Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-28
Prison Labor.

The constitutionality of the contract
system of convict labor, as practieed
in the state Of Rhode Island, is to be
tested in the courts. To secure an
opinion the National Committee on
Prisons and Prison Labor Is backing
an ex-prisoner in his suit against the
prison contractors for wage for his
labor while in prison. The COMMITTEES
hopes through this case to forward
the movement for the abolition of the
contract system of, convict labor, not
only in the state of Rhode Island but
throughout the country, and also to
show the right of the convict to re-
ceivs a fair wage for his iabors,
through which he can contribute to-
wards the support of his dependent
family.
The action of many states in plac-
ing those prisoners who can be trust
ed out to work on the roads Is in line
with this forword movement. On the
roads the prisoner can DO work which
has value great enough to permit the
payment of the wage. Iowa has
proved the plan practical; West Vir-
ginia, New Jersey. and other states
are successfully passing through the
experimental stage, while many more
states will enact legislation permitting
such work during the coming sessions
of the legislature.
1.-THE convicts working on the roads
in Iowa have a status differing from
that of the conviets in the prisons OF
practically all other states" said
George Gordon Battle, the distin-
guished New York attorney who ap-
peared on behalf of the committee.
I'm Iowa the men working on the
roads receive $3.50 per day for their
labor, they themselves paying for their
keep and clothing and being at liberty
to send the balance to their dependent
families. They are still under restric-
ton, but their right to wage lifts
them out of the slavery status into
that of state wards
"The condition of these Iowa con-
victs is in sharp contrast to that OF
the prisoners in Rhode Island. In the
latter state the labor of at least $50
OF the prisoners is let by contract TO
a firm of shirt manufacturers. The
state supplies the factory room, light,
heat, and power If necessary. and pays
for transportation of materials and
manufactured articles from and to
the railroad station. The contractor
supplies the machinery, material, and
necessary to keep these
prisoners employed, and pays the
state so cents for each dozen shirts
The prisoner is forced
to labor under the terms Of this con-
tract and receives no wage for his
la bor
1.-THE National Committee contends
that the condition of the prisoners
working under this and every other
prison contract is slavery; careful
study proves it analogous to the con-
dition of the negro slave before the
civil war, and in accord with slavery
as defined by the Supreme Court of
the United States.
Slavery is prohibited by the con-
stitution of the state of Rhode Island
without the exception as to punish
nent for crime found in the federal
and most of the state constitutions.
The committee therefore claims that
the statute authorizing the state
board of supply and control to let the
labor of the prisoners by contract is
In conflict with the state constitution,
and the contract therefore illegal"
We are sorry to see Maine SO far
behind the time in the care and hand
ling of those held in restraint by the
If the prisoners cam
not be made to earn some of that
81, 900 900 good roads money, they might
perhaps be employed to advantage in
a new States prison.