Year: 1876




THE GOVERNORS REASONS FOR NOT SIGNING


THE CONVICT LABOR BILL-THE PROPOSED
ENTERPRISE NOT LIKELY TO BE PROFITABLE


OR DESIRABLE.


ALBANY, March a. 1875.


The following is copy Of the veto Message sent to
the House to-day


STATE OF New YORK, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER


Albany, n. y, March IA, 1876. I
To THE ASSEMBLY,


herewith return without my signature Assembly
Bill No IL, entitled "An act to provide for the employ
of convcts and paupers under the control of the
Commissioners OF Public Charities and Correction Of
the city aud county of New York"


This bill commands the Commissioners of Charities
and Correction ior the city Of New York TO furnish
employ ment to ''every able bodied convict pauper
confined in the institutions under their care" who
not be employed "to advantage prohp in getting
out stone cultIvang grounds or manufacturing for
the OF the said departments with such mechan-
ical labor other labor "wll yield the greatest
revenue to the departments and enable him to be
kept constantly employed during the term OF his i'm
prisonment This provision does not merely confer
authority on the Commissioners. II is mandatory. 1t
contains qualincation IL allows discretion. Tho
rule in respect to the choice Of industries in which the
convicts and paupers ale to be employed is absolute.
The work TO be carried on is that which will yield the
greatest revenue. The theoretical principle OF politi
cal economy respect to private business which to tho
honor of humanity IS qualified and tempered In prac
ticc-remorseless competition for the greatest profit
is enacted tho law tho selection OF the Industries
to be followed Unless the legal effect OF thus enact
ment Is qualified by the last clauae OF the same
section any intentional deviation, any conscious
deviation from this rule by the Commissioners
would be itself a msdemeanOr IL woull expose the
Commissioners to a liability to take their places with
the convict portion OF the persons under their
1t is that an amendment was added 10 hs section
by the Senate making 1t also the duty Of the Comms.
slOners $50 far as In their judgment may be Dract-
caby and advantageousy done TO take those Industries
and such diversity OF them may tend least to
ct with the OF free industries and trades IN
the said city and county" Under the established prn
cipe OF constituting the parts oil statute that they
will all stand together 1t is probable that this clause
would be Intellectual TO modify the operation of the rule
laid down IN tho former part OF the section Even the
authority 10 prefer the industries which cnd least TO
conflicts Is limited 10 In which II may be ''ad-
vantageously' done" Could It be deemed "advan-
tageous" TO choose Industries which would yield less
profit than others2 Nor does this provision apply in
avor OF the industries OF Brooklyn any other part
OF the state than the city OF New York. The chief
significance Of this clause its apparent expression Of
distrust by the Legislature and Of disposition
qualify the main provision of the section


The second section of the bill appears TO be in
tended enlarge the powers OF the Commissioners TO
embark in manufacturing on account Of the city
poraton, which rs itself a questionable experiment in
view OF the results OF all business enterprises hereto
ioro undertaken by the pubic authorities and is only
TO be sanctioned aitcr the greatest consideration and
with the most careful guards against the mischefs
which have been engendered in similar cases.


Other provisions OF the bill arc imperfect, uncertain
and lmprovidcnt For instance, the clause prohibiting
the Commissioners from entering into any contract
by which they shall In any manner renqush the
troll support and discipline OF the said paupers aud
convcts" though probably not intended TO have such
effect may conflict with the humane provisions OF
the act OF last year "For the better OF paupcrs



prisons and amshouscs OF the city of New York con-
tribute much to their own support as they
sstently with their objects and with the well
fare Of all classes OF our cltizcns7 and
doubt the occupation OF their inmates in
work tends TO discipline 10 health and to reformation.
The problem Is how attain these salutary ends with
out njurng the interests or woundng the just sell.
esteem or the honorable sentiments OF the skilled art
and workngmen, VINO are the strength Of State,
who have made American labor, on the whole, moro
efficient than any other in the process OF production
and conferred country the OF its achicv-
me 3 of
the most patient and consderae thought, and Of
tnuous effort constitutional amendment changing
the system Of administration OF the State prisons,
passed both houses last year and is now pending.
The State Board Of Charities addressing
work. special investigation OF the subject
of pauperism recommended In my annual mes
depressed state OF business when scarcely any INDUS
try is remuncratve even with the advantage OF being
long established and OF having private supervision and
management, II IS not likely that any new business
terprso speculation carried on by the public officers
would have immediate results IN profit 70 the treasury
Nor is IL to be overlooked that unexamped distress
from want OF remuncrativo cmploym ymcnt now exists
among tho mechanics and work. kngnen Of the city OF
New YORK Ii a government may MAINTAIN an organ.
zed system OF reiief for paupers II may least, exer-
ciso OrbcaTance In period OF business disaster toward
those VINO are struggling with difficulties that tend to
swell the class to which such relief Is given.
IL can abstain not only from actual injury
but holding up to their Imagination the spectre
OF new governmental competition; from rash or cx-
perimcnta changes IN the system ana laws TO which
the people accustomed, ard from inconsdcrate
imperfect measures the ELECTS OF which cannot DO
foreseen completely understood. In tho meantime
real and reduction of the burden OF taxation
be secured In other methods for the support OF which
all classes and interests may be expected to operate
Tie reform Of the canal expenditures OF itself Will
save more than 81 900 900 year TO tho taxpayers OF
the metropolis That measure Is an example OF a
liberal policy toward the boatmcn and transporters
a reduction tolls made c0incidently with a FAR
larger remission OF taxes and harmonious
operation OF both classes 10 secure reform. Tho
policy which / bad tho honor TO recommend
10 the Legislature In my Message At the
opening OF the present session, " adopted and faith
fully carried out will 10 the taxpayers OF the
city OF New York a remission OF taxes in 1876
pared with 1874 OF s. 900 600 or about half OF the
entire taxes OF the city for State purposes In such
prospect OF being themselves relieved and in such
cesEy OF general operation, tho taxpayers OF
muniy like ha cir OF New York cannot anord 70 turn