The Hartford herald., 1880-03-31
Notes From theCRpitoi.

FRANKFORT, KY, March %, 1850.
Editor Herald.
When We last wrote, we entertained
high hopes of an immediate settlement
Of the Penitentiary question, 81 far as
the present Legislature is concerned
in fact We expected that before this
time the Senate would have concurred
In the House Bill to branch. But such
has not been the case. The great ques-
ton has been pushed off, time and
again, and finally the Senate Peniten-
tlary committee has reported, and had
printed two substitutes for the House
Bill. These provide for hiring out on
pubic works, rivers, coal mines. Nc.
One of these substitutes provides for II
division of the proceeds between the
commonwealth and Col. South, during
his present term of office. The other
provides that the present Lessee shall
have during his present term of office,
onc-half the proceeds of tine hire of
convicts; the Commonwealth one
fourth, and the convicts themsel yes.
onc-fourth. These seem Ia contem-
plate no removal of the present Keeper.
and also advance some near and ad-
vanced ideas in convict life. The idea
of clothing and feeding and teaching
convicts trade, and then pay them for
their labor, probably more than they
were ever worth AT home, strikes us ~
something rather novel, and as offering
n premium To criminals We also re-
gard the policy of working convicts out
a> Il doubtful one, and so far as working
them in coal mines Is concerned, AN un-
Just one. We have AN honest, indus
trious population whose business and
profession il mining, and we are not
willing to see them turned out, and
their places filed with convicts.
Whether either Of these measures will
prevail in the Senate, or not, we are
not advised. hut we are disappointed
in the failure of the Senate Ia concur
immediately i'm the "Branch Bill" of
the House. The time has fully come,
when something should he done, that
will remove the stigma that has been
east upon Kentucky on account of her
wretched prison system 10y the press of
the country Kentucky's Senators
should remember that the Legislature
of lS0-s, has not been held guiltless of
the sufferings and misery, which have
worldwide notoriety TO the State Pris-
on during the last Is months. And
they should remember too that the
present Legislature will he held doubly
responsible for future neglect, having
had the terrible experience of the past
year, and having had the warnings and
admonitions of the people. They should
for once allow selfish and sectional in
tcrests to be hanished, and agree upon
some plan 10 solve the rcred question
in "A manner alike creditable To the
State, and humane to the convicts.
The "Salary BilP' which was sent
from the House to the Senate, early i'm
the session, and which was there called
up by Senator Hill, at the proper time,
has as last been allowed To float to the
surface, and for two days has been un-
dergoing a general discussion and dis
section the final result of said opera
tion no man can tell.
The Whipping Post Bill of the House
has been defeated i'm the Senate by a
small majority. This We think was
we'll
\ bill has passed the Senate author
izing the sale of the Governors man
sion.
The House passed the Gathright bill,
providing that Circuit and County
Clerks shall not retain fees to an
amount exceeding 5000 to apply how
ever only to counties having a voting
population of 5000 votes. This will
only apply To n few counties having
large cities.
The House has passed IA general hill
regulating and reducing the fees of
county officers. Also bill reducing
the pay To jailers for boarding prisoners
i'm iailG In dax A
bill TO reduce pay of witnesses in crim-
inal eases TO ~ cents per day, was tie
feated The bill 10 regulate freight on
railroads known rs the Robertson bill,
has been defeated in the House. The
Whips bill, authorizing the DISPOSE
tion of the Willard Hotel in Louisville,
by lottery or chance, has again passed
the House. Beautiful consistency this,
fore. passed II bill allowing "A claim of
$1,000 to the ex-Attorney-tieneral for
prosecuting lotteries.
The Green and Barren River bill has
been approved by the House Commit
tee and made special order for 10 O'Clock
Tuesday next, to continue from day TO
day, until disposed of. This hill passed
the Senate last week.
A bill has passed the House regulating
and fixing pay of officers and attaches
of the two Houses of the General AS
sembly. This fixes the pay about ~
per cent lower than they have been,
and makes it permanent.
The Senate Committee tO whom the
House resolution requesting the Gov
ernor TO remove the present Lessee of
the Penitentiary was referred, has re-
ported back the resolution with an eX-
preston that the Governor would have
no power to remove the Lessee, if he
were requested to do so by the Legisla-
ture. The Senate l suppose will sus-
tain the report of the committee, and
the matter will end.
The Hon. John ID. White il among
us merely as a spectator as YET, not hav-
ing received his certificate, he cannot |
he sworn in.
The Hon. John Feland, who was en-
dorsed and recommended by Governor |
Blackburn and nearly all the Kentucky |
Legislature, for the United States |
made vacant by the death of
Judge Hays, of Louisville, has been alb |
sent on a trip TO Washington, looking |
after his interests.
A resolution fixing the I4th day of
April for final adjournment, was passed |
by the House on yesterday. /
This looks as il members would not |
see the early dog-wood blossoms, or
plant early potatoes. We are inclined |
to hope, however, that they will settle |
the Penitentiary question, pass the Sal |
AIRY bill and Re-districting bill, repeal
the Green and Barren River Charter, /
and 90 home before that time.
OBSERVER.