The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-30

each prisoner In the eight counties heard
from, es carts per day.
To the question, "Do you favor the
employ ment Of prisoners on highways,
under Gel tain reatrictlons," Androscog-
gip, Kennebsc, Pspobsoot and Somerset
answered" No." Waldo. Oxford and Knox
said yea" while the snsrin OF Gum
berlAnd county wrota: "If 1t was to be
done BY contract, 1 should say no, and
1 am very dout tful OF it, expediency I'M
der any circumstances, as thsre would
be so many chances for gress abuse as to
food, care, Sta"
Gum berlAnd, Androsoogkin and Psnob-
SCOT already have the contract systsm in
their Jail workshops, which may possibly
have sSms influence In their attitude
against Il sting the men out Of these
shops; but tis fact remains that they
favor working these under their charge
In some manner.
Rr. Bangs then asked series Of ques-
tens. and proceeded to answer them In
accordance with his views on the sub1est.
Fir.t he asked; SIS 1t practicable u
allow any Libel ty or employment outstde
the Jail to prisonsys sentenced to oonnne-
ment?' he answered 1t 10 the Affirmative.
and qunted as authority the statement OF
Governor Stanley Of Kansas in favor OF
the parole system.
my personal observation" continued
Mr.. Bangs, "has been limited, and yet as
I sit at my desk opposite the Penobscot
jail, for nearly two years have ssen the
lawns cared for, and the sidewalks kept
men In striped suits under the direction
of one turnkey or 0verseer, and am IN
formed that for over two years the city OF
Bangor has depended largely upon the
Jail Tor Its crushed stone for macAdaMiz-
Ing Its streets, while the prisoners plead
for tn: opportunity to work In the stone
yard"
He then passed TO discussion of the
financial bearing Of the outsids employ
ment Of oonvicts. and its competition
with the free labor Of the State. am
informed" said he, THAT In York, Cum
bsrlAnd, Androscoggin and Penobscot,
contractors from out OF the State pay
certain sum per day for the labor CT the
inmates, who work without compensation
to themselves, except food aud clothes.
1t IL o solemn question what eifect this
system OF involuntary servitude must
have upon the MINDS OF men who are
naturally seeking an excuse for their own
forced loans, made possible under the
infiusnoe of great excitement or depraved
Continuing the discussion of this
phase OF the question, Mr.. Bangs said
that. II under the cont got system convicts
can be made profitable for those who buy
their labor, without any recompenss for
the prisoners themselves, the result OF
judicious division OF profits would be an
Increase OF their earning capacity, and
those who see clearly an ultimate goal
will be stimulated to constant sndsavor
toward final emancipation from forced
ssrvitude.
In this connection he praised the Crof.
ten system, which he declared embodtea
the highest type Of educational work yet
adopted In the elsv alton Of prison In
mates. "Ehall We" said he, deny to
men because they are behind prison bars.
the opportunity for climbing that golden
ladder let down from heaven TO ths whole
human Tace, the great inspiration OF all
human sfert in his lie, apa doubly 30
to these who have fslleu fecm the level
upon which they onos walked with the
best of usf Hope IL just % trgly es-
sential to the uplifting OF the fallen as
it IL to all free life"
Mr.. ZsnaI Thompson Of Portland fol-
lowed Col. Bangs vita an able article on
this subject. He disapproved Of the
present system of employing convict
labor In mechanical lines In competition