The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-01-26
Jefferson City Is Aroused Over In
vestigation of Contract Sys-
TEN in Penitentiary.
LEGISLATORS ON THE FENCE.
Some of Them Fear to Give Offense
Either Way They Take a
Stand Prison Now
Self-Sustaining.


Jefferson City. Mo-. Jar. J.-jeh'erson
City is considerably aroused over the ap-
preaching legislative investigation OF the
contract convict labor system in vogue at
the Penitentiary. According to the pro-
gramme announced. the investigation will
tomorrow and be pushed with
as much speed as possible.
A report was current about the capital to-
day tina the Senate Committee would con-
duct its investigation independent of the
House Committee. This was not the un-
derStanding when the Legislature ADJOURNED
Friday. Chairman seiph Of the House Com n,
conjunction with the Senate Committee. as
both were appointed for the same purpose.
opinion that any law the Legislature may
enact curtailing the present contract sys-
TEN will add a corresponding cost to the
maintenance of the institution. The earn
ings from this source amount to more than
$3.50, 900 a year, Notwithstanding the fact
that the State receives but 90 cents a day
1 The t esrn ,h1os make oa eaf the a nrtson seif-sustain-
ing. Two years ago the Legislature appro-
priated $50. 900 for support of the Peniten-
of an emergency Auditor Allen is authority
for the statement that not ! cent of this
money was drawn from the Treasury. Be
sides i !. the prison property IS worth 81
While the State officials disclaim any in
tention of trying to influence the lawmak-
nFs the sseY LeRs Gsha uG 'n abo dishes a the s eont 1aes
system 1t will nave to appropriate a very
large sum Of money to make good the
eausi' the in earnings earnings. ' They eo are w ali eau aioa
about what they say on the contract sys-
tenn. further than to state that 1t has made
to abolish It would make a big hole in the
States revenues. Evidently. the politicians
regard the question as being loaded. and
iieSIns are fha nan IL Wsui d Satn nn srsa' to care arouse use
the opposition of the labor organizations
These organizations are outspoken in con-
demnation Of the contract system.
CONVICTS EMPLOYED.
From a report submitted to the prison
inspectors yesterday by the Warden of the
victs employed by the eight firms holding
contracts for prison labor. The number Of
%convicts and the firms employing them fol-
low:
j. S. Sullivan Saddle Tree Company ISL
Gt;s ,sHssnss -hN .%snsb. ShSs SSGsp rSmnsnv II
l. s. Parker Shoe Company az
Haskins-Ross Manufacturing Company...... IS
Star Clothing Manufacturing Company. 81
The Star Clothing Company. as indicated
dition to the labor credited to 1t. the firm
employs about thirty-ive, female convicts
at 40 cents a day. The Hoskins-Ross firm
All together the shoe firms last week en-
ployed LIS convicts, showing that the bulk
of this labor is engaged in the manufacture
Of shoes. All the firms combined are not
under contract with the State to employ
quite 800 convfcts. but the prison officials
are usually able to furnish them all the ex-
ira labor they need. There are now ZOOS
male and 7e female convicts in the prison.
The advantage Of a firm not having too
many men contracted for is easily under
stood. The contracts all run for five years.
and during that! time the contracting firm
must pay 50 cents a day for the labor of all
the men called for in the contract. whether
they are employed or not. On the other
hand. when a contractor needs extra men
he can invariably secure all he wants. and
when his business does not demand the
services Of the extra men he can drop them
without mourning any more liability h
for the time they were employed.
Jefferson City people and the politicians
here from other parts Of the State regard
the present move by the Legislature as the
skirmish line Of an assault that will lie
made on the contract system. Few antici-
pate that a law will be passed abolishing
1t, but many think this Is the beginning OF
the end.
There Is a humorous side to the question.
n It is to note the painful attitude of
those who have great political hopes for the
future. They do not know Just what to do
or what to say. They do not want to offend
the partisans of either side OF the question.
and they entertain evil forehodings that
they will presently have to come down on
the fence.