New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-15
up GouPERS ON PRISON LABOR.
vs coNvIcTs SHOULD BE EMPLOYED IN
lying GOODS FOR THE PENlTENTiARiEs
AND OK TIRE HIGHWAYS.

&c SAYS coNVIcTs SHOULD BE EMPLOYED IN
lying GOODS FOR THE PENITENTiARIEs
AND on THE HIGHWAYS.
prison Commissioners, who Will meet in AL
l ,o.morrow to give hearing on the proposed
PAN s-,sn,s 10 the present law which prohibits
r,nlovrent Of the States Ccrvicts IN compe-
N. '. with outside workmen will have lively
W. IN all probability about every large body
''. .sanized labor has announced its intention OF
p" -srr n committee 10 the hearing. The matter
90. considered again at the meeting OF the Cen
irabor Union In Clarendon Hall yesterday. and
It, Harris chairman OF the Law and Legisla-
= connmittee and others. including Samuel Com
w president OF the American Federation OF
rr.sor made impassioned speeches on the subject.
-. Harris had copies Of several bills which have
- been presented TO the Legislature. among
- 60, one ty Assemblyman Baker and one by Sen
Ahearr. OF this city. lie said that Mr..
.,.-'s bin could not be too strongly condemned
y o-earized labor. Senator Ahearn's bill pro-
lad Tor che expectation OF prisOn-made goods TO
s,,th America and the hackers OF the bill had re-
Tod that organized labor was in favor of the
-o,s,t Mr. Harris denounced the report as lie.
"a he moved that the Central Labor Union so pro-
.o,nce IL. Ii was resolved that the secretary Of
.so Central Labor Union be directed 10 write 10
ssnstor Ahearn and Assemblyman Baker request
,,r them 10 withdraw their bills.
7. w9s reported that ten unions IN this city viii
.srs deecates 20 the hearing tomorrow. and the
central Labor Union appointed a committee OF
800 consisting of Daniel Harris, William :.
SBren and Edward Fitzgerald, 10 act IN eon)unc-
,on with them.
A. This iuncture attention was called 20 the fact
nat : muel GOmpers was ia the hall, and he was
INFESTED TO 90 the platform and make an al
drsss Mr. G0mpers said that whenever he was III
be city he felt in duty bound TO attend the meet
.ncs al the Central Labor Union In speaking on
No prison-labor problem Mr. Gompers said that
,rsnv people thought that there are only so" OF
~ c0rvlcts IL the States prisons their conlpeu-
.on could not amount 10 much against the inter
ss.s ~ outside workmsn. II wasn't that IL was
- s9ct that Il only 100 cOnvicts worked and pro
Svced an article which was sold IN the open mar,
T1fs 81 would set the price for that arucle ana
~.+si .a manufacturers would have 10 sell thtir
nroduce a. the same price "a the prlson-maoe
goods or else give up the business. Mr.. tonpers
ss54d that in one period OF the convict-aDor sys-
IN, II was q fact that men in certain trades We're
crested and sentenced TO long terms in The state
~risons Orener than men OF other trades. lie
ffnenlv charged that there was either an agree
roert o. n tact understanding between contractors
srd certain State officials that this should De me
rssa The prison labor problem could easily De Sc, =
,ie5 by keeping many OF the conVlcts AZ WorH
making goods used IN the prisons as possible; ahc
The others could be employed on the puphc hign-
WAYS All foreigners commented on me 1act that
,bila mis- country was far advanced in most
tbinrs the condition OF its public roads was CEN
tu-ies behind that OF the roads OF Europe