A Digest of the Laws and Practice of all the States of the Union IN REFERENCE TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONVICTS PREPARED BY RIVES B. HARDY, Assistant Private Secretary of the Governor of Virginia ICHMOND DAVIS BOTTOM, SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING 1911 A Digest of the Laws and Practice of all the States of the Union IN REFERENCE TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF CONVICTS PREPARED BY RIVES B. HARDY, Assistant Private Secretary of the Gotf£rnor of Virginia RICHMOND DAVIS BOTTOM. SUPERINTENDENT PUBLIC PRINTING 1911 ?' i i 33|,V H21J. DIGEST OF LAWS Relative to the Employment of Convicts. The questions given below were sent by the Governor of Virginia to the Governor of each of the States of the Union, with the request that he cause the same to be answered by the proper officer of his State. This action was taken in order to secure as much information as possi¬ ble, with reference to the employment of convicts by the several States, to be considered by the board of directors of the penitentiary and mem¬ bers of the General Assembly of the State of Virginia, in the settlement of the question of the employment of convicts in this State, the present contract for their labor expiring on May 1, 1913. The answers to those questions being considered as extremely in¬ teresting and valuable information; this pamphlet has been printed for distribution in Virginia and among the executives of the several States. 1. Does your State hire its convicts to manufacturing corporations, and if so, do you require the corporation to take all of the convicts or a certain number of them? 2. If all the convicts are not hired, is the corporation permitted to select? 3. How long does your contract continue? 4. Do you receive so much per convict without regard to efficiency, or are the convicts graded and the compensation required according to grade? 5. What is the compensation per diem for each convict? 6. Do you hire women as well as men, and if so, what is the differ¬ ence, if any, in compensation? 7. Does your contract call for a minimum number of convicts with an increase in compensation when a larger number is employed, and a decrease when a smaller number is furnished? 8. If your contract covers question seven, please give the compen¬ sation in every contingency. 9. Do you furnish free of rent the factory in which your convicts work, keep it in repair, and provide light and heat? 10. Do you furnish free of charge convicts to keep the factory clean? 11. Do you furnish guards at the expense of the State to look after the convicts while at work and maintain discipline and enforce rules? 12. If you have any other information of interest, please give it. To tne foregoing questions, the following answers were received, given in the alphabetical order of the States, some answering in a general way and others giving categorical replies. 4 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. ALABAMA. With the exception of three farm contracts, one contract with the Alabama Manufacturing Company at North Birmingham, and one small turpentine contract, amounting in all to an average of about 180 men, Alabama has no State convicts hired or leased out. We are selling the labor of 400 convicts to the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railway Com¬ pany; using about 600 at Plat Top, Belle Ellen and Lueile in mining coal on State account at so much per ton; selling the labor of about 500 to three saw mill corporations, and the labor of fifty to one com¬ pany operating a turpentine farm. The others are in the hospital at Wetumpka or being worked on the State farms at the Walls and Speig- ner and in the factory at Speigner. Thus it will be seen that in prac¬ tice, Alabama has abandoned the lease system. It.is better for the State, better for the convicts, and better for the individuals who have the actual personal control and handling of the convicts. About 2,500 prisoners. Does a million dollars worth of business annually, at close on to $500,000 net profit per year to the people. ARKANSAS. 1. Contract work on railroad by and under authority of State and its officers. Takes all convicts not employed on State farm. 2. Not permitted to select. His contract calls for able-bodied laborers. 3. Usually for one year. Present contract expires December 23, 1910. 4. Uniformly $1.00 under present contract. 5. See No. 4. 6. Not worked on contract work. 7. Contract calls for all men not needed on farm. Spring and fall contractors have minimum number. No variation in price. 8. See No. 7. 9. Do you not furnish factory, light or heat. 10. No. 11. Yes. 12. Made no contract for less than $1 per day since 1900. No trouble in getting $1. One contract, brief period, $1.40 per day. CALIFORNIA. 1. No. Has large jute industry and work 800 convicts manufac¬ turing grain bags. Others on construction and road work, and in and about institution. COLORADO. 