Formerly the contract plan was followed in most penitentiaries, the
labor of each convict being hired out in a certain industry at a fixed
sum per day. This has been succeeded in many States by what is known
as the price-piece plan, where the contractors pay for the convict
labor at so much for each piece of work done; and in other States by
manufacturing done on the account of the State.
The contract system, where it is possible to contract the labor at a
fair price, is undoubtedly the best one for the State. In such case the
State only furnishes the room, heat and labor, saves the great outlay
for machinery and power.
If proper contract labor cannot be had for our penitentiaries, then the
price-piece plan is the best, and if it is not possible to employ the
convicts in any other way, then we should resort to proper industries
to be carried on, by State account, like New York.
The convict should be employed, either by contract or price-piece plan
before resorting to manufacture on State account. Many a warden at
the National Prison Congress, has shown that they could have all the
contract or price-piece work that they could do if the law permitted
it, but it is the everlasting fear of antagonizing force labor.
When we find that the entire output of all the penitentiaries in the
United States during 1899, for the five principal things manufactured
in prison was only one-tenth of one per cent, it does seem strange that
any Trades’ Union would be unwilling to have the State by employment
care for the health and best interests of their sons and brothers
detained!