Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-11-10
THE STATE CREDIT

Thy peace and serenity offer
foreteste Of heavenly rest.
THE STATE CREDIT
The E'enitenIiary - What Shall be
Done with Eel
To the Editors of the Union and American:
The States Indebtedness, and the con-
stantlv accruing demands upon the treasu-
nv. are now, and have been for several |
wears. questions of absorbing interest TO
property-holders. That it should be of
interest, and even of anxiety, is matter
of no surprise, when every report OF the
Comptroller shows that il is fearfully on
the increase, and that, too, under system
of taxation which is oppressive TO all
classes. How the thirty-twO millions OF
debt are TO be paid is problem which is
vet to he solved by our Legislature The
ingenuity aud financial skill of the au-
thorities have already been eXeIted TO the
utmost 90 meet the semi-annual interest,
and this they have barely succeeded in do
ing, when the tax has been paid in cur
rency that is a circulating medium OF
money value to the State but low, when
the great probability is that for the next
few years, the entire tax w1l be paid in
paper that viii be dead to the State, that
the entire income win be in the old debts
of the State, we may well ask what
is to be done! What viii become
of the credit of the State2 We hope
the Legislature win be equal to the emer-
gency, but at the same time are very GER
tain that the issue is not TO be met or the
a. 41,r,r, of no
alive resolutions, resolving that Tennes-
see win not repudiate, etc. Such reso-
lutions are certainly very well, and we do
not mean to differ with the supporters OF
them, but at the same time would be
much reioiced 10 see some affirmation
upon the subject. We do not wish 10
suggest anything as 10 the disposition for
the existing debt, but there is one ques-
ton of the States domestic economy
which we feel interested in and have for
some time thought seriously of. We al
Jude TO the Penitcntiary. We feel The
same interest, and that only which all tax
payers do, and are watching with anxiety
the result of the investigations of the
Penitentiary Committee. 1t is mainly
question of pecuniaTy economy and as
this is the rock upon which most Of our
different penitentiary systems have split
we cannot resist throwing out TO the
committee a few suggestions relative to
the mode of management which we look
upon as the most eligible in view
of the present organization of the prison
labor The last experiment, which upon
the balance of accounts leaves the State
debtor two hundred thousand dollars, is a
sufficiently expensive experience TO insure
its being remembered. The committee
viii readily understandable a continuation
of the same plan is not to be thought of.
To come to our plan at once, We sugges
that the whole be done by contracts, bu
not such a contract as we have had. We
are satisfied after mature thought that II
can be made source Otrcyenue, or, at all
events. self-sustaining. We suggest that
the State, through the proper officers, lease
the labor of the COnvicts for 4 term of
two wears. and that the officers so leasing
be directed to lease each shop or depart
ment. with all It's mechanics OF Workmen
together with the machinery and apparatus
necessary for its effective operation, TO the
highest bidder, the lessee paying 50
much Der day for each workman.
This would place into careful and
experienced hands every department OF
labor. and would bring about the same
competition that outside labor produces
securing most certainly great advantage:
TO the lessee, who gets the labor of eN
perienced men, which becomes entirely
reliable under prison regulations. This
labor can be rented cheaper than any othe
of like character, taking everything int
consideration. and still give TO the Stat
= aFRVsr. llnTl TNQ
the expenses of the PenltentlaTY 1her'
is no mechanic or tradesman who doe
not Immediately see the advantage OF suel
contracts. The machinery run by tn
State. no shop rent, and experienced, re
liable labor for price which in the aggre
cate is cheaper than other labor alone
and at the same time the State tull
maid. II the committee viii examine tn
subject in this view, we are satisfied tina
they will find the plan entirely feasible
We propose that the State, through tn
Superintendent, retain entire control q
The prisoners, and that the superintendent
bercsponsihlefor The regulations and dlscI
line of the prisoners, and that he shall Sc
that thcv are properly cared Tor and we
treated And lust here we would sugge'
that we do not believe that the State ha
any moral right TO transfer the contrl
and custody OF parties, when their we
being depends solely upon the chanC
humanity of that party. It's well know
that where interest conflicts with human
" the great probability is that the latt,
win be forgotten.
The lessees of each department shou
be required to give bond with good al
snnroycd security for the payment OF Il
rent quarterly, and such regulations ma
as TO secure its payment and the c"nlimt
operation of the shops
The capitol grounds commenced beio
the war ought to be completed as early
nossible. with rs little expense
The State. This can be done 10y reqWu
The prison superintendent 10 employ
master mechanic rs foreman IN the sIo
department, and placing Inn
cbarre of 80 conyicts retain
rnr ,hp Stale exclusively for Il
n,reosc This could not affect The LEI
ahovc proposcd. as the majority OF tn
I,borqrs Would hc used for quaITymg p
moses which is the only efficient empl'
mcnt for short tenn men. The pan
suggest is simply that the State shall clo
and feed the prisoners, T7ln me lhaCiiiuo
ana denver each CAV tilt lll'il 49,
lcssecs. and that The lessees shall
quarterly their rents. And further, |
the superintendent, after paying thSc
rent expenses of the prison, be required
nav over all funds In his hands at The
of each quarter to the COmptrol
There are several States that have adop
his system. In Ohio and New Gor
il the only one that has succeeded.
der this plan. the State controls the 4
oncrs. through regularly salaricd ollic
and will be regularly paid for Ifs con
labor. All possibility of fraud or con-
lion is precluded and lengthy contra
legislation and reports rendered mne
saTy.
II is well known to many that there
several parties in the city or near II
are now anxious and readyto lease sew
departmcnts I'm the prison. Besides
one of our leading city merchants was
nv a gentleman in New York who IS
largely engaged in the manufacture
names in the New York prison. ina
,yould gladly come TO Tennessee
could hire the labor of - or 100 COW
This gentleman desires to buy a
tract of our white-oak lands, and II he
secure this labor will 20 into the M
racturc of names FOR The Southern
hct
One of the largest and most inliue
firms in The city are anxious To secure
Wet labor for various purposes. The
,,o,I,.r ,.;,.,,- i'm which This matter StrO