Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-15

4
each day in order to increase the product,
and offered to pay them 81 per week extra
for the twelve hours overtime. The prison.
eIs cheerfully accepted this proposition,
| and when ] was there they were working
thirteen and one half hours per day in the
month OF August The president of the
! Prison Board stated that the effect upon
the industry Of the prisoners had been so
favorable that il was his intention 10 con-
tinue the bonus after the hours should be
| again reduced
| In Washington county, Vermont, Sheriff
! +. II. Tracy has been accustomed to IND
| employment for his county prisoners,
| serving sentence, with neighboring farm
ers. The farmers have paid from Sl.io TO
80 per day for the labor OF the prison
! ers, OF which 81 was deducted by the
| sheriff for the board and care Of the prison.
ers, and the remainder went to the prison.
er for his own use or for the support oil
his family. There has been very little COM
plant rs to incfficiency. The prisoners
have earned their way and when their
terms expired they had no difficulty in
obtaining remunerative employment.
A similar plan has been pursued for
several years in Windham county, Con-
necticut, where prisoners from the county
Jail have been employed in gangs of 10 or
IL on farms or on excavations and other
rough labor for contractors. This labor
was paid for at the rate Of $3.50 per day
TO the county, which made no allowance
for the prisoner; but the contractors volun-
tarily gave the prisoners 50 cents per day
for their own use, making a total payment
of 81 per day.
At Dayton, Ohio, the city manager, as
Director OF Welfare has been accustom-
ed TO find employment for prisoners in the
city workhouse TO work in factories or
for individuals. The prisoners earn the
same wages as free laborers and are given
their entire wages, without deduction for
board and care. j enclose herewith for
your information a copy OF report made
TO this Office by the city manager IN
October, 1918, in which he states that
employment is found through the Free
Labor Exchange" and other agencies,
that the prisoners return each night and
sleep in the prison, travelling on foot or IN
city cars; that they earn regular wages;
that they have frankly taken II up with
the Union Labor and secured their sup
port" that employers cooperate heartily,
and that the city authorities and the
public generally approve the plan.
In the State OF Wisconsin State law
was adopted requiring county sherlffs to
find employment for their prisoners at day
labor utside the Jail. The plan is success
ful in some counties and Is a dead letter IN
Others depending upon the interest and
efficiency OF the sheriff.
In your own State employment has
been found for prisoners from the Kent
and Sussex Jail and from your own prison.
! understand that YOU have allowed the
prisoners so cents per day from their
wages, and that they have been able 10
earn equal wages with free labor.
The State of Maryland ls at work at the
present time on a plan for working its
prisoners on the State-ise plan under
which the prisoners are to receive wages,
which viii start at about 80 per cent OF the
standard rate of wages for free labor with
the expectation that, as soon as the in
dustries are properly established, the
prisoners will be paid at the same rate as
free laborers, for equal work, and that the
prisoners will be charged with the cost of
their care and maintenance; the balance
OF their wages TO be placed 10 their credit,
partly for their own Use and partly Tor the
maintenance of their families.
The State OF Maryland has called in the
assistance of the National Committee on
Prisons and Prison Labor, which has its
headquarters at Columbia University,
New York; and also the assistance of
representatives of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor. | am informed that it is
believed that working basis has been
found.
| would advise that you follow the sx-
ample of the State of Maryland and ask
for the advice and assistance of the Ma
tional Committee ON Prisons and Prison
Labor, the local and national representa-
tives of the Federation of Labor, and repre-
sentstives of local manufacturers.
] should hope that out of such consulta-
tion there might grow q system of In
diistrial employment and wage compensa-
tion something like the following:
L. All working prisoners to receive
wages which shall be fixed at the outset at
about two-thirds of the current wages
paid for free labor of like value, with the
understanding that, as soon as the results
OF the labor system will permit, full
standard wages shall he paid.
2. Wage earning prisoners to include
those who work in the shops, on the farms,
on the roads, IN the quarry, those who
may be hired out to do days work outside
the prison, and those who are employed in |
the kitchen dining room, store room and
other domestic work of the prison.
3. All prisoners to be charged with the |
actual estimated cost Of their care and |
including food, clothing. |
fuel, salaries of prison officers, wages of j
prisoners employed III the domestic work /!
OF the prison, ordinary repairs TO prison !
and four per cent rental on the /
prison lands and buildings | estimate |
that this charge may approximate 81 per /
day per prisoner. This charge for care |
and maintenance should begin. like the /
" ages, at two-thirds of the estimated cost.
and should be advanced as wages are ad- t
vanced.
4. After deducting the charge for care
and maintenance, as above stated, the re-
mainder OF the earnings of the prisoners
should be credited TO their account Each
prisoner should be allowed 10 expend q
sum weekly for tobacco, fruit,
candy and for personal underclothinp,
shoes, toilet articles, stationery, books snd
within limits to be prescribed
oy the prison rules. The remainder OF bis
wages should he paid TO the prisoners
aIAsN Tor their maintenance. or, If he has
10 dependent family, it should be deposit
ID IN the savings bank TO his credit, and
,aId TO him IN weekly or monthly In
tallments after his discharge.
D. \ plan should be adopted for de-
ermlnlng the efficiency of each prisoner
% that be NAV be rated at full wages. or at
given per cent of full wages according
o his efficiency, industry, interest and
,ood will
o. Prisoners serving sentence which
aTies fine should be allowed TO nav
her fines Ollf of their oarp;orr |