1. No. Convicts used in building good roads—the counties or districts in which the roads are built furnishing the tools used in road building and paying in addition thereto the difference in the cost of maintenance Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 5 between v/hat it would cost to maintain the convicts at the penitentiary and while they are out on the road. Convicts who have merited confi¬ dence of warden, and have earned good time, are allowed to work on roads, and the law provides for a diminution of their sentence of ten days out of every thirty days for work on roads, this puts convicts on good behavior and no guards are maintained over men while work¬ ing on roads, a certain number being put under foreman during day, but at night there is a guard of one or two trusty convicts. Loss by convicts escaping very small, two or three. Some convicts used for farming and raising produce consumed by inmates of penitentiary. CONNECTICUT. 1. Portion of men hired direct to manufacturer; smaller portion worked on piece-price plan. 2. No. 3. Five years, or five years with privilege of eight. 4. Shoe department pays 61c. for 300 men, and 30 y 2 c. for forty at present, or all above 300. This is because of lack of shop room. Shirt shop employs about 100 or 110 men that receive 34c. per dozen and $1,400 a year for power. 6. No; women work on State work. 7. No. 8. See No. 7. 9. Yes. 10. One convict to each shop to sweep out refuse and water the men. 11. Yes. 12. Library of over 8,000 volumes, outside text and school books. Night school for illiterates three nights a week during seven months in the year. DELAWARE. Answtred all questions, but letter stated information was confidential. FLORIDA. 0 1. Yes; takes entire control and management, subject to super¬ vision of State commissioners, of all prisoners. 2. The contractor sends for and takes charge of prisoner at place and time of conviction. 3. Four years. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Two hundred and eighty-one dollars and sixty cents per annum per capita, payable quarterly in advance. 6. Yes; same as men. 7. No. 9. State provides prisons and contractor bears all expense of main¬ tenance. 6 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 10. No. 11 . No. 12. All expeuse of every kind and description borne by contrac¬ tor. State requires bond of $100,000.00 for faithful performance of contract. GEORGIA. 1. No. 2. Ceased nearly two years ago hiring out any convicts. Practi¬ cally all of them are now worked on the public roads. A few, such as invalid men and women convicted of felonies, are worked on the State prison farm. A few of the counties have farms where women and old or cripple men convicted of misdemeanors are employed. IDAHO. 1. Does not hire out convicts or contract for their labor in any way. ILLINOIS. No; had to cease on account of labor agitation. By a referendum vote the Constitution was amended prohibiting convict labor. INDIANA. 1. Yes; may work 600 and not exceed fifty per cent, of population over 600 for not over eight hours a day, and not to exceed 100 men on any one contract, except at an industry that is not established in the State, when it may be 200. 2. Not permitted to select men. 3. Five to ten years. 4. No. 5. That varies according to contract, as follows: Cooperage, 100 men, 42 and 44 cents per day; granite cutting, 100 men, 52^ cents per day; overall factory, 100 men, piece-price plan; shirt factory, 100 men, piece-price plan; granite cutting, 200 men, 65 cents per day; reed chairs, 200 men, 65 cents per day. 6. No. 7. No. 9. Yes. 10. That depends upon the kind of a factory; ordinarily, no. 11. Yes. 12. Sends annual report and recent summarized history of devel¬ opment of public charities and corrections in Indiana. IOWA. 1. Yes, but do not require the corporation to take all the prisoners. 2. The warden selects the prisoners. 3. Ten years at one prison; five years at the other. 4. State receives uniform rate. Two grades, lumpers or chore men and mechanics. Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 7 5. Sixty cents for the mechanics; 25 cents for chore men. 6. No; only men. 7. No. 9. We furnish rent free and keep in repair and provide water and light. 10. No. 11. Yes. 12. The prisoners do piece work in many cases and when task is completed get credit for all work over day’s task. Sometimes make $5.00, $15.00 and $20.00 per month. KANSAS. 1. No. 2. All labor performed is for State. Has 300 men in State coal mine, all the coal being shipped to the various State institutions. Has State brick plant with a capacity of one-half million bricks per month, and a binder twine plant with a capacity of three million pounds of twine per year. These three industries, together with the operation of a 730 acre farm, keep our nine hundred prisoners busy. KENTUCKY. 1. Yes; all able-bodied convicts, except those required for State work; a certain number to each contractor. 2. The warden assigns men to different contracts. 3. Four years. Fixed by statute. Privilege of renewal upon three months’ notice of such intention. 4. So much per head without regard to efficiency. 5. At Frankfort: 85c. for 650; 77 V 2 c. for 250; 75c. for 150. Ed- dyville: 57 %c. for 150; 67 ^c. for 100; 50c. for 250 men. 6. Hire about thirty-five at Frankfort at 30c. per head. 7. No. 9. Yes. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. 