CONVICT LABOR
On motion by Mr, CAMPBELL his bill [S. 247] to provide for the more profitable and equitable hiring by the State of the convicts in tn.e State Prison-see page 215 of the Brevier Reports-was read the third time and passed by yeas, 36; nays, 4.
Mr. CAMPBELL having this bill provides for a thorough system by which to put the contracts for convict labor m the most open competition, the object being to have the convicts bring the highest price in the market that competition can force, and the result must be to raise the prices paid for convict labor so much as to make the Prisons bring an income to the State, and also to overcome very largely the depressing influence upon free labor, which the present system of low prices for convict labor has caused.
