The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-09

of the board of managers OF the State
Prison and of the Reformatory, requesting
them all TO give the subject thought, gath
er information and offer suggestions as
how best to solve the problem. few
weeks ago the matter was discussed in
conference with me by all the said repre-
No satisfactory substitute for
the present system was decided upon. Ii
is question of large proportions, ana
many elements enter into it, | submit for
your consideration the following report
from the Board of State Charities
THE question of convict labor is one OF
the several features of the prison prob
lem. The purpose of prison Is TO pro-
tect society by confining the prisoner and
to reform him If possible. Work is one of
the necessary things with which he must
be supplied. Other essentials are food,
water, clothing, shelter and medical treat
ment.
THE solution of the convict labor prob
lem in so far as il relates to Indiana is one
which is now pressing. The contracts at
1904; those at the Reformatory through the
spring and early summer of 1906. 1t is i'm
perative. then, that the coming Legislature
shall settle this question in so far as 1T re-
lateS to the State Prison. Under the pres
ent law no more contracts for convict la
Dor can be made What shall we do?
There are three recognized systems for
the employment of convicts-the lease sys-
tenn the contract system and the public &C
count system. The two latter are each
represented by two different types. The
lated wage per day at agreed price
for each piece of work done. The latter is
called the piece price plan. The public &C
count system is also conducted in two
ways. In one the convictS worked by
the State, which furnishes the capital and
disposes of the, product to the public the
tenn is generally termed state account
The other is a more restricted form, in
which the State employs the men in it's
own factories and furnishes the capital,
but restricts the sale of the product to the
public institutions and political divisions of
the commonwealth.
THE lease system is that which is in
vogue principally throughout the South.
The convicts are leased to the highest bid
der, who may or may not furnish officers
to guard them. They are largely employed
upon public works and plantations. The
abuses of the lease system have been no
torious, and the sentiment of the people is
becoming aroused to the undesrab ility of
having convicts employed publicly under
the gaze OF all passing until one State after
another is abandoning this system. At
tempts have been made in States in the
North to employ convicts upon roads and
other public works, but this has uniformly
proven unsatisfactory. The inclement
weather, the expense of transporting, hous-
ing and guarding the men and the fact that
1t is contrary to public sense to have per-
sons in the convict garb exposed to public
view, as we'll as local protests against their
employment for various local reasons, have
all combined to render such use of the con-
ployment is degrading rather than uplift-
ing:
Different States have at one time or an
other tried the public account system. In
few institutions it has proven fairly salts
factory. but generally it has not. Illinois
tried 1t Tor number of years, and the
legislative committee appointed to investi-
gate the system reported loss during the
four years and five months management
of $314,212. The committee further said: 1t
would be measure of economy for the
Sfnfn 70 fnn1
victs by direct appropriation and leave
the labor unemployed rather than to engage
In manufacturing. 1t is our understanding
that the state prison of Minnesota has two
1ndustries-one the manufacture of binder
Irvine, run on public account. the other the
manufacture of shoes contracted on the
piece price plan. This institution has been
in good hands and has been successful
financially. We are informed that Kansas.
North Dakota and Canada each tried the
manufacture of binder twine on public ac-
count; that the results have not been so
satisfactory in any of these cases, and that
Canada has decided to quit the business.
Warehouses in Cleveland, Toledo and else
where have been conducted on the public
account plan with greater or less success
financially. In Massachusetts, under the
public account system, the prisons and re-
for form manufacture goods which are
sold first to the institutions of the State,
and any surplus may be disposed of to the
public. New York has adopted the state
use system, which has been in operation for
facture goods for the use of the institu-
tions and lesser divisions of the State. They
can sell to no one else.
1.-THE system was experimental in New
York. AT first there were objections from
some of the labor interests to the prisons
doing certain kinds of work, which resulted
in the typographical unions securing an
amendment to. the law prohibiting them
doing much OF the public printing. In the
attempt TO frame law to establish a
theoretical thing, without any pervious ex-
1 cr1Iid vSafc olync a.
as was to be expected, and limitations and
restrictions were imposed which interfered
with the proper operation of the law.
While amendments have been made, and
it Is yet, after five years operation, vari-
Ously reported as satisfactory or unsatis-
factory, depending upon the persons from
whom the information is received, those
who have investigated the system as illus
| trated there do not feel yet like giving
| 1t their approval. Even if it should work
out fairly satisfactorily under definite
| law, by persons who are continued in office
| sufficiently long to establish a satisfactory
| system, they feel there is the continual
| danger of the opposition of any labor in
| terest which may feel itself aggrieved, OF
| of politicians to secure desired end, or OF
| amendments to the law which would SER
| iously interfere with its success.
1.-The other side of the question is that
| of those in charge of institutions which are
| supplied with these prison made goods
Almost uniformly they are strong in theil
criticism of the law, stating, it is said
| cost more than they would if bought or
| the market; that delays long and fire.
! quent, and that at times when goods are
| received they are not what is desired. 1t i:
| said that the unfortunate public wards who
| are cared for in other institutions, are dis
eliminated against by the operations Of
| this system.
| THAT in use in Massachusetts, seems t.
| be the most satisfactory of the public &C
| count system. 1t will be we'll for us Il
study 1t in connection with the New Yorl
plan, and, possibly from them both w,
| may learn something that will be to oul
| advantage
| 1.-The existing law in Indiana so far a.
| the State Prison is concerned, restricts tn,
half the population, the number on any on,
| contract to one hundred, and the time t.
| eight hours a day. 1t is perhaps the bes
| effort at restricting the contract system
| that has been attempted. The condition.
| existing in our State are more satisfactory
| we are informed by students of the labo
| problem than in any of our surroundin;
| States. With the end of the contracts a
| the Reformatory at Jeffersonville, the Law
providing for the proper education an,
| training of the young men in that insti
tuition should be fully enforced. This viii
keep them employed. and at the same tim
| teach them that by which they can earl
| their living when they go forth, an,
| further. will relieve the institution of tn
| evils of the contract system. No reform
| atory can do it's proper work and have it
| inmates employed upon contracts. There
| fore, the only serious question that come
| before us at this time Is the best metho
| of employment at the State Prison. Inas
much as there has been no satisfactor,
solution of the convict labor problem an
as certain States are experimenting in tina
1t-A4 10 A.