Evening star., 1900-04-25


case the Objectionable features Of the sys-
TEN had been eradicated, as far as posi-
Bile, by stringent laws. rules and fnspec-
tons, and In all but two OF the states
Florida and Louisiana-the convicts were
also worked under other systems in con-
nection with the lease system. In the states
where the system is in vogue the authori-
ties are practically unanimous In Its con-
demnation, and excuse its use by stating
that 1t appears to be the best that can be
adopted under the present conditions.
Systems That Are Objectionable.
The contract, piece-price and public-ac-
count systems are all Objectionable, from
an industrial standpoint, chiefly because
under them the products OF convict labor
are sold in the open market and enter into
competition with products Of free labor.
During the year 1898 the contract system
was used in twenty-four states, the piece
price system in ten states, and the public
account system in thirty states. Fifteen of
the states using the contract system also
used the public-account system, and all but
two Of the states using the piece-price sys-
tenn also used the public-account system
Therefore, of the various schemes devised
for the employment Of convicts with the in
tentton of deriving revenue from such work
the Dublic-account system Is in the most
general use.
The growth Of the public-aeeount system
and decrease in the contract and other sys-
TENS is indicated by the following informa-
ton taken from the bulletin Of the depart
ment of labor. This statement has refer
ence only to the penitentiaries and prisons.
Since its preparation there have been ma
terial changes in some of the states; for
instance. in New York, where goods to the
value of 81 .999 769. OF were produced under
the piece-price system in 1885. the use Of
that system has been discontinued and the
convicts are now engaged, exclusively, in
the manufacture of goods for the use of the
state and its institutions.
Value of Prison Goods.
Summary of value of goods produced or
work done by systems of work, 1885 and
1895:
rnSIe account o1 M0sE System. 21s
Contract system l7,o71 $3.50 s19o, 7sa. 20
Piece price system.. 81 l @ soS2 $1ae ass ss % q
Totals. 81, I'll 29 $40 o42, 472. .33
By this brief table one can note the gen
eral changes in values. Under the public
account system there were produced in the
United States in 1885 goods to the value of
81, ,O63 ,S92 Is, but under this system in 1895
there were produced goods to the value of
S4,SSS, ,563 36, being an Increase of more than
100 per cent This system has become more
popular in recent years, hence the increase.
Looking the next line We find that under
the contract system there has been a de-
crease of about 50 per cent, the decrease be-
ing from $l1,071 ,215 go to SS, 1870, 799. 70 This
system 6he contracD has become offensive
during the past few years, and legislatures
have sought to change their plans from
that either to the public account system
to the piece price system; under the latter
the value of goods has increased from ST.
4s4,25O.52 in 1885 to So 795, 4S2 2i in 1895, an
increase of over 1J0 per cent Under the
lease system the values show the effect Of
agitation in the southern states, where that
system more generally prevailed In 1885,
for there the value Of goods produced
work done decreased from s3,G51 $3.50 to 81
161 ,t26. O3 in 1895, decrease of 40.6 per cent.
But the totals show great change, the de-
crease being from 80, ,271 ,07S. 80 in 1885 to
S19,042, ,472.33 in 1895, decrease of 21.5 per
cent.
A Popular system.
The popularity of the public account sys-
tenn is due to the fact that under 1t the
prison is better adapted to accomplishing
the end for which it was designed, namely,
the punishment and reformation of the
criminal. and also because the state has
complete control Of the products of the la
Dor of the criminal.
The adoption of the public account sys-
tenn is the first step In the direction Of the
oner and his labor. The reasons why the
system has not been put in general use, to
the exclusion Of all others, are that under
1t the products of convict labor sold in
the open market in competition with the
products of free labor. and it's adoption has
almost invariably resulted in financial loss
In order to obviate these objections laws
have been adopted providing that the work
OF the prisoners should first be directed to
the production of articles and supplies for
their own support. and the care and main
tenance of the buildings in which they are
confined. Practically all of the states now
have laws to this effect. and In many Of
them the prisoners are also engaged in
manufacturing supplies producing agri-
cultural products for the use of other in
stitutions.
Maintenance of Prisoners.
The two great sources of expense of pris
ons are the support of the prisoners and
the maintenance Of their Imprisonment. The
experience of prison industry has been that
when employed in productive work the con-
victs earn enough to support themselves,
but, with few exceptions, not enough to
pay the cost of imprisonment The employ
ment of convicts in producing articles for
their own support. to that extent, relieves
the state from the necessity of entering the
open market either as a seller or producer
of goods to be used in connection with its
convict system.
After a careful consideration Of the sub
ject in all of its phases as presented in nu-
merous reports, of the testimony and rec
concentrations that have been submitted, Of
the present systems of employing conV1cts.
and the conditions that have eliminated in
the adoption of those systems the commits
sion feels warranted in arriving at ,he
following conclusions:
First. That provision should be made in
the laws of each state for the employment
of all prisoners in productive labor.
Second The state should have absolute
control of the care, punishment, reforma-
ton and employment of the prisoners, as
well as the disposition of the products of
their industry.
Third. The employment of prisoners In
productive labor does, of necessity, result
In competition of some character with Tree
labor and industry.
Fourth. The employment Of prisoners with
the intention of producing revenue either
for the state exclusively or for private in
dividuais or corporations and the state
Jointly, tends to the greatest competition
with free labor.
Prisoners Producing Revenue.
Fifth. That a system of employing pris-
cners for the purpose Of producing revenue
has a tendency to detract from the puni-
tive, reformatory and disciplinary features
Of the prisons.
Sixth. The employment of prisoners in
the production of supplies for. the mainten-
anee of state, county and municipal insli-
tutions and the support Of the inmates Of
the same, or in work on the puDIi,. build
ings or roads, tends to the least direct COM
petition with free labor
Seventh. Of the various systems for en,-
VII Ntr,tr f1t0