THE CONTRACT LABOR
PROBLEM IN MISSOURI
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.