papers TO read, or he must go for
walk, take his wife and buy cigar for |
binseft and candy for his wife, thus in-
creasing the consumption OF products"
The commissioner OF labor in collecting !
3tatistics upon the effect of machinery on |
prices, labor and production in different |
lines which the commissioner of labor |
hopes TO be able to utilize in recommend |
ing legislation.