New-York tribune., 1919-10-24
Prison Labor
Breeds Craft.
Experts Charge
and Profiteerine
at Expense of Inmates
Found by Committee of
A merican Association
Convention Tables Report
Some Members DissentFrom
Certain Features; Drugs
Discussed byDr. Hamilton

The industrial system in the prisons
OF the United States was denounced in
Il special report on prison labor pre-
scented yesterday at tho annual con-
gress of the American Prison Associa-
tion at the Hotel Pennsylvania. The
charge was made that politics, infu-
cnced by capital and labor, determined
state policy on prison labor, and that
20 per cent of the American penal in
stltutiops were making little attempt
to teach any useful occupation to their
inmates. Graft, favoritism and prof
lteering at the expense of the prisoner
were charged.
On the committee were Frank Moore,
superintendent of the New Jersey Re-
formatory, Railway, chairman; Amos
W. Butler secretary Of the State Board
OF Charities, Indianapolis; John L.
Whitman, Superintendent Of Prisons Of
Illinois, Springfeld; c. S. Reed, warden
OF the Minnesota State Prison, Still
water; Adolph Lewisohn, F. H. Mills,
of Philadelphia, and Colonel N. G. Os-
born, of New Haven.
When the report was tabled three of
the members of the committee, includ-
ing Mr.. Lewisohn, dissented from some
of its findings and recommen ndations.
Burdcttc G. Lewis, State Commits
Sloner OF Institutions and Agencies,
New Jersey, Joined in condemnation
of prison contract labor, but said the
, criticism in the report as to the state
use system did not aply to the sys-
tenn as in operation in New Jersey
System Unnatural
"The work of our prisons is still
thing of penance and rigorous drudg-
cry" said Mr.. Moore, in presenting
the report. at is not fatering to our
boasted civilization. Fully two thirds
OF our penal institutions do mt seri-o
ously and systematically attempt to
teach trade and our attitude toward
the prisoners is revengeful rather than
remedial About 81 per cent of the
institutions pay no wages. Our prison
labor system is an unnatural one and
there is g tendency toward a merce-
nary spirit"
The system Of the state hiring out
convicts to private contractors still
eXlss in five saes, said Mr. Moore.
Wages 10 prisoners, continued Nh
Moore, ranged from one and one-half
cents TO 81 day. In most states the
average was so cents. None Of the
county. jails has any system whereby
the prisoners are saved from idleness
and this was bad for health, purity and
honesty, he argued.
Thomas c. O'Bricn, deputy director
OF prisons Of M&ssachus sctts, opposed
the contract system because he said
the men We're tarmcd out and the
farmers made big fortunes al the ex-
pense Of free labor. This objection
could be met he said, by selling prison
made goods in q free market at a fair
market price.
Charles II. johnson, secretary Of the
New York State Board Of Charities
and former Deputy Warden of Siny
Sing Prison, spoke for the inmates.
some Of whom had written him they
were entitled to a reasonable propor-
ton OF the result Of their labor, good
food, clean. wholesome cells and trade
! plea for self government.
Hamilton on Drug Addicts
The drug addict WAS the subject Of
an address delivered by Dr. James A,
Hamilton, Commissioner of Correction.
f'c said the only salvation of the con-
trmed addict lies in~-institutional
treatment. He advocated uniform drug
laws throughout the country The
per capita consumption of drugs in the
, United States was ten times greater
than in any other civilized country, he
declared.
Advanced educational facilities in
penal institutions were urged by
Hobart II. TODD, superintendent Of
the State Agricultural and Industrial
School. New York. More than one
child had left an institution in worse
shape than when he entered it, be-
cause he had been given the wrong
kind Of work; he said
prison employment should quicken
the mind as we'll as train the hands"
declared j. M. Reynolds, Of Ossining,
speaking on welfare Work in Pris-
ons.' Giving the imprisoned man
an opportunity to develop his mental
activities through congenial work is
the germ in the seed Of reformation.
The state requires punishment by in
carceration. Why punish his family
also? The responsibility for this con-
dition lies mainly in that law which
prohibits the product Of convict labor
to be sold in the open market. Prison
wardens are losing their periudcc
against it; petty politicians a,c ear
ing to oppose it any longer and the
people are awaking TO the Justice of
! it,"
: The committee on prevention re-
ported that the evidence as to tu-
venIlc delinquency AS II result of the
war varied noticeably. In some cases
a. definite decrease was reported, al
though new dangers to the morals of
or young girls were found in the en-
ployment of women as elevator run
ners and messengers. The fear was
expressed that the decision of the
United States Supreme Court in de-
claring the child labor law uncousti-
tutional might react towards an in
crpnSp in i,1vrOilo Io1ipounrc.r