The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-12-27
s3enry,jict La.pIr..

The special COMMITTEES appointed dur.
ing our last session 10 commnnicate wild,
the officials Of iIie difIei~st States of tIlf,
Unl0n, In refefence 10 the management
OF convict labor, beg leave to report that
they did communicate with every State
In the Union, the most, IL not all OF whom.
responded to our request for information
on this subject. From the numerous re.
| ports received Ie could, and have. conn
piled q large amount OF Information that
| might be interesting 20 tho House. but Il,
practical point of view, from the great
diversity of plans and opinions. it would
be too yoluminous and perhaps uusatis-
factory in reference to the cost of their
respective penitentiaries, for in this par
uSular they vary very materially. Some
| make very large annual appropriations.
| Some mako small and others pey into
their treasures various amounts Of money
realized from their convict labor. sa
After an examination of the whele
subject, we have come to the conclusion
that the condition of our. neighboring
State, Georgia, is more like that of our
own State In climate, population, wants
| and necessities than any other State, and
think she is managing hei convict labor
with more than ordinary skill and profit,
and would respectfully refer the General
Assembly to the: system of management
ia that State and recommends iss adop-
ton. About three and half years since
they entered into a contract with scme
responsible companies, to take charge Of
all their convict labor for a term OF Eve
years, the company to pay the State for
each convict $11 per snnum. The com.
Iany Pays sli expenses; including guards,
&c. Thoy have Mt this time between
| Z, 100 and ], 200 conyicts in the hands of
the different companies who Keep them,
employed at various branches of business
some on farms, on railroads, making
brick, working in coal mines, 60. Their.
Legislature has been pleased with this
| plan of working them, and recently en-
tered into contract with three different
companies to take charge of all their con-
vict labor for twenty years, for which they
are to pay the State 925, GOO annually.
The contractors pay all expenses from
the time of conviction until released by
the authority Of the State. This contract
rea:aa..se:: reaa.s: .Lss ssF::e5er >f hears they are
required tn wnr., incli,dingYall the da-z
tails that may be necessary 10 provide for
their comfort, protection and safe keen
| ing. The State furnishes one general.
superintendent, one physician and one
chaplain, whose duty il is to lock after
| their various wants. There is not q ain.
gle convict within the walls of tho Geor.
gla penitentiary. The contractors take
all classes Of convicts, including the vi
cious and iIyalids. Ex-Goyernor Brown.
who is one of the most successful business
men OF this country, and one who has
had more practical experience in the,
!. management Of convict labor, on u big
scale, than almost any man South, wra
one Of the first contractors for this labor
| His first contract expires in April, 1879.
de, with tHo other companies, haze con-.
tracted with the State Of Georgia Ito take
| effect after April, 1879) for ali their con-
victs fer twenty years, entering into a.
suitable bond, TO pay the State $500, 900
in annual instalments Of $25 600.
| Gov. Browne argument and experience
| is, that the convicts of this section of the
South, IL worked within the walls of the
penitentiary, will do their work 80 badly,
and spoil SO much material that the re-
! suit will ta in every instance in practice,
that they will involve the State in q
heavy annual expense" He also fakea
ground against She policy of educating
this bad population in the different me-
chanical pursuits, as hardship against
the honest mechanics, both of, the white
an6 black race. he also says under this
system "taey will be as tssslthy and as.
ciI5srfui as under tie sfoss sss7i.as
system-iudeed, my observation has been
that they axe more SOP s.
When we remember our financial en-
barrassment and the large amounts that
have been appropriated from year to
year, and the amount noic asked for to
support this institution, we think it would
Se good Judgment to profit by the expe-
rience Of our sister State Georgis and
lease this labor TO some responsible per.
son or company for at least one year, nor
l moro than fire yaars, under ei,eh r1:iea
and regulations as may be thought pru-
dent and safe. We would also respect
fully suggest that no person or company
should be allowed to CONTRACT for this
labor who will not take at least twenty
five conyicts, and at the came time res,
quire Thea; 10 give suitable bond fas
their faithful observance Of the contract.
Our. argument for this suggestion is,
it would be necessary for the convicts to-
ouE tGvracka or stockades fos their cons
f1sS anu projections, Including liberal ii5sIaass;
gupply of reliable guards, that 40 person
hiring iess than this nun Ter would find
1t convenient TO furnish besides, It
wonld limit the number Of coatraCtoTs
which would make it moro convenient
and practicable for the State oiiicess 10
look after their various wants and me-
ioeEEaiitti1. s...s. i5s5 )
From recent conferences and c0rnnln-i
nications with persons interested in the
phosphate works CO the seaboard of cur
Elase Z am convinced yga will fiud M