The New York herald., 1922-10-09

New York Herald Bureau.
J Albany, Oct. 3.
/ Gov. Miller has just announced the
| fulfillment of a plan by which wages
in the State prisons soon will be an
established fact 1t is the intention
! not only to provide for the dependents
of prisoners but to train the prisoners
| in some vocation which will make
them useful citizens on the completion
of their terms.
There is no reason" said the Gov
ernor, why an ablebodied man cannot
earn a living in a prison as well as
outside of one, even though in less
degree. Under our plan he will. at any
rate, have the opportunity for doing so.
I'VE have the market in our State
consumption which requires an expendi-
ture of more than $50, 100000 year.
The productive forces of the prisons will
be directed toward this field, with an
idea of selecting those products which
the State can most economically produce
and at the same time give the men a
systematic training. so that when they
complete their time they will be pre-
pared to earn living.
I'VE have had much idle time in
prisons that may be turned to account.
Our facilities for manufacturing have
been obsolete and inadequate. so that
even with the best efforts of the in
mates their production has been handi-
capped.
Work as Basis of Reclamation.
Proper machinery, adopted to the
economic potential market, and build
ings with good light, air and ventilation
such as is found in the usual outside
factory are required. With these the
State will save large expenditures, the
men will earn while they learn and
their reclamation will be based on a
solid working program.
I'VE now have consumption, cost. lack
of production. BY increasing produc-
tion we will reduce the cost of consump-
tion at the same time provide an in
come for the family of the inmate and
give him an opportunity for instruction
in an Industrial pursuit which he can
follow to advantage later"
When asked in detail as to the work
ing program, the Governor stated. I'VE
are going along slowly and carefully.
We are consulting with the best advice
available and are greatly encouraged
with the support extended us. We are
SOilb " bt PIdINlCdl III all lidl VIC w.
hoping that later our experience with
the men may be helpful in lettering the
women's institutions as well.
Thus far we have adopted standards
for operation that cover the initial ptlysi-
cal and mental selection of all inmates
assigned to the industries and record
of their accomplishments, through the
help OF conference board in each prison,
which will govern largely the conditions
of parole.
Division of Industries.
THE industries will be divided into
distinct departments and each workman
will be identified with the department
In which he Is employed through the use
of a badge system in manner similar
to conditions found in outside factories.
This will give the men better produc-
tion relations and, We hope, will develop
department spirit and morale to high
degree.
Another thing of great value to the
men will be a trial period of three
months during their initial assignment
to any kind of Industrial employment
with an opportunity to work up in the
business instead of being tied down en-
tirely to one highly specialized opera
tion for lengthy and indefinite periods.
The shop will operate eight hours a
day and half day on Saturday with a
special opportunity provided for voca-
tional instruction related to the industry
in which the man is employed. based on
the standards Of cle State Department
Lof Vocational Education.
Technical books and trade Journals
will be added to the library for reference
purposes thus providing instructional
reading in place OF fiction entirely, and
the requirements of the State Depart
ment of Labor will be applied in the pro-
vision OF safety appliances, light. heat
and ventilation. being supervised on the
same basis as any outside plant.
Production records are being installed
with the idea of obtaining our costs or
production as a basic factor in deter
mining the wages and selling prices.
"Our standards are related to usual
manufa cturing conditions, and we are
keeping to practical and sound methods
in their development. The field Is re-
garded nationally as one of the most
| complicated problems we have to face.
| When considered In it's entirety we see
many difficulties which we will have to
overcome 1t will take time and the CO.
operation of all interested.
aside from using the proceeds OF the
prison Industries for the purpose of re-
| ducing State costs, very important re-
sponsibility is the conservation of citi-
zenship and while factory standards
and methods are being applied. still the
making Of men stands firmly in the
foreground of our vision in establishing
the wage and providing an Industrial
and educational training which will point
toward reducing the time OF commitment
and later economic independence"