The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-08
LEGISLAT COMMENT
CONVICT LABOR-II,
By LEWIS H. MACHEN.

The action OF the Senate Committed
on Public Institutions and Education IL
adopting the report OF the subcommit.
{ ice IN reference to the hiring OF con.
| victs would seem to indicate tibet tn,
pLeslslature will not ut this session dc
| away with the contract labor system
! 1t Is true that the proposed plan OF
leasing not more than 500 prisoners fol-
not more than 1--WE years Is Il consid.
erable modification of the old method
OF hiring all indefinite number on q
twenty-year contract. The opponents
OF the old system will at least win a
| SUBSTANTIAL, though not sweeping vic
tory.
The arguments OF those who contend
that It VIII be wise to hire certain
nunbe" OF the prisoners do not lncii
plausioiilty. II Is pointed out that Il
large perc sntage of them are not avail.
nbic FOR service on the public rouds. by
reason OF their not being sufficiently
trhctuble. not few being obviously
desperate. The women, of course arr
not adapted to road labor. IL is ais
argued that the state has a vast amount
OF money invested in the penitentiary
which is specially suited Ia u contract
system; that tile penitentiary force has
been organized with that end in view,
ana IL would necessarily rcvolutionize
'oHuIuoilS lnefe TO give w the mira c [
system abruptly.
Unuucstionably the idea OF coll,ciin..
{. regular and certain revenue by a con-
tract appeals to some of the lawnal lers
with greater force than the PROSPECT
or the indirect and indefinite henens
TO be derived by the State from employ
ing all of the convicts In WORK of a
public nature. The State treasury is
by no mans in a plcthoric condition.
In.
would be- Reluctantly abandoned
Many OF those Legislators who will
vote for tho making of some kind OF
a contract believe that such system
is Fundamentally wrong and that it's
days are numbered. yet further think
that IT would be too radical II departure
TO give 1t up wholly and Mt once. On
the other hand. 1t is argued with much
force that IF system is wrong 1t
should be given up Immediately: that
1t 10 question OF principle, which does
not admit OF compromise. They say
that organized labor Is right in main
tanning that II should not be subject
In amy degree 10 competition with
prison labor. aud that TO reduce the
number OF convicts to be hired is mere
ly to salve a cancer that should be
cut out by the roots. 1t Is also said
that much Of the pressure brought to
hear In favor of n contract is from
interested sources that do not coneider
the welfare OF the prisoners nor the
higher and broader interests of the
state, and that the old evils. which
have been the subject of so mich COM
plant, Will, to some extent at least.
continue to exist.
Public sentiment in regard to the
treatment Of prisoners has undergone
a grsat and significant change in ro-
cent years. It is becoming more ana
moro recognized that the end TO be at
tanned is the reformation rather than
the punishment Of offenders: that the
word ponitcntiary means n place where
n man may become penitent OF his un
lawful actions. and that the deterrent
forcE of punishment IS secondary
consideration. Increasing efforts
therefore, are being made by humane
treatment and kindllnss, 10 work be-
neicent change In the character OF
prisoners SO that when the time comes
for them 10 return into society again
they may be softened rather than hard
ened, and take UP the broken threads