12. Two penitentiaries—Frankfort and Eddyville. Compensation higher at Frankfort because of location, etc. Three commissioners, elected by legislature, manage penitentiaries. LOUISIANA. 1. No. 2. Does not hire out or let out by contract, in any manner or form, any of its convicts. This system was abolished about twelve years ago. MAINE. 1. No. 2. We have a large carriage repository in our prison yard, also a very large harness shop, where we work our own prisoners. We 8 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts . also do repairing on wagons and automobiles, and have a large force in a blacksmith shop. Our prison help is worked every day and we are carrying on a good business. We have never let out our prisoners for contracts to other parties. Our men are in good health, and we believe it is the best way to handle them. Of course it requires some little expenditures in the way of buildings to make a start, but many of our young men learn trades that are valuable to them in after life. Of course this applies to the five and ten year men mostly. MARYLAND. 1. Yes; to three companies at present; hollow ware, shirts and brushes. Specific number convicts under each contract; if not enough, then divide proportionately between contracts. 2. Not permitted to select; warden assigns prisoners. 3. Five years. 4. Receive so much for each prisoner without regard to efficiency. 5. For making hollow ware, 60c.; shirts, 50c., and brushes, 55c., each per day. 6. Women make shirts, and we get same price as for men, viz.: 50c. 7. No; rate is same no matter how many assigned contractor. 9. One contractor pays rent; others do not. We keep buildings in repair (not machinery), and furnish heat, light and power. 10. No. 11. Yes; convicts never out of control of prison officials. 12. Warden sets day’s task, and when that is finished prisoners are paid for overtime at same rate State gets. MASSACHUSETTS. "V 1. No. 2. No contract work whatever is now allowed; nor can any piece- price agreements be made except for cane-seating chairs and making umbrellas. All the work, practically, in the State institutions must be done on public account; and the law relative to making goods for public use provides that articles and materials that can be produced by the labor of prisoners shall be purchased by the public institutions of the Commonwealth, the counties and certain cities. MICHIGAN. 1. Yes, but this system will be abolished December 30, 1911. Take all men not required for State work. Some specified number of men. 2. Assigned by prison officials, who aim to give prisoners able to do fair day’s work. 3. Usually ten years. 4. Graded A and B. A, those who can do fair day’s work; B, those mentally and physically deficient, so can’t do full day’s work. 5. A grade men, 50c.; B, 25c.; but out of 400 have only twenty to twenty-five B grade men on contract, as can be better used about prison. Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts . 9 6. Women sent to separate institution and their labor not con¬ tracted for. 7. Calls for all the prisoners the State wishes to assign, and no in¬ crease or decrease in compensation according to number. 9. We keep buildings in repair; contractor furnishes heat, light and power. 10. One in each shop to sweep floors and run errands for officers. 11. State furnishes men to enforce discipline, but not foremen and instructors. 12. Task usually finished by 2 o’clock; prisoners paid same rate for overtime as State gets. MINNESOTA. 1. Yes; only 225 convicts. 2. No. 3. Expires September 30, 1914. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency, on piece-price basis. 5. Sixty-three cents per day. 6. No. 8. Price the same regardless of number employed. 9. Yes. 10. No. 11. Yes. MISSISSIPPI. 1. No. 2. All convicts are used on State farms, on which are cultivated corn, cotton, hay, oats, some wheat and other agricultural products. Some years ago the State purchased one tract of 20,000 acres of land, and several smaller tracts. This land was cleared up by the convicts and the penitentiary site removed from Jackson, the walls being torn down and new buildings erected on the various farms for the safe keeping of the convicts. The farms are divided into “Camps” of about 1,000 acres each, under a superintendent, who in turn is under the general supervision of the superintendent of the penitentiary and a board of trustees. The value of the penitentiary property in this State is about one million and a half dollars, and the net annual profit over and above the cost of maintenance ranges from $125,000.00 to $190,000.00. MISSOURI. 1. Yes; a portion of them. 2. Not permitted to select. 3. Four years. 4. So much per convict. Do not grade. 5. Seventy cents. 6. Yes; work in separate establishment and all for same contrac¬ tor; compensation 40c. per day. 10 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 7. No. 9. Yes. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. 12. Two thousand three hundred convicts in prison; cannot he let under contract for work away from penitentiary. # MONTANA. 