New-York tribune., 1897-08-05
THE CONTICTS AT WORK.

Work ON the East Side Lands Is begun. 1he
suooestion of The T;ibune so ably seconded by
THE Brooklyn Eagle has been carried INTO
effect. Yesterday fourteen conyicts were az
work building sheds for the use OF their fei-
lows who are to undertake parkmaklng, ana
Charities Commissioner Burtis says there Is
work enough TO employ his idle prisoners ror
wear. The men were glad or the chance 10
labor. and behaved themselves well. There was
no scene no ball and chain. nothing to oHend
the sensibilitles Of anybody. The arrangements
apDcar to have been made between the Charltles
Commissioners and Park Commissioner Dett-
mer with admirable good sense, ana there Is
every prospect that their humane co-operahoh
will result in a satisfactory solution OF the con-
vict-labOr problem. so far as the Kings County
Pententiary is concerned.
We are glad to see that this question has Deeh
entirely taken out of politics, so that the eX
pertinent Is not likely TO fail from some cam
n,,pn exieepcy. Commissioner Henry is n
Democrat and Commissioner Burtls Is RepuD-
Icau. The Mclaughlin organ. which was at
first inclined to make political capital over the
consideration shown TO cOnvicts. has reached
the conclusion that there is no improprety in
keeping them from going crazy by letting them
has ceased opposition One or two citizens,
whose knowledge of the situation did not meas
IRE up to their readiness TO jump at conclusions
bewailed the fate of the men whose fainiiles
starve because the conviCts take their work. and
one newspaper voiced this notion, though evil
IDENTIFY with no serious idea other than 10 sur
I'D interesting discussion, with the remark that
II would be n lesson to children TO see these
1.x,,
people "honOrably at work Instead or law-aod
ling citizens who are anxious TO earn 1ew
'dollars for their families Just how Keeping
the convlcts idle would help the law-abidng
citizens none of these grumblers pretended TO
understand. On the principle OF saying that
Carthage ought TO be destroyed they thought II
wise TO utter a cry for honest labor whether
anybody attacked honest labor or not. Every
BODY of sense understands perfectly well That
the fathers of starving families cannot work
for nothing that the city has no money for the
mark work done by convicts. and that the only
difference between having them make roads on
the East Side Lands or throw Quoits for eXer
else Is that in the former case the poor people
have an additional place of recreation Labor
Is not in the habit of refusing free gifts OF that
kind There are better ways to relieve starv-
ing families than to keep convicts idle.
1t Is due TO the Park and Charities Commits
sioners to acknowledge the fairminded and
phllanthropc way in which they have respond
ed TO the call made upon them by this crisis.
Official routine and the traditions of their re-
spective places stood in the way of action 1t
Is never easy for men accustomed to exercise
powers within a specific department and under
specific laws to bring themselves TO 60 outside
those limits and inaugurate policy in mat
ter not calculated to be dealt with by them.
The Brooklyn officials rose nObly TO this neces-
sity. and more quickly than might have been
expected They deserve the thanks and sup
port Of all good citizens for their courage. their
intelligence and their humanity.