Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-02-12

breakers. His arrest and conviction has
cost the State money. His incarceration
is paid for out OF the taxes.
lin order, then, to pay the State for the
expense incurred through his actions,
ne ought to be compelled to work for
the interests of society whom he has
wronged. To teach prisoners a trade is a
laudable purpose, but they hre not always
able to pursue that trade when free. Some
cannot be taught or will not be in the
short sentences under which they serve.
Their efforts injure certain classes OF free
labor, while their products may create
havoc on the market. Since every crime
is against public welfare and happiness it
is only proper that the criminal should be
engaged in work which will be OF benefit
to the public. And such work is work on
highways. He will compete with no spec
ial class Of labor and the product OF his
work-the Improvement of roads-will be
OF great value to the public or state he has
wronged.
''Some OF the objections to convict labor
on roads are as follows:
"u) That the employment of convicts and
county prisoners would be unjust to free Ia
bor
"t2) That large force of guards would be
required to prevent the conyicts from escap-
ing and some of them would have to he
shot.
go That 1t is demoraiizing to the convicts
to employ them publicly and also demoraliz-
ing to the people at large. But these obiec-
tfnpS hav mt haau al
convicts have been so employed.
Regarding the first objection, we may
say that it is not very serious one.
Surely it is more to the advantage of the
people at large to have the highways i'm
proved for them than to pay taxes both
for these improvements and for the sup
port OF the criminals besides. Every mile
OF improved or we'll maintained road is a
great asset to any locality. Convict labor
has in most cases proved very satisfactory.
In some cases, the prisoners do as much
work as well and as efficiently as the free
laborer.
"rhat large number OF guards would
be necessary to prevent escapes is con-
trary to experience. First OF all, the
dangerous criminals ought not and are
not to be used where escape is more easy.
In the event of recapture-and recapture
should be made absolutely certain an
additional sentence may be imposed o,
the offender may be curtailed in his privi-
leges. Inducements as the shortening OF
the sentence for efficient work and good
department. In some cases, no prison
guards have been sent with the men,
though a foreman directing the work is
present; also in another case the prisoners
none abused the privilege. With county
prisoners se need have no fear, but, as
to State convicts, none should be per-
mitted on the roads, who might cause
trouble and do harm.
"The following excerpts from a report
OF Thomas j. lyman, warden of Colorado
state penitentiary, are interesting and in
structive:
"'When the writer assumed charge in 1903
he was impressed that II an appeal was made
to the best in them, better work could be done
and with this In view the honor system was
soon established, with unarmed guards and
overseers, and stripes were abolished with the
result that the quantity and quality of the
work doubled and trebed in short order. In
the past three years, the prisoners have
earned over s30o.ooo to the taxpayers on the
road work. We have four camps Of fifty men
throughout the state.
1.-THE average daily cost to feed a man was
but thirty cents, while the average daily cos,
OF feeding, oversight, salaries, etc., was about
fifty cents per day per man, and for this sum
each prisoner performs good % day
work. Our men work more faithfully and
with more zeal than the common laborer
would because Of the following special incen-
tives: Outdoor life, sunshine, better cloth
ing, better food, more privileges than in
prison and houses for good department and
Jealous work AS to effect Of such work upon
the health and character of the convict, can
not speak too highly. Their morals have i'm
proved wonderfully, for when a man keeps
his word of honor, he has taken genuine
stride toward reformation.
scout OF ZOO individual men, the percentage
of escapes is less than one per cent. With an
average Of 100 men, we have built over 100
miles of road in 1911, and by next year, we
hope to have saved for the State over $500 900
for these two years.
"What better Testimony is needed to
show the stupendous results derived from
such procedure?
sin view of the report from Colorado
and Their states, one must admit there is
no demoralizing effect on the convict or
on the public by this labor. II the uni
forms are not striped but simple in color
after the first novelty OF seeing convicts
labor wears off, no objection will be
raised against it. In fact, every benefit is
derived therefrom, the prisoners will
become better mentally, morally and
bodily, while their work will be OF in
calcuIa BILE value to the state.
sit is, therefore, urged that, in passing
new highway law, as seems to be the
purpose of the legislature, this phase of
the road question should be considered.
Proper provisions should be made for the
employment of county prisoners as well
az State couyicts ON our roads. We will