1. No. 2. The Constitution and statutes of the State prohibit the contract¬ ing for the labor of convicts by the State. Within the past year (1910) the State board of prison commissioners, which is charged with the administration of prison affairs, has inaugurated the plan of employing a few of the prisoners on county road work, this work being confined to highways where the county affected was unable to make the im¬ provement. The State furnished guards for the prisoners while the authorities furnished teams and materials necessary in prosecuting the work. Aside from this the prisoners have never been worked outside the prison walls. NEBRASKA. 1. Yes; two contracts; furnish as many men as possible; at pres¬ ent 250 make brooms, 100 make shirts. 2. Warden assigns convicts as he deems best. 3. Broom contract expires July 31, 1911; shirt contract December 31, 1911. 4. All shirt men, 62%c.; broom men start on one-fourth and ad¬ vance to one-half, three-fourths and full task, which is 55c. per day. 5. Shirt makers, 6214 c; broom men, 55c. 6. No. 7. No. 9. On shirt contract, yes; on broom contract we receive $200.00 a month for power, rent, heat and light. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. 12. Penitentiary self-sustaining, first time in history; 427 convicts; legislature appropriated $121,000.00 biennial maintenance; expense of institution; the per capita cost less than 40c. per day; $121,000.00 covers all expenses of officers and prisoners. NEVADA. 1. No. 2. There is no law in this State providing for the letting of con¬ vict labor, and until the last session of the legislature they have had absolutely nothing to do. The last legislature, however, passed what is locally known as the public highway law, which provides for the use of convict labor, under governmental supervision, on the public Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 11 highways of the State. The privilege of participating in this work is in the nature of a reward of merit and is ardently striven for by all the inmates of the State prison. It is considered a very humane act and one that will prove of substantial benefit to the State'* at large as well. NEW HAMPSHIRE. 1. Yes; present contract requires contractors to take all able- bodied men. 2. Not permitted to select. 3. Seven years from July, 1906. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Forty-three and one-half cents per diem. 6. Ail women work for State. 7. No. 9. Rent free; pay for repair of reasonable wear and tear; pay for heat. 10. Contractors pay for convicts to keep shops clean. 11. Yes. 12. Labor computed from time-book of State overseers, and set¬ tlement made by it. Contractors furnish steam to State for cooking, laundry, and other purposes, six months in each year. Pay for water used in manufacturing. NEW JERSEY. 1. Do not hire convicts to corporations except as specified in prison report. 2. Not permitted to select. 3. Four years. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Forty-one cents. 6. No. 7. The law fixes maximum number; cannot be greater than 100 on any industry. 9. Yes. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. jl 2. Sends annual report for 1906-7-8 and 1909. NEW YORK. Contract labor was abolished in this State in 1884. From that date until January 1, 1897, piece-price and State account systems were in use. Since January 1, 1897, convicts in the several State prisons nave been employed in manufacturing supplies for the use of the insti¬ tutions and departments of the State and its political divisions. The shipments of these supplies amount to a little over $900,000 a year, and while its financial returns are not as great as the contract or State 12 Digest of Levies Relative to the Employment of Convicts . account system, we have found it very much more satisfactory, as re¬ formatory agencies can be much better applied with our present sys¬ tem than with the others. NORTH CAROLINA. We do not employ any convicts in factories. We work nearly half of them on a State farm and the others are worked on railroads, some being paid for in stock and others being paid for in cash by contrac¬ tors, from whom the State receives $1.50 per day for each day’s labor. The State furnishes clothing, food, guards, doctors, etc. NORTH DAKOTA. 1. No. 2. Has a twine factory in the penitentiary and manufactures twine, w r hich is sold to the farmers of the State. Also has a brick manufac¬ turing plant. Convicts work on the farm, around the capitol building and the Capitol Street Railway. OHIO. 1. No; cannot contract for labor of convicts; all contracts have expired and between 600 and 7 00 men working closing out contracts. 2. Warden assigns men. 3. All contracts have expired. 4. So much per convict without regard to skill: rated able-bodied and infirm. 5. Able-bodied, 85c. per day; infirm, 65c. per day. 6. No; make clothes for inmates. 8 . Must be satisfied with number State can furnish. 