The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-03-10
AFTERNOON SESSION.

The House met and resumed the considera-
ton of Senate bill for preservation of the
records of the Supreme Court. The bill APP
propriates 1915 for transferring and indexing
the records. Passed-55 TO ID.
The Conference Committee on the Peniten-
tiary bill through Mr.. Buchanan, reported a
substitute for Senate and House bills. The
bill provides for the appointment of Board
of Public Works Of six persons-one from
each Congressional district-to receive pro-
posals, after three months notice, for the hire
of the convicts for SIX years on the best terms;
requires of the lessees a bond of one hundred
thousand dollars; that lessees shall within
two years erect machinery for bagging fac
tory and wagon factory; that convicts sem
fenced for ten years or more be kept within
the walls, and no convIcts shall work outside
at any mechanical pursuit except on works of
internal improvement; that the Board OF Pub
lie Works shall direct how eonvicts worked
outside shall be employed, giving preference
to works of internal Improvement, and when
so worked lessees not to demand more than
fifty dollars for eacp man per annum; Super
intendent of the Penitentiary to make tour
of inspection from time to time; the Governor
to be at once notified by the lessees of the es
cape of convicts, and cost of advertising anc
arrest to be paid by lessees; if anything is
found TO be due the present lessees, the same
to be paid when properly audited, not to ex
coed twenty-five thousand dollars.
The bill was considered in Committee of the
Whole.
Mr.. Melville offered the following amend
ment;
Amend by inserting the words ''no conviets
SHALL in-sectiou, the words following; ''be
employed in the manufacture of such articles
for sale at retail as are manufactured by the
local mechanics, or SHALL
Mr.. Spears moved that the Committee rise
and report the bill back, and recommend its
passage.
The Chair ruled that Mr.. McWillie's amend
ment was not in order, that and all ,other
matters had been referred to the Conference
Committee.
Mr.. Buchanan remarked that the subject
matter of Mr.. McWillies amendment was
considered by the Committee, and, although
such proposition had met the approval of the
House. the Committee on the part of the Sen
ate would not agree.
Mr. Featherston thought the bill reported
by the Committee was good compromise, and
ought to be adopted
Mr. Melville urged the adoption of the
amendment, and made an earnest appeal for
the protection of local mechanics. He appeal
ed from the decision of the chair, and the
chair was sustained.
Mr.. Speaker Johns having taken the chair,
Mr.. Lewis remarked that he was in hearty
sympathy with the gentleman from Kinds for
the protection of local mechanics but he did
not see how the matter was to be reached ex-
cept by reeommitment TO the Conference Com
mittee.
The Speaker concurred in this view, and so
decided, whereupon Mr.. McWillie appealed |
from the decision, and the Speaker was sus-
tanned.
The report of the Conference Committee was
then adopted by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Bailey, Bowman, Buchanan, |
Buffkin, Bufford, Burdine, Burnett. Bynum, |
Cameron, Chamberlain, Christmas, Coleman, |
Cooper, Crayton, Davis, Day, Downs, Drane, |
Featherston Fields, OF Lowndes, Fields, Fort |
son, Gilmer, Glass, Gum, Harkreader, Harris, |