New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-03
WORK FOR IDLE Conflicts.
BROOKLYN'S PARK COMMISSIONER
AGREES TO EMPLOY THEM
THEY WILL. BE USED on THE EAST SIDE LANDS
FORMAL. REQUEST MADE by THE

THEY WILL. BE USED on THE EAST SIDE LANDS
FORMAL. REQUEST MADE BY THE
CHARITIES COMMISSIONERS.
The fight of The Tribune to have the idle
prisoners OF the Kings County Penitentiary put
TO work on the East Side lands of Brooklyn
where they will not be taking work from honest
aborers. is won. The Charities Commissioners
yesterday formally requested Park Commits
sioner Dettmer to put some OF these men 10
work, and Mr.. Dettmer agreed To do 50. II was
about o'clock in the afternoon when Charities
Commissioner BurtIs drafted the following reso-
lutions:
Whereas. In consequence OF the amended Consti-
tuition of the State restricting the labor of criminals
In the state PRISONS and pententiarles TINS f'oaI ~
is unable to provide work for a large huinbsi VI
prisoners now confined IN the Kings County Peni-
ten:iary. and. 49,,
Whereas This Board Is OF the opinion that there
Is vast amount OF outside work 70 be done IN the
unfinished portions OF our parks for which there -
no appropriation OF money and further pssVG nn'
and that 1t could not conflict with or restrict iree
labor whether in organized industries or Otherwise
Resolved. That this Board represent TO the Com
missioner Of Parks the serious condition OF our ris-
oner' for whom this Board has TO employment. and
tender 10 him the LABOR OF al snch without mo an!
standing that the place and Oh irarter Of the work
to be done shall be approved by this Board and that
while so employed. but that the general direction
and planning OF the work shall be under the charge
OF the Park Department
Mr.. Burtis handed the resolutions TO his col
league. Commissioner Henry, who read them and
and said: These have my approval. Let us
hold q meeting at once" The two Commission
ers then formally met in special session and
adopted the resolutions unanimously. Adolph
Sims. jr. president Of the Board. and the only
remaining member. IS in Europe
Mr.. Burtis, having learned that Park Commits
soner Dettmer had returned home yesterday at
went to his house and presented the original
copy OF the resolutions 10 Mr.. Dettmer. MI.
Dettmer had previously informed Mr.. Burts
that he would comply with such request ana
again said that he would be glad TO put the
prisoners at work, but only at such work for
which there was no Appropriation and no likeli-
hood Of appropriation.
After some conference Messrs. Burtis and
Dettmer agreed that it would be wisest to make
a start on the East Side lands which are just
across Flatbush-av from Prospect Park. Mr..
Dettmer said that he would at once instruct his
engineer 10 lay out the work to be done. owing
to the fact that Warden Hayes Will attend
convention for the next three days. II will proba-
bly, be three or four days before gang or prls-
oners Is actually at work improving this park
site, but the preliminary work will begin to-day.
A force Of prisoners will tear down the sheds
which have been used for storage purposes by
the firm that had the contract for making
chairs with prison labor. These sheds VIII be
be used as a shelter for the men during rain
storms. and place to store tools.
1t has been thought wise to begin the work
with quite small force, probably not more than
twenty men. AS these men learn their duties.
and as additional shovels. picks and wheelbar-
rows are procured the number of prisoners will
be increased from day to day. The men will be
watched by special guards and Will not be
changed. They short time men. and used
to being at work outside of the penitentiary
walls and no fear is felt whatever that they will
escape 1t has been the experience of the past
that the few who have escaped have been easily
caught again. and such man loses his commu-
tation for behavior.
Commissioner Henry is now enthusiastically
in favor Of giving the prisoners wholesome en-
ployment as is Commissioner Burtis He said
yesterday:
AS long as it doesn't interfere with honest la
Dor am in favor OF the men being put To
work on the park lands | shall not alter my
mind until it Is proven that honest labor VIII
suffer More suffering will he brought about by
the manufacture of brushes. brooms and other
articles which come into competition with honest
labor than any bank digging can create Inc
men are better working on the unimproved park
lands than they are in their cells doing nothing.