The evening star and Newark advertiser., 1907-09-14
FULL SCHOOL
DAY DEMAND
BY LABOR
Trades Council Makes 1t.
Objects to FreehOIderS'
Convict Labor Plan.

Opposition was sh own at the Essex
Trades Council meeting last night to
the decision of the Board of Freehold
ers to institute a system of convict
labor in the county, whereby a county
revenue would be derived from some
industry to be carried on by prisoners
in the penitentiary. AS has heen told
in the EVENING STAR the board de-
cided this week to make the prisoners
wcrk, and the handkerchief industry
met with favor.
The trades council will ask the Free
holders to reconsider the matter and
not to have put into effect the con-
tract system that had been decided
upon. The labor bo1y's objection is
because 1t would come under the
sweating system" whiqp to labor
means getting the most profit for the
| least possible cost to the manufacturer
The trades council decided to take
action on other matters, including a
demand on the Mayor and Board of
Education Cor full school dav for all
pupils, and a request for insertion in
the revised city charter that none but
naturalized citizens be allowed to work
on public buildings in the city.
II was suggested in the form of a
resolution that all :ity building con-
tracts should call for union labor, but
this resolution was not adopted, as in
some States it had been ruled that this
could not be made mandatory by, law.
Frank P. Freeman, of the Buffers and
Polishers, brought up the matter about the
full school day. He said that one of his
children who was attending the Charlton
Street School, had notice during the day
that hereafter pupils in the first grades
would only receive half-day's schooling
owing to the crowded condition of the
schoolrooms, and for further explanations
the parents were referred to the Board
of Education.
Mr.. Freeman said it was a shame that
children could not receive a full day $
schooling and that inquiries should be
made of the Mayor and the Board Of Edu-
cation as to why they should not He
said that If the members of the Board of
Education had got down to business earlier
In the year, instead of pickering over con-
tracts. there would be plenty Of school
room at the present. 1t was his opinion
that the city would be much better off
with a small appointive Board of Educa-
ton instead of the big unwieldy cleo
tive board, such as 1t Is now.
Delegate H. F. Hlfers brought UP the
question about the handkerchief contract
system to be introduced at the peniten-
tiary. He said that he wanted It to be
understood that he was not opposed to
giving the inmates plenty Of work. but
he was opposed to having them do it under
contract. which was a resurrection Of cid
slavery days. when slaves were driven to
their tasks by the lash of the whip.
He said that New York had abolished
tho contract system in all Of its prisons
and reformatories and that it should be
abolished In this State.
1--WE can. at least make an effort TO
have the Board of Freeholders not start
such a system at the renitentiary," sad
Mr.. IIilfers. "and it is for this Council
as the chief labor organization to protest
against its adoption
The municipal committee was instructed
to attend to the matter without delay.