The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-02-22
PUBLISHED BY C. E. DYKE


OUT system b subject, which hare from time 10
time appeared u the press Of the State had pre-
pared your commitiee 10 witness evidences of
physical weakness among the prisoners as the
proocoae results o. the alleged abuses which in
voked these EriRieBmaE observation failed to
sustain such aniicipations So far IS your COM
mittee could judge from the appearance Of the
pri9cueFs, and the energetic manner in which
each enc wAs performing the work he was en-
gaged in, your COMMITTEES was led to the conclu-
siOn that The system and discipline observed in
managing them Of late has neither impaired their
health nor weakened their strength. ss9 ~
Upon inquiry and examination, your commit
tee discovered that out of one hundred and
twenty-five convicts then connected with The
camp, there were bat three sick in the hospital,
q v hom one had the measles, one chills and
feyeF and o1e Was suffering fFuin 40 organic
affection Of the heart. Besides these three, W ho
were confined 10 their beds in the hospital, there
we1e some four OF 1--WE others iucapacitated for
Werk by various physical disabilities, not suf
hcie4t 10 cOnfine them 10 the hospital The sick
visits The camp regularly once week.
The quarters of The convicts, which have been
erected BY The present lessees, were inspected by
| your committee, and found 10 be dry, clean
commodious well ventilated and we'll designed
to anord facilities for guarding against escapes.
The appearance and statementsof the convicts
themselves showed that they had been receiving
| enough TO eat, and an inspection by your Com
mittee OF the dinntr about 10 be served to the
| prisoners, on your Committees arrival at the
camp, furnished assurance that both in quantity
and quality their food is not inferior to that of
| most daily labOrers.
The prison uniform worn by The convcts is of
thick, striped cotton, affordng sufficient warmth
and protection, perhaps, against the ordinary
winter weather OF this latitude, but in the opinion
Of your Committee il is not sufficient to protect
| against the severe cold that has characterized
4 - 4
| fore recommend that the proper steps be taken
| TO supply each convict with at least one suit
| sufficiently heavy TO secure protection against
| exceptionally cold weather In the future.
Upon the whole, their investigation and in
spection enables your Committee TO report that
that The present condition of the conyicts is far
better than your Committee had expected to
find It, and is creditable TO the State as il was
| gratifying to your Committee.
Penal servitude can never, consistently with its
object as an institution of punishment for crime
be Otherwise than bitterly repugnant TO those
consigned to il. In this respect, the system
adopted by the late administration undoubtedly
fulflls IFS mission. Without some precautions,
however, to impose a check upon the auiocraic,
arbitrary power of those who have the custody
and management of the cOnvicts, it is possible
that the system may be abused in the future as
it is alleged TO have been abused in the past.
il IS the province Of the Legislature 10 provide
against the possibility of cruelty and nbumanity
in the treatment of the convicts, and To this end
your committee respectfully recommend The
enactment OF such legislation as viii make il The
duty of the Adjuiant- General To visit and inspect
the prison camp and examine the convcts at
irregular intervals, at least five times a wear,
without notice 10 those in charge OF the CON
victs; also he should be required 10 furnish q
report 10 the Governor of his observations dur
ing each VISIT, and such reports should be pub
lished IN q newspaper at the Capital
The 0fffCf 0f the 9 relieve
the State of an expense Of at least $4,000 per
annum and in lieu thereof 10 bring in an income
from the convicts of about 81, 900 per annum.
Without undertaking To say that il is the best
system that can be devised, your committee be-
leYe that when properly conducted, it is well
adapted TO the necessities Of this State and that
for many years yet il will be 10 the interest OF
the State to adhere to IT, II is to be regarded as
something more than a mere temporary expedi-
ent, il is the opinion 0t your committee that the
income To The State from its convict labor can
be nieasurably increased 10y lengthening the
term for which the coDvicis are TO be hired
Were the term extended to i've years, the value
OF the convicts services To the lessees would be
greatly enhanced, and it Is your committees be-
lief that at least three times the sum now paid to
the State foT their services could be realized. To
this cOnsideraiisn your committee would respect
fully call the attention OF the Legislature.
In conclusion, your committee would respect
fully submit the facts and suggestions herein set
fsrth and offered, and beg to he discharged
Very respectfully,
8. r. Mallory, H. T. Lykes, Geo. W. Allen,
VIM j. Jones. Wm. Bryson, Jr, on the part OF
the Senate. l. L. Newsom, 4. G. Tippin, HI. ID.
Howfen, G. c. Coleman, w. Miller, L. n. B.
McCray, H II. Spear, part of the Assembly.
The report was received adopted and ordered
spread upon the Journal Upon motion Of Mr..
Duncan, 800 extra copies of the journal ain
ing the report was ordered printed for the use Of
the Senate.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
| Mr. Dell obtained leave and introduced the
| following joint resolution: WHEREAS, The
cost Of selling land by the Internal Improvement
Board and the current expenses OF said board
appear TO be very great, and, whereas, 1t IS the
| duty Of this Legislature 70 examine and scruii-
nize closely all sue expenses 50 asto enable the
people Of the Stale to judge whether IL is right
and Just; therefore he il Resotced By tee Se1safe
| the AsaeHably c0neurriHg, That a committee of
| two on the part Of the Senate and three from
| the Assembly be appoi ed 10 examine the
| above mentioned expenses and report at rs early
| day ~ practicable: which was read three times
| and passed,
| suhslifus for Senate bills q and 7S: 10 be
entitled act to dissolve municipal corporations
| under circumstances therein stated and TO pro-
| vide governments Eor the same; read the third
| time and passed.
| Senate bill No 1873: to be entitled an act for
| the support and education of INDECENT deaf and
| dumb; read the third time and passed
Under q suspension of The rules, the following
bills were introduced and referred
BY Mr. Th0mpsou-Senaie bin No. 1856: to
be entitled act to designate the holidays 10 be
observed in the acceptance and payment OF bills
Of exchange, bank checks and promissory notes;
TO the Judiciary Committee Also, Senate bill
No 167: 70 be entitled an act in relation 10
commercial paper TO the Judiciary Committee
ByMr. Jenes-Senate bill No. 1853: to be en-
titled an act TO authorize Peter Thompson, Of
Levy county, to take charge of and manage bis
estate; 70 the Judiciary Committee.
Senate bill No 154: TO be entitled an act to
incorporate the Palatka and Indian River Rail
way Company, and 10 grant certain lands 10 the
sane was read the third time and passed.
Under o suspension OF the rules the following
bills were introduced: s
Bv Mr.. Lee-Senate bin No. i69: to be entitled
m act 10 amend chapter 902f Of Laws Of Florida
entitled an act 10 amend an act entitled an Act
to provide for the registration Of electors and The
holding Of eiections. appFnved August 3. 1888,
approved February 81, 1877: referred 10 the
Comn,ifiee On Privileges and Elecilons. r.
By Mr.. ThOmpson--Senate bill No. 17O TO be
entitled an ac4 fixing The time for holding the
Circuit Court uf the Fourth judicial Circuit re-
6efrsd to the Judieisry Oommiitee.
Br MF MeKiune-Genate bill No. Ia - be
eniiiisd an ac4 70 amend section 80 OF ap act
eniilied an ac4 relatLng 10 proceedings before
yusliHes q tie Pesos and Judgments Of Justices
Sourtse npeeessd KebFuary 81, 1873 FeieTrea 70
th0 J6AiefnsE CommitfeAs fsa 4ss7 fii'R
BY the Committee on Education bin
No IN: to be entitled sn act for Stale AdoptiDn