9. State furnished factory and kept in repair; contractors fur¬ nished light and heat. 10. No. 11. State furnished guards to enforce discipline; contractor fur¬ nished foremen to instruct and supervise men. 12. Some convicts employed making supplies for State institu¬ tions; we cannot go into open market. Pace to face with problem of employment of prisoners. OKLAHOMA. Constitution prohibits contracting for convict labor. Are utilizing convicts at present in the construction of a penitentiary and reform school, and also in the building of public roads. OREO ON. 1. Yes; manufacturing stoves; not less than 150 and as many more as State can furnish and contractors profitably employ. During past year contractors have employed on an average of 225. Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 13 2. l\ot permitted to select. 3. Present contract made for period of ten years; has six years to run. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. Work nine hours a day; greater part of time less. 5. Four and a half cents per hour. 6. Do not hire women. Rarely ever have any in prison. 7. No. 9. Pays $200 a month for buildings, water, power, etc. State keeps buildings in repair, but not machinery. 10. Yes. 11. Yes; and also to see that prisoners are not overworked nor mistreated. 12. Thinks contract system is not the best. Use thirty men man¬ ufacturing brick for State institutions but not for sale. Does some road work PENNSYLVANIA. in this State there is no system of convict contract labor. We oelieve that the only one who really benefits under this system is the contractor, and think that the State should itself have the benefit of any profits. We also think that a convict contract labor system tends to cause trouble in discipline and is of no benefit to the prisoner himself. RHODE ISLAND. 1. Yes; 300 men making shirts and twelve making wire goods. To give employment, but not as a source of profit to the State. 2. Not permitted to select. 3. Five years. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Thirty cents per dozen shirts, making usually 450 dozen a day. 7. Contract calls for 250 men, and not less than an average of 200 a day each working day. Same rate of pay. 9. Yes. 11. Yes. 12. Sends report and copy of contract. Use some men on farm; raise hay and fodder, and supplies for prison table. SOUTH CAROLINA. 1. Yes; contract for 200 to 350 average class; total number, about 900. 2. Any selection must be done by lessor and the superintendent together. 3. Five years. 5. Ffty-seven and one-half cents per day for men and boys; 47*4c. per day for women. 6. Yes; see question five. 7. No; not as w r e understand this question. 14 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 8. Compensation the same, no matter what the number, from 200 to 850, after one month “green time” without pay. 9. Yos. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. 12. Convicts whose sentence will expire in less than six months shall not be included in our hosiery mill workers. SOUTH DAKOTA. 1. Contract system is not in vogue. 2. We have here a shirt factory that is operated on the piece- price basis. We get so much per dozen for manufacturing the shirts, and we furnish the heat, power and guard force. The salary for the superintendent for this department is paid by the contractors. The goods are shipped here by the manufacturers and the finished product is taken away. We have nothing to do with the selling of same. We furnish the factory, free of rent, and furnish free convicts to keep it clean. No number of men specified; simply furnish what men we can spare; at present working eighty-five in shirt factory. Also have a twine factory operated on State account. The raw material is imported from the Philippine Islands and from Yucatan, Mexico, and the manufac¬ tured product is sold direct to farmers. TENNESSEE. 1. Yes; certain number, who are competent to do the work for which they are hired to perform. 2. Contractor paying highest price has first choice of men, and next highest second choice, and so on. 3. Expires July 1, 1915 (six years). 4. So much per convict, according to choice. 5. Foundry, $1.10; harness, 65c.; hosiery, 51c.; shoes, 50c.; pants, 45c. first year and 50c. thereafter. 6. None. 7. No. 9. Contractors pay $7,500 for rent of buildings; State heats and keeps in repair; contractors furnish water, electric current, and steam for manufacturing purposes. 10. No. 11. Yes. 12. State reserves first choice of all prisoners to a maximum of 800 to carry on its mining operations and other help at prison. TEXAS. Not hired out or leased to manufacturing corporations. Within the walls are manufactured wagons, furniture, boilers and engines, and clothing and shoes for the convicts. This work is done under supervision of warden and is sold through the finance department to dealers, no Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 15 retail sales being attempted. Formerly all convicts used on farms were worked by contract on a monthly wage, but all contracts for farm labor are being done away with. State owns five farms. Upon two of them splendid sugar mills are in operation. Sales from these sources this year amount to two and a half million dollars approximately. The present system is committed to work of transferring prisoners from lease and contract farms to State farms, and inside walls, in a speci¬ fied time. No contract made for more than two years. First and second grade convicts; first-class let out at $31 a month per man, the second class at $29. Do pot hire women, but keep on State farm at usual farm labor. Contracts stipulate number of men to be supplied, and the greater or less number of men does not change contract price. Contractor supplies land, buildings, teams, implements, and feed for teams. State feeds, clothes, guards and looks after health and welfare of convicts. Contractor not charged for convicts to cook and do chores around camp. UTAH. State Constitution prohibits the leasing or hiring out of convicts. We are employing our prisoners on State account working on farm and manufacturing clothes, shoes, socks, etc. VERMONT. 