St. Landry democrat., 1878-01-26
On the 10th inst, Sentor Stubbs of
Ouachita, introduced the following bill
into the Senate:
SENATE BILL NO. IL.

into the Senate:
SENATE BILL NO. IL.
An act relative to crimes and offenses, author
lzlng judges in certain cases to sentence con
victs to work on the public works and roads,
and deIegating powers to municipal and paro-
chlal authorities to enforce the same.
SECTION /. Be it enacted, etc, That in all
| criminal prosecutions, when any person is con-
victed IN any OF the courts Of the State OF any
crime offence not necessarily punishable
under the law with Imprisonment at hard labor,
the judge before whom snch conviction was
liad may sentence the person 80 convicted to
or streets OF the parish or city in which the
crime or offence was committed, and which
may be eventually chargeable with the costs Of
the me pros prosecution, for time not exceeding
Ihat in default Of the payment 0 costs OF pros
secutlon, the judge may enforce the liquidation
thereof by sentence to additional labor at a
rate not exec eding one dollar per diem.
SEC. q Be it further enacted, etc. That in all
cases where convictions are had for crimes or
"1ences punishable under the law by fines. the
empowered, in default of payment of the fine
imposed and the COSTS to sentence the party
convicted to work upon the public works, roads
and streets OF the parish city in which the
crime or offence was committed, for a time
sufficient to reimburse or liquidate the fine and
diem.
SEC. 3. Be it further enacted ETC., That in the
city of New Orleans the City Council, and in
the several parishes the police jures, are hereby
delegated fun authority to pass all ordinances
ana laws which they may deem necessary to
carry into effect the provisions of this act for
the discipline, working and employment of
such conyicts. Provided. That such convicts
snail not be employed out of the parish having
venue of the crime or offence, or on any other
labor than upon the public works, bridges
roads and streets OF the parish or city.
SEC. 4. BE It further enacted, etc, That all
laws in conflict herewith be and the same are
hereby repealed.
1t was referred to the appropriate
committee by majority of whom it
was reported upon favorably, but was
afterwards recommitted. We think the
provisions of this bill excellent and
hope before the legislature adjourns to
law in force three fourths of the parties
convicted before our District Court
would come under it's provisions and
The parish which pays the expenses of
conviction would then be remunerated
10y the labor of the convict. Had such
Il law been in force here since 1870, the
parish would have saved tens of thou
sands of dollars our public roads, and
bridges would have now been 10 repair,
and petit larceny have been effectually
squelched and every planter in the couu-
try able to raise his own meat at home,
instead of paying the enormous price he
now does for it.
As the law now stands, thief steals
Il pig worth $500. He is arrested and
brought to court for trial. 1t cost on
an average of from $4,000 to $4,000 to
try and convict him. The honest tax
payer has to pay this. The thief is sent
off to the pennitentiary he is soon for
gotten; he remains away year or two,
serves out his time and returns to his
old home and his old ways again. Long
before he retnrns the example of his
punishment is forgotten by the society
in which he committed the theft, But
suppose he were kept In the parish and
kept at work on the public roads, streets,
bridges, &c. The parish would be re-
imbursed, the expenses of eonvicting
him, whether great or small; he would
be living ever present example to evil
Iloers, a constant reminder of their final
fate to others similarly disposed; the
effect would he an hundred times greater
than sending him oft to Baton Rouge,
where he is OF no particular benefit to
any one, but the lessees of the penniten-
5iary. Some there are who say the
punishment is too degrading. The |
answer to this is that it is not SO much |
the punishment as the commission OF the
crime that degrades the individual.
1t ia not 80 much, because man is
luag that be 10 made infamous in the
eyes of the world. but because he has
With malice aforethought, murdered his |
fellow man. 1t is not so much the send |
ng of man to the pennitentiary that |
makes him Infamous. 1t is the fact |
hat he has stolen something that renders |
Tim repulsiye and hateful to honest |
men. IL this law is "rather rough" on
'Ogues, that should only commend it to
,onest men. In this country there is |
10 necessity for any mans stealing and
,yery one who does steal should be made
IN example of. Every man able to work
,an find employment and can live and
i've honestly. If he is unable to work,
;l,arity will see that he don't starve.
Those about the city and towns, who
re out OF employment, cal, easily get
il they want and will go
. the country in quest of it. One
,reat stridetowards restoring prosperity
o the country is to rid it of the rogues
Who now infest it. It is not half as hard
or them to work ON the public roads
q punishment for theft, as it is for
he farmer and planter and laboring
nan to work hard day and then watcl,
llese light fingered gentry" all night
0 keep them out of his corn crib, on
og pen or chicken house.
In this parish there is another class
rho would be struck dead by this sta
ute. They are as pestiferous as the
city larceny thieves, and more dan
erous. We allude to the professional
ullies, loaded down with concealed
7eapons and filled with mean whiskey,
tho go to peaceable assemblings of the
eople, balls, weddings, parties and
ometilnes to the honse of God when
are at divine worship for
he purpose of disturbing and breaking
hem up. Arrest one of these rowdies, |
~ him and conviet him at heavy eK-
ense to the tax payers and what is the
esultf The maximum Of punishment, |
!, q fina nf S1il1 and ten DAYS ilnnrison-