The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-19
SAYS LAW is VIOLATED
Convict. Make Goods Are Sold With.
out License.
SAYS THAT STRAIGHT TRADE IS HURT
Penitenliaries at Albany, Raleigh and Weathers'
field Have Contracts With Houses ia New
York. Output Sold at 0ne-Fourh
Less Than Cost.

For some time there has been oppo
sition developing among labor organi
cations to the manufacture of shirts
and mattresses in the penitentlary
here by convict labor.
Now some of the New York papers
have taken the matter up and arc
making it warm for the dealers il
convict-made goods.
The Commercial New York's Oldest
newspaper, had this to say yesterday
in regard to the matter. under the
heading Prison Shirts on Honest
Mem"
There is said to be little doubt that con-
vict-made shirts are sold largely on the
New York market, and that hrms sell
ing them are doing so in direct violation
of the State law The matter has been
called to the attention of the State Com
missioner of Labor Statistics, and an in
vestigation has been begun by him, which
may end i'm the conviction of some of the
alleged offenders The department has
evidence to prove that the head Of one
firm admitted on the witness stand that
his firm was selling shirts made in a
pcnitentiary.
There is no law in New York to pre-
vent the selling Of convict made goods
but there is law which makes it neces-
sary for dealer in goods made by con-
vict labor to take out license.
LICENSE MUST BE POSTED
Such license shall be kept conspicuous
ly posted in the place OF business of such
license.
The law also provides that the Commits
sioner Of Labor Statistics shall enforce it's
provisions; shall investigate every case
where there is a supposed violation and
shall place any evidence obtained before
the District Attorney. Violation of this
law is a misdemeanor.
Governor Roosevelt personally called
the attention of the Labor Bureau to the
alleged violation of the law by New York
shirt houses The department, while it
has taken no action to begin criminal
proceedings, is said to have much damag-
ing evidence.
There are only few penal institutions
in the country where shirts are made.
Most of the total output is said to be sold
in New York. Inmates of the penitentiary
at Wethersfield, CT. make shirts. SO do
those of the North Carolina penitentiary
at Raleigh and the Virginia Reform
School for Boys. 1t is asserted that all
zoe have contracts with New York
firms, and that no license has been taken
cut for the sale of convict made shirts
in this State.
INJURIES THE PECULIAR INDUSTRY.
Shirtmakers who have their goods made
outside prison walls say the firms handling
the convict made stuff have an advantage
over them hard to overcome. 1t costs
about So a dozen to make the ordinary
shirt that is seen in the shop windows
including the cuffs. The same shirt, how
ever, is made in the penitentiaries OF
North Carolina for 80 cents dozen, Oh
tached cuffs.
This cost does not include washing and
starching. Those processes, 1t is stated
are done at Albany by prison laborers.
The attention of the District Attorney S
office also has been called to the viola
ticn of the law in this city. 1t is not pos
sible for that office to take action until
evidence is presented. The District At
torney declares that any evidence pre-
sented by the State Labor Statistics Blu
rau will be acted upon promptly.
The law has been violated openly since
it went into effect" said well-knoWn
shirt manufacturer lone firm had a