The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-05-01

bankrsrIt IN means and totally insuEicient in
IN 4 large penftensiary like this, working
nearIe one thousand men IN manufacturing
GOTTEN and wooden goods, boots and shoes.
furniture and wagons. clothing. etc. re-
quiring an immense capital and close. I'M
firing attention more than any board could
could command or would practice, TO make
them all profitable TO the State, and with
only \ capital contingent upon legislative
appropriations, inadequate to the wants Of
the business or the number OF men en-
ployed. there can be but one resulf-pecu-
mary loss
Il should be a source Of congTatulation TO
the people Of the State that this institution,
which has hitherto been a heavy drain upon
the resources Of the State. has at length.
under the faithful and slSiIlful control Of the
present iessces. become not only self sup
porting. but an actual source Of revenue.
Your committee do not hesitate to
/ give II as their opinion, that so
1 long as the present policy Of leasing
/ Is pursued and continued in the hands of
the present able, faithful and experienced
I parties, the tax payers viii never he called
upon 10 contribute To the support of the
! pcnitentiary. II any are disposed to doubt
the correctness of this opinion or the leasing
policy, let them visit our prison, witness its
/ workings. observe its thorough discipline,
and see the manufactured goods hourly
turned off. and then turn to the appFopTia-
ton acts of former Legislatures, and esti-
mate the amounts appropriated for the sup
port of this institution when under the di-
rection of the State Board. and those doubts
Will be removed
Your committee desire to call attention to
the pressing necessity of the present Legis-
lature taking such steps as will secure the
i establishment of one or more branch peni-
tentiaries. The reason for such Legislation
4 is found in the cogent facts that the
present penitentiary, as this report
shows. is insufficient IN capacity to
accommodate the cOnvicts now suffering
the penalty Of the law, that the prison reg
lister and criminal dOekets OF the courts
show that according to the present ratio Of
the alarming increase OF crime-the number
Of prisoners IN eFle--yeaF half having
/ increased from COZ to 944-that within ;
few years the number OF. convicts viii b.
swelled to at least 1900; that owing to Ou
extended territory the sum annually ex
pended in the transportation of prisoner
would in ten or fifteen years amount in thu
! aggregate to a sum sufficient to meet tn
expense of building new. prison. You
committee would embrace this occasion t.
, respectfully suggest that in the location o
, q State prison, public interest demands tina
!. the determining features should be aeces
) sibility, market facilities, advantages TO
the profitable employment Of convict labor
Z healthfulness and an abundance of unfail
: ing water for effeetual drainage and prOpel
lingmachinery. Moneyed or other subsidies
5 nor political influences, should not be al
t lowed to have any weight in deciding upOl
r the site for State institution of this char
, acter. x-,,,sts s,vg aearF rga
4 We cannot close this report without say
n ing a word on the great subject of prison
: reform. The treatment of criminals is on
c of the great questions of the age. We ar
r pleased to observe in orr own State much in
i ter est is being manifested upOnaa subjec
e that is To-day being egiIated y every civil
; lied and Christian government IN the world
4 In our penitentiary much has been don
!. in this directiony Notwithstanding all tn
G unfavorable ssHrroundings, but much re
V mains to he done. To what extent ca
i and refornlatory means Be relied upon i
. place of force substituting Kindly in
e huences in place of walls, and what may
, done for the discharged convict, whethe
h he shall. be taken back by society or tn
d peni Tertiary, are questions of vital and al
d sorbing interest to our people, and We sui
i nit them to the grave consideration of on
, philanthropists and Legislators.
t l3.6t Respectfully,
G O. n. HoIIINGswoRTH, Chairman.
; S. T. ROBB
/ J.. $. Mills,