Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-06-06
THE LABOR IN
STATE PRISON
Public Hearing on EiII
hbolishing Contract Labor
by COnVicts Is HsId.
MEAN COSTLY CHANGES
Arguments on Both Sides
We're Heard by Govsrn3r
Wilson Yesterday.
cFron1 the NEWS correspondea,)

CFTop1 the NEWS Correspondent
Trenton, June 6:-Advocates and
opponents of Senator Osborne bill
abolishing contract labor at the
state prison and other penal institu-
ions presented their arguments yes
terday when Governor Wilson held a
public hearing on the measure. Sem
ator Osborne explained that a close
study had brought him to the con-
clusiOn that the contract system vas
a perniciOus one. He believed that
instead Of enriching the contra ctors
the state should benefit by having
goods for its institutions male in
the prisons and also allow a certain
percentage Of profit TO accrue t9 the
COnvict's family. He told Of the
success of the plan in New York.
Prison Inspector Dear, repr esent-
ing the inspectors, opposed the
measure because inadvisable. i'm
practical and a poor policy for the
state to advance" He believed it to-
be hasty and rather i'll advised Iegiso
lation and could not see that ig
would be advantageous to the statO
nor that the present. contract system
is injurious The change, he de-
sands of dollars and the question of
over-production he referred to as
serious matter. He asked how nu-
inequalities would be compelled to
buy, for an example, school desks II
the convicts should make them.
There is a division of opinion. he
declared, on the success of the nro-
posed system in New York and Ohio
and other states.
Thinks Opposition Sentimental.
Howard Marshal, of East Orange,
was present as a private citizen and
thought that as the bill had passed
on the last day of the Legislature it
had not been properly considered.
He believed the opposition to con-
tract labor more sentimental than
practical. He urged the veto on the
ground that system was to be
abolished and nothing advanced to
take It's place.
Prison Supervisor Kirkbride said
the measure would cost about s348,-
600 and enumerated the changes
which would have TO be made to at
the prison by enlarging bull 3ings
and purchasing machinery The
state would have to go into thirty
eight industries, including rug I--s-
ing and tfnware, to properly st : 5fy
its institutions, and thirty-five in
structors, at cost of at least
$4,000 a year and sixteen more
deputies would be required Cover
nor Wilson here interrupted and re-
marked that he did not see why Ii
would not be profitable for the state
if the contractors are able to make
money. Assemblyman Ford said
there were not instructors" a the
prison but "taskmasters" and Super
intendent Moore, of the RAILWAY Re-
formatory, would rather have the
men give their time to physical cuI-
ture and study than work in these
sweat shops"
Mr.. Moore said that if the prison
Is not adequate for the change the
sooner something is done TO make US
do something the better" Robert
Wellslager, representing the union
of potters, thought the bill a bad
one and asked that II be vetoed.
Joseph s. Beyers, of Newark, sacre-
tary of the State Board of Charities
Aid and Prison Reform, said the
present system had been "discredit-
ed" New York, he declared, is
making a profit from the new
scheme and is teaching seventy-fiys
valuable trades to its convicts-