The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1880-03-02
AFTERNOON SESSION.


House met at $3.50 o'clock, and resumed the
consideration of the Penitiary bill.
Mr.. McLaurin offered the following amend
ment. Amend the amendment by striking out
all that part in reference TO public work; and
further amend, by allowing private indiyid-
uals to have an equal opportunity TO compete
with corporations.
Mr.. McLaurin did not think that railroads
navigation companies or levee boards should
have preference over private citizens. lie
thought the State could get better terms in leas
ing the Penitentiary by not restricting the hire
OF conyicts to public works at the limited sum
of fifty dollars per annum.
Mr.. Shields moved to table the amendment
He thought that one thing had been generally
agreed upon-that convicts should not be per-
mitted to work on private farms, if it were
possible to place them on public works.
Mr.. McLaurin remarked that there was no
way in which convicts could be worked, that
thew would not compete with free labor. lie
insisted that the interests of the State would be
subseryed by the adoption of his amendment
The amendment was tabled Dya vote of AZ
to8
Mr.. Buchanan's substitute was then consid-
cred by sections.
Theft section having been read, Mr. Mar
tin opposed the section. ,ooo
The Penitentiary was established in 1886,
SIbOOO0; and to June, 1876, had cost the State
s80OOOO: and if interest were added to the
saveral appropriations, the aggregate cost
would he about 81, 100000 He referred to the
loses sustained by Mr. Hamilton before he
could obtain control of the convicts, under his
contract with the State, and thought 1t not
only lust to him, but for the interest OF Inc
State that the lease should be ex!enueu' ing
EXPENSES to the lessees Of operating the Peni-
tertiary amounted to SIS, 4sO so that there
was no big bonanza in it. Mr.. Hamilton's prop
osition was liberal. The amount now due hlm,
7ome SIG 600 would be cancelled. The Publlc
works proposition was impracticabe, and
there was danger, if adopted that the State
would have the Penitentiary ON its hands;
Mr. HoSry said the gentleman from Clal-
horne assam ed a state of facts that does not
80 Ua denied that the State of Mississippi
owed Jones s. Hamilton GO. the sum OF
S25 10000 He replied in detail to the point
made by Mr. Martin. H.
NJ Lem Moore said that this was ship
that had been sailing for forty-three years
The Penitentiary had got into the leasing
system for the benefit of people OF his color
The Penitentiary Committees had this sqnJec.
before them for forty Days ana no onu SAosP
Messrs. Hamilton & Co., had submitted any
proposition for the future management OF the
institution. He was opposed to the leaslne
system but after fully considering the mat,
Ter in all its hearings. he ives satlshed tha'
the State could do no better than to ADOPT tht
Senate bill.
Mr.. Neville offered the following amend
ment: ,.. -,
wo, DIS following
wa the said Board of Commissioners be
md The v are hereby authorized to allow as
crad;t moon any bid made by the pfeseh
1assees the amount of money due them by the
State on the expiration OF their present lehse
such amount 20 be ascertlined ana determlh
ed as now provided by law; ~, no omord
mart On The table. Ii the State of Misslssip
-; a,ved Messrs. Hamilton Co. fVe thous-
VA or twentv-fiye thousand dollars, she
III - nav H. and the proposition to releas
tha Penitentiary should not DE prejudieed D,
apy such amendment. The amendment wal
tabled.
Mr. Walker wanted some gentleman 70 e4
nlain how it is that Messrs, Hamilton 900 O. "
pronose to make the State gilt OF SZo,oO0.
Mr.. Spears explained that whlis lhe sun
was actually due the sum stateu, :ie tvseSi
wore willing to foregO its payment IN Gohsl1
sration of the advantages which they. though
wo,id result to them from an extension OF Tn
1aosa for sir wears He warned the Hous
tbot in disreearding the Senate Dill, the.
we're ;gnoriug a certainty, and were wander
ING in the direction of darkness ana doupt "a
TO The maintenance of the penltenuafy.
offered, by way of amendment the hisV se''io
of the Senate bill, as follows:
SrorIoN l. Be it enacted by the Leglslatur
of the State of Mississippi. That the Board
Dublie Works. if such be created by TINS leg
!-s,trre and if not, then the Governor, WIN
ahat, he President, and four other persons
he annEinted by the Governor ana eonhrne
Nv tbe Senate, shall constitute boaru
Commissioners of the PenItenuary, anu sna
otard tba lesse of the Mississippi fehlten
49,. ,ogetheY with all convicts now servln
vac. jyb,a;r terms Of sentence, and such as ma
9.-s.,o. tbo tenn of lease, be sentenced 10 III
p 9us and all Pspitentiary .propert
leIan,;ng ~ the State, for the term oil SIX Y
,oors from the expiration OF present leas
Inon the same terms, conditions ana suPul'
tons as now provided by law, anu luis az ~
.ycentin0 that the said lessees shall pay u
L;rss 70 tbe State for all convicts, bl
% ,h ;nyalids and cripples as are "orI1les'
sohe determined by said Board oil ruOI
Worrs or Commissioners, that the lessTes az
~ nav he associated with them, shA
eutar in 20 bond in the sum OF one hunui -.
tbonsand fSl00,000) dollars, with gooa anu 81
fcient security for the faithful Perlornanoe
said contract. Said bond snail Dc aPDIo'ts
by the said Board OF Pgbilc morAS =. 20 n
D::;ss;oners and be filed in the othce oil u
S.ata Treasurer: and should said Board
Pubic Works or Commissioners, at any up
deem the bond insufficient or lnsolvent, IN:
shall notify said lessees, who snail, WIN n
sixty (6O) days thereafter make new BON
which shall be approved and tled as mere
provided. Should said bond not be made al
Sied as herein required the sad contract ~ shi
thereby become void, and said Board Of fuel
Works OF Commissioners shall take Possessi
fthe Penitentisry and convicts and lease
o,h err parties. .1.dne
OLE saS2ion Of Mr. Buchanan, the amendme
on Med by vote of Al to ~.
was tas rtia moved to amend as follows;
ar. Ma 'eetion by striking outall said $
Amends -ides for sealed proposals, a
ton that pro, blowing: that at the time :, a.
psse sdTeT 4f the psDdsbn mi, S5 s5a
leased to the hlgl cutlery"
same 60 be at pubic u, u, the amendment
tabled: ,ue,dmeut prov
Mr.. Melville offered an ,a.s M should
ing that if no more advantage n he extend
offered, the present lease shou .nSment. q
Mr.. Lewis favored the am ne amel
Dir. Sykes opposed. If Nv