The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-12-01


Columbia, has not proved marked
success. The plan of leasing the COO
victs has also been tried. There have
been uudoubted evils connected with
it, most Of which experience has eliu.
mated ; aud this system in my judg
ment is the best tha, offers itself. Sly
attention has been closely given to its
working, aud my conclusions upon the
subject have the strength Of convic.
,ious. You will permit me briefly to
state them.
The conyicts should BOT be leased
in small numbers to any Que contrac-
tor Or for work that necessarily shifts
from locality to locality; and the
overSeerS and guards in charge OF them
should be appointed aud paid by the
Peuiteutiary authorities These pro-
visions, together with the frequent
inspections now directed to be made,
aud the summary power of recall now
vested in these authorities by law, will
make the leasing Of the conVicts liable
to but few objections.
When the work shifts from locality
to locality, barracks and stocksdes, in
which security, health, humanity aud
discipline may be at once Consulted,