1. Yes; all able-bodied men. 2. No. 3. Five years. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Sixty cents per day. 6. No; they are employed in kitchen and dining room for guards. 7. No. 9. State furnishes power from main shaft, light, heat and repairs to shops. 10. No. 11. Yes. 12. Sends last biennial report. VIRGINIA. 1. Yes; required to pay for at least 850. 2. Yes. 3. Expires May 1, 1913. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Forty-two cents per day for men. 6. Yes; 30c. per day. 7. Calls for a minimum number of 850. 9. State furnishes factory free of rent, and keeps in repair; con¬ tractors furnish heat and light. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. 16 Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. WASHINGTON. We have never leased or hired out State convicts. For many years we operated a large brick yard at the penitentiary and sold brick in open market. Later we put in machinery and manufactured hemp grain bags, wool bags, etc. This mill w r e are now operating, and re¬ quires about 400 men. Beginning with three years ago we experi¬ mented using our convicts in highway construction. This we have found very satisfactory, and every man w'e can spare from the peniten¬ tiary we have out on road construction or running rock crushing plants, preparing crushed rock for the roads. We have the indeterminate sen¬ tence law in this State, and I (the Governor) am recommending to the coming legislature that the State highway department be permitted to pay out of the State highway funds fifty cents per day to each con¬ vict who does faithful service after he has served his minimum sen¬ tence, this money to be remitted quarterly to his family or those de¬ pendent upon him for a living. If he has no one dependent upon him, the money will then be placed to his credit until final release. While fifty cents per day is not very much money, however, it is much more than some men turn into their families even when at liberty. WEST VIRGINIA. 1. Yes; takes all men assigned not to exceed a given number. 2. Not permitted to select. 3. Usually for five years. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. 5. Fifty cents; one contract, 65c. 6. A few; compensation same as men. 7. No. 9. Yes. 10. No. 11. Yes. WISCONSIN. 1. Yes; knitting socks and stockings. Contract calls for mini¬ mum number of men 300, and maximum 450. 2. No; warden assigns convicts. 3. Contract expires in 1913. 4. So much per convict without regard to efficiency. When task finished, ail work over paid prisoner. 5. Sixty-five cents, ten hours constituting a day’s work. 6. No; they are employed mending, etc. 7. No; the rate per diem is the same without regard to number employed. 9. Yes. 10. Yes. 11. Yes. Digest of Laws Relative to the Employment of Convicts. 17 12. Has reformatory for boys, and contract for making jackets and overalls there, 70c. a day each; boys have all over task; two hours school. WYOMING. Our convicts are now employed, under a lessee of our penitentiary, in the manufacture of brooms. This system was entered into nearly eight years ago, and the lease will expire next April. During recent election there was a great deal of criticism of this so-called leasing system, and both parties advocated discontinuing it. Under terms of present lease the State pays fifty cents per day for each convict, and the lessee boards, clothes and cares for them, and has all the profits from their labor. The lessee furnishes guards, pays all expenses of maintenance, etc., the only expense to the State being the fifty cents per day per convict. It is anticipated that our legislature this winter (1911) will make many changes in the present system, doubtless pro¬ viding for the employment of a certain percentage of the convicts on the public roads of the State and possibly arranging for younger pris¬ oners to be placed in some separate institution, where they can be em¬ ployed in the fields. Prom my own investigation of the question, I am convinced that in Wyoming, the only way to make the service of our convicts profitable would be to employ as many of them as possible in agricultural pursuits. Gaylord Bros. Makers Syracuse, N. Y. r 30 12 115404607 fe'w ", -if ' <* ft &r -. t ,. W»« 3 f' •Vsr* «i«iliiSf fA ; ?. • T?b'sS\ tMM§M ?%if* Sife:« v'jv -7% 4 i't' •. y.■'? J%3jr?, '’ ,*5% »■;,'- i t-ifVr v - P • VY*>':5JpWffr . .;V.i 'M . v ’ Wft?>..'(.vv- V ' 4 -v •. ;■ > ’**£ S? S BSfpplpI ■. ' ■• ^GtfW&Qir- $|a v :#r v km b$g| ^#sS wiSii . *•%. ‘' '-X-' ■■ X 'P^ J ; P'X ; X V? W , .•* >•; *-. v-v.ro.•!,, w . ...*, 1 yfouA* ?' IMfiKPSlIS jggSft