CONTRACT CONVICT LABOR.
On motion by Mr. CAMPBELL the Senate resumed the consideration of the convict contract labor bills, pending at the time of the election of Principal Secretary of the Senate last night the auction being on the motion to refer to a Select Committee.
Mr. CAMPBELL opposed the motion, as no serious objection has been made to the bill S. 147. This bill provides a remedy for the contract- lopping proceps, it also prohibits the employment of convicts outside of the Prison walls, etc. [See page 167 of the Brevier Reports.] The bill was been submitted to the scrutiny of some of the best lawyers on this floor and received their approval. The detriment comes to the laboring classes because of the low price convict labor products, are thrown upon the market, in order to meet which the free laborer must reduce his price. As soon as a brand of Cain is put upon Prison products it reduces the price, and can possibly have no other effect. The object of the bill is to enhance the values of convict labor productions.
Mr. HILL inquired whether these amendments were not intended to depreciate the price of articles manufactured by convict labor.
Mr. CAMPBELL could not answer for the motives of the movers of the amendments. He opposed establishing a fixed per diem for convict labor, because there are strong men and weak, decrepit and maimed, and a uniform price can not be made to work well.
Mr. HOOVER suggested there were but a small number of the latter classes.
Mr. CAMPBELL: Then the minimum price would be made to apply to such. He believed in an open competition in the Interest of the laboring men and taxpayers of the State, and it is only for such legislation should be had. He opposed creating an aristocracy in the Prisons, and feeding such at the expense of honest taxpayers of the State.
Mr. JOHNSON agreed with the Senator that the objects of the bills will be defeated by a reference to a Committee. At least 25,000 voting petitioners have come here praying for the abolishment of contract convict labor. If new provisions are to be introduced into the present system, they will be evaded and disregarded, as the present provisions have been. The system is pernicious, and ought lobe abolished as proposed by the bill [S. 281]. which will do for the State what the protective tariff is doing for the country at large. The National Government finds a protective tariff necessary to he interests of home manufactures. This bill proposes a like tax upon the people of Indiana in the interest of our own manufacturers and laboring men. An amendment made to the bill yesterday authorizes the employment of convict labor within the walls in the manufacture of articles not made in the State else where. He bad himself favored this plan in the Committee.
Mr. McCLURE, residing in the vicinity of the Prison South, said: Nearly every session there are moral and political philosophers proposing improvements in the management of our Prisons. When he first heard these bills read he was ready to vote against them, because they are both impracticable. Look at their contradictions in terms. The object of branding Prison-made goods is clearly to depreciate their market value, which should not be done, because if done, contractors can not afford to hire convicts at a fixed minimum price for such labor above what they would be able to give.
Mr. BROWN moved to add to the bill [S. 241] a clause that its provisions shall not apply to any existing convict labor contract.
Mr. FOULKE offered the substitue he explained last night, to go, with the other proposed amendments, to the Committee.
Mr. BROWN regarded it as apparent these bills should go to the Committee. The bill [S. 281] proceeds upon the idea there is no labor to be performed by convicts except on a Prison farm. The Senator from Wayne [Mr. Foulke] comes in with a proposition for the manufacture of articles not now manufactured in the State. He condemned the bill as the worst piece of legislation yet brought to the Bar of the Senate, and it legisla page: 250[View Page 250]tion on this subject is needed, he believed the Committee would bring in a bill. In answer to the query Mr. Brown said there is serious doubt as to whether legislation on the subject is needed. Before the investigation o the contract system these Prisons had to be maintained by the State, but since then the Prisons are self sustaining.
Mr. SPANN would not remain quiet under an imputation that vicious measures came from his side of the Chamber only, but repelled such statements.
Mr. HILLIGASS disliked to see every discussion worked into a political harangue. He proceeded to show there is a little vicions legislation in Section 3 of the bill S. 281, which will be an open bid in every County for changes of venue. The laboring men and farmers are not willing to pay for the maintenance of convicts in the Penitentiary in idleness. This bill will lay down the bars for those who committ petit larcenies to go acquit. He favored the motion to refer it to a select Committee, and demanded the previous question on that motion.
The demand for the previous question was seconded by the Senate-yeas, 24; nays, 20.
So, under the operations of the previous question, the motion to refer was rejected by yeas, 22; nays, 23.
The question recurring on the substitute [Mr. Foulke's] for Section 3-authorizing the Directors of Prisons to establish manufactories therein not at pesent established in the State, the profits of such to be paid to the State Treasurer, after deducting the expenses of managing said Prisons-
It was agreed to by yeas, 27; nays, 17.
The substitute was ordered to be incorporated in the bill.
The Senate refused to order the bill engross-yeas, 16; nays, 27.
The question recurring on the bill [S. 247]-
Mr. Brown's amendment to the bill that it shall not apply to existing contracts was agreed to.
Mr. Graham's amendment requiring the minimum price for contract labor to be seventy-five cents per day was rejected by yeas, 19; nays, 26.
Mr. Willard's substitute amendment requiring goods to be branded "convict made goods" was also rejected by yeas, 8; nays, 35.
Mr. Yancey's amendment requiring such goods to be branded "manufactured by convict labor" was also rejected by yeas, 12; nays, 33.
The report of the Committee embracing amendments proposing to reduce the time of contracts from seven to six years was also rejected by yeas, 37; nays, 27.
The Senate ordered the bill engrossed for the third reading by yeas, 34; nays, 11.
Mr. CAMPBELL moved that the Constitutional role be suspended ihat the &111 may be passed to the final vote '
The Senate took a recess until 2 o'clock.
