New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-27
REPORT ON PRISON LABOR.
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE MAKES KNOWN
ITS FINDINGS.
COMPETITIVE LABOR ovEREsTIMATED-
OPPOSED TO CONVICT WORK ON
ROADs-IDLENEss OF PRISONERS
DETAILED CONCLUSIONS.

DETAILED CONCLUSIONS.
Albany, April 26-F. r. Peterson, chairman.
handed in the report of the special committee OF
the Assembly Prison Labor to-day The follow
ing is synopsis
The resolution Of the Assembly appointing this
committee Instructed IL particularly to inquire into
the effect OF the present system OF convict labor
upon free labor. The report Of the committee first
dscloses that II has carefully inspected the work.
lngs OF convict labor In the State prisons at Au-
burn. Clinton and Sing Sing the Elmra Reforma-
tory and the penltentiaries at Buffalo. Rochester.
Syracuse New-York and Brooklyn The committee
has also heard testimony from all the principal
officials OF the State connected with the prisons as
we'll as that from large number OF representatives
Of labor organizations at Elmira. Buffalo, Syracuse.
Albany and New-York.
Upon the result OF these Inquiries the report OF
the committee dlscloses a remarkable diversity Of
opinion among the representatives OF labor organ
izatlons. Some leaders believe In the employment
of convcts in the construction OF roads others
bitterly opposed to IT. Some think that II IL ad-
vsable to teach trades and occupations to
victs others think It is not Some declare that the
question OF public taxation is not a factor to be
considered in the problem others consider II a
factor OF considerable Importance. The committee
found upon an exhaustive inquiry that plan
would satisfy all the representatives OF organized
labor.
wAGE-EARNERs SUFFER LITTLE.
The report makes strong showing that the
actual amount Of competitive labor In the prisons
is usually overrated An analysis is given Of the
labor performed in the prisons In the year ending
September 30, 1885, which shows that the earnings
Of the three prisons at Auburn. Clinton and Sing
Sing for the year were {3o,74s 50. and the aver
age daily earnings $3.50 90. The conclusion IL that
400 men. each capable OF earning 81 day. would
have produced the same results as all the convicts
in the State prisons engaged In competitive indus
tries. The conclusion Of the committee upon this
branch OF the inquiry Is follows: These results
lead inevitably to the conclusion that the wage
earners Of the State cannot, a whole. have felt
TO any appreciable extent the competition Of con-
Wet labor as II has been actually carried on dur
Ing the last year"
The financial results that the total cost Of
maintenance OF corvcts in the three prisons named
is sos 7O1 49, and the total earnings of convcts in
productive industries $780, 74S &c. The deficit to be
supplied by taxation is s37sOi2 A. To this is to be
added the expense OF the Emira Reformatory. s227,
oil o. making total amount to be paid by taxation
for the support OF the three prisons and the Re-
formatory OF s605 053 SO.
MANY CONVICTS IDLE.
A review OF the conditions in the six great peni-
tenaries OF the State leads to the conclusion that
these circumstances contain the most serious prob
lens now presented in regard to prisons. In most
OF the institutions the great bulk Of the convicts
idle and no effort seems to have been made by
the local authorities to change the situation: The
problems connected with the employment OF con-
ycts in the penitentiaries are difficult.
There is another treatise given on the question
OF road making by convicts, with the conclusion
that II is utterly mpracticable to any considerable
extent This conclusion Is supported by careful u
Auburn Is interesting In showing that the cost Of
three miles OF macadamized road, exclusive OF
convict labor was IS sS1 o. making a total cost a
mile for the road actually constructed OF about
hIa ood and he VIII NH m her
OF convict labor was 2s33. This shows that the
convict labor estimated at 81 80 a day was less
than % per cent OF the total cost OF this road
THE COMMITTEES CONCLUSIONS
The general conclusions of the committee are:
First-That the present system has not yet sue
ceeded in furnishing employment for all the con-
victs in the State prisons. Second-That the hnan-
cial results are as yet inadequate and unsatisfac
tory. Third-That the labor classes Of the state
are not at present suffering from the competition
OF convicts' labor the same Is carried on IN the
prisons and penal institutions Of the state Fourth
That the unsatisfactory results up TO the present
time will be in some degree alleviated by greater
experience and organization. tfth-That the prin-
chile OF the greatest diversihcaton OF industries,
coupled with complete supply for the special mar
ket for any line OF goods manufactured VIII pest
preserve the laboring classes from convict com
in the pententiaries and marketing Of the prod
ucts should be placed under the same control as
the industries in the State prisons SeventhLInaa
the cell systems Of the three State prisons should
be rebuilt by convict labor; and also that new
wall should be constructed at Sing Sing IN the
hibitng by legislative enactment the employment 1
of convicts upon certain industries should be as
system be carried out faithfully and without inter
ference II would demonstrate within few years
the wisdom of those who caused It's adoption am, ana
has e ~ before been employed in this State
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