The Missouri Legislature of 1911 passed a law which provided for
the gradual abolition of the convict leasing system. Under this law
contracts employing 1,700 prisoners were due to expire December 31,
1913. Before the convening of the next Legislature, January, 1913,
many had decided that the law of 1911 by no means solved for Missouri
the problem of convict labor. It was discovered that it was most
difficult to employ convicts to the satisfaction of all.
A number of bills were introduced to solve the problem. One
representative went into the penitentiary to explain to the convicts
his bill to repeal the 1911 law. He was hissed by the convicts
who showed in this way their disapproval of the system of leasing
out their labor to contractors. When, however, the representative
explained that his bill provided that the state would get thirty
cents a day for each man and that thirty cents would go to their
nearest relative the convicts became calmer. Another bill provided
that the contract system be maintained, but set $1 a day as the
smallest wage that might be paid. Of this amount thirty cents a day
was to be given to the convict.
Finally a resolution was passed appointing three senators to
investigate and recommend to the Legislature then in session the best
means of handling the situation.
The gist of the report follows:
Prisoners in penitentiary, 2403; employed under contract system,
1600; 1650 prisoners let at $.70 per day each, forty-six cripples
at $.50 and forty-four females at $.50. The earning capacity of
the prison for the biennial period 1911-1912 was $710,000. This
excludes 400 prisoners employed by the state. The committee further
reports that about 1000 of the prisoners are confirmed criminals
and could not under any circumstances be employed outside of the
prison walls. About 300 white men and a like number of Negroes
could be worked upon the public highways.
The committee states that at this time the state cannot afford to
purchase the machinery and manage the industries now in the prison.
This it is estimated would cost about $1,000,000 for two years and
such an expenditure would cramp badly all other state institutions.
The report finally advises the Legislature to extend by enactment
the time of the prevailing contract system to a period beyond the
convening of the next Legislature, because it would be inhuman and
dangerous in many ways to allow the men to be idle.
Before the Legislature adjourned a bill was passed following in the
main the suggestions of this report. The abolition of the leasing
system is suspended till December 31, 1915. The services of the major
portion of the prisoners may be contracted at 75 cents a day for
each (an increase of 5 cents). A number not to exceed one-quarter of
all the prisoners are to be tried out on public road work and in the
manufacture of school furniture. The state binding twine factory is
to be continued.