Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-15
SURVEY OF
THE WORKHOUSE
Continued from page 5

y
nsinu automobile trucks for transporting
your men this radius could easily be ex-
tended TO ten miles, including the city
Of Wilmington, If desirable.
The workho,lse is county institution
and the interests of the county road de-
nartmcnt and the workhouse ought to
bc rommon. Let the county make an
appropriation for road construction and
rena;rs. an amount somewhat less than
Il woula cost TO do the work with free
labor: then let the work be done by the
workho,lse. an exactly the same standards
as 10 quality which would be required
from an ordinary contractor. Let the
workhouse be paid for the work at its
actual value. The county road fund will
not lose dollar, and the workhouse will
self-supporting, and at the same time
provide n surplus to be used in caring for
their immediate families.
understand that there is some question
AS to the suitableness of the stone taken
from your quarry for road construction.
That question should be determined
by scientific tests, and. IL it proves to he
unsuitable, investigationshould be made to
ascertain whether suitable quarry can
be found within convenient distance.
INDOOR INDUSTRIES.
II is very desirable that there should
he some suitable indoor industries for the
employment of long torn prisoners whom
YOU do not feel free to work outside the
walls, and for the employment of any
surplus of short term prisoners for whom
YOU cannot find outdoor employment.
The contract labor on the manufacture
of pants and overalls on which the prison.
ems arc now engaged is very undesirable
II is unremunerative. Men are earning
20 cents per day who could easily earn
50 or $3.50 per day at road making or
farm work. Ii is uninstructive. The
men learn nothing which will be of any
service TO them IN getting living outside.
IL is work unsuitable for men. Running
power sewing machines on goods of this
class is work suitable for women. II is
uninteresting. The man has no interest
except 10 perform his daily task, and the
work is such that many men are not
adapted TO IL and can perform only a
moderate task. In order to avoid parti-
ality the tasks are set so low that many
prisoners can perform them in half time
while Others require full time. This
however. unavoidably results in partiality,
because che quick and ready men have
time for extra work at which they can
earn wages fo themselves.
The chief objection to this work is the
universal and not unreasonable prejudice
of the labor men against contract prison
labor. This feeling is so strong and so
general that it. has driven the system out
of all but Is states of the Union. and has
greatly diminished the amount of il
in most of those states.
The generally accepted substitute for
the contract system is the state use sys-
tenn, whereby the prisoners are employed
IN manufacturing articles for the use of
the state or its political subdivisions
counties, cities and school districts
Under this system the prison manufactures
office desks, school desks, furniture,
clothings. wagons, harness, utensils, rugs.
and what not, for the use of Offices. schools.
insane hospitals, hospitals for the sick,
institutions for children, and so forth.
Ii is doubtful whether the state use system
could be successfully operated In state
with only 225, 900 population, and with
prison containing only 320 prisoners
] would suggest that the board of tr,ls-
tees take tins matter up with representa-
tives of the labor unions and representa-
tives of the manufacturers, and endeavor
to agree upon some form of indoor industry
which will be acceptable TO the labor
interests, both employers and employees,
and will commend itself to your judgment
ss practical proposition which can be
operated without loss to the country.
] have been surprised to find that the
representatives OF organized labor were
disposed TO discuss this question fairly.
While they are bitterly opposed TO the
contract system, | have never found n
labor man who believed that prisoners
ought to be kept in ideness; and as |
understand their position, they are willing
that products of prison labor should
be sold, provided that the prisoners are
compensated at ordinary wages for work
of the same valuie, and provided the goods
are sold at the regular market price.
believe that YOU would reap distinct
by calling IN the assistance of
working men and employers TO agree upon
q working plan. 1
WAGES r0R PRISONERS
NV study and observation OF prison
labor for 81 years has convinced me that
the solution Of tho prison labor question
for such q prison as yours Is to be found:
First, in the organization of your prison |
labor along the lines which YOU have es-
tablished in the Delcastle Farm: Namely. i
to do q first-class job. Just as good as can /
he done anywhere; second, III the pro-
duction of first-class results, like your I
milk product, equal in quality to the best /
third, by finding way 10 /
create such a spirit IN the prison tnat the /
prisoners themselves viii enlist heartily /
in this effort.
] have found that the most powerful /
incentive that can be applied is the
allowance to the prisoner OF wages
which he may be permitted 10 use ftr the
support of his family or for his benefit
IN case he has no family. This is not new
it has been tried out for
many years
In Minnesota, IS years ago, the
prisoners were allowed wages, for every
laws good time earned, at the rate paid
~ the contractor. which was then So cents
,er day. This gave the prisoner, if be
armed all of his good time, about 500
,cr month, or S32 40 Der year. This small
mount was a great incentive TO good
ondnct and industry The warden said to
ne: ''The good time money governs the
,rison."
In MINES a. at the present time,
wages are allowed To risoners both IN
he ST te reformatory and the State
,rison. IL the refornlatory the allowance
S from ten TO fifteen cents per day In
he State prison it is from fifteen cents
o 81 30 per day. lReport OF Warden
:. 5. Reed, 1919
The State Of New York allows its
onvicts the generous wage of one and
me half cents per day; but fines them
twenty-five cents per day for misconduct.
The Alabama penltentlary owns q |