New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-21
EMPLOYMENT FOR CONVICTS
WAYS POINTED OUT BY EX-SENATOR
STEWART.

THE PRISON INMATES COULD BE PIT AT WORK
MAKING ROAD MATERIAL AND RE OF
BENEFIT TO THE STATE.
(FRoM 1.-THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRI3UNEl
Albany. Dec 2o.-Lispenard Stewart. president OF
the Prison Commission said here yesterday tina; the
members Of the Commission confident OF being
able to point out 10 Austin Lathrop the supern-
tendent OF Prisons. ways of keeping employed the
5000 convlcts in the State prisons
"As matter OF fact" said Mr.. Stewart. work
has to be provided for only 1900 convicts The
abolition OF machinery In the manufacturing de-
partments Of the State prisons and the substitution
Of hard labor will give opportunity for the en-
pioyment OF a large number of convicts For in
stance. We have just indicated TO the Superin-
tendent OF Prisons ways OF using $50 convc;s in the
manufacture OF shoes and boots by hand. Such
shoes and boots will be well made indeed. far
better made than those manufactured with ma
ch.nery. Then the convirts at Clinton Prison can
be employed for two years in tho construction or
the proposed new prison there.
Have you ever though: OF having the convicts
make roads manufacture road materia"'
I'VE have" answered Mr.. Stewart. land We
have just suggested the employment Of a certain
proportion of the convicts at Sing Sing In break
Ing stone for roads. | think this road material
ought to be provided free for such towns IA decide
cost of transporting the material The Hudson
River Railroad right by Sing Sing Prison,
and therefore, II will be easy task TO load cars
there with road material and send II out through
tho State TO the points where II Is needed. We
have suggested to Superintendent Lathrop that no
have sheds erected at Sing Sing. under which the
convicts can work in all sorts OF weather prepar-
ing this road material ] think there Is "a quarry
near Auburn Prison. which also could be used ns
n place In which to get stono for road material.
and the convicts there could be put to work in the
manner"
"Will you make any appeal to the Legislature
for its aid in passing some general road-improve-
ment measure that will give legal authority for
town boards to take this road material manu-
featured by the convcts?'
Il think we shall" answered Mr. Stewart; and
then he laughed II laughing because last
winter tho Prison Commission introduced "A bill In
the Legislature -oviding for the selection OF roads
for improvement by the State Engineer. the use
of road material made by the convcts. and appro-
priating tho small sum OF sScoo to carry out the
project We thought that with this comparatively
petty tho prison authorities and the Safe En-
gineer could construct n model road near some
OF the prisons. and we could learn the cost
per mile OF such construction, with the road
teria costing nothing. But. unfortunately. We
could not gain the attention Of the Legislature.
Now that many hundreds Of convicts
threatened with idlencss unless employment l.
found for the OF "a non-compctitive nature with
tho workngmen Of the State. think the Legs
aturc will be more disposed 10 join us In this
road-improveracnt scheme. Public opinion favo-s
road Improvement. and am sure Will anprovc Of
any action the Legislature may take Of
sentative nature to start the Improvement OF the
roads OF the State"
Mr.. Stewart further added that he thought the
aim of the State should be TO teach the convicis
trades rather than to make money by their labor.
Il think tho trade schools OF Mr. Brockway. the
Superintendent OF the Elmira Reformatory.
cecnt." he said "and that this model should be
followed as far as possible I'm the State prisons.
am confident that Mr. I.aihrop the Superintendent
OF Prisons will give the Prison Commission most
hearty support In Us earnest efforts 10 discover
work for the convicts. The old system OF having
the convicts manufacture goods and then OF having
this production sold. am afraid. tended 10 mako
the agents who sold the goods much more inter
.scd in the maintenance OF IN" system than In the
reformation OF convicts. However. the people
tho polls have abandoned Tn" old state manufacture
Ing system. and believe that now We should all
bend efforts 10 make the ne" r"iorinatory sys-
CORNERSTONE McDonough. OF the State Bureau Of
Labor Statistics IL determined that TIA" laDOring
people In this State shall have the full benefits Of
the prlson-labor constitutional provision which
goes into effect on January ! next TINS provision
saws that product Of the labor OF IN" prisoners
in IN. penal institutions shall not be brought ia
competition with free labor but that the prisoners
shall be employed In manufacturing supplies for
State institutions and their inmates The bench
cent effects OF this constitutional prov isiou would
J he los, should the efforts at present being made
other states without III" convict made label Ice
.urccssft The last Legislature passed a law pro-
yliug for the branding Of convict mad" goods II
Is intended principally 10 stop ~" ''i1lns q" prison
made goods In this state which arr manufactured
ever TO declare the law unconsiuiional the h'Ai-
ers in prison made goods dcclar" that ~" people
will not buy them II mex nr@ yor H sne
The Legislature OF 1894 passed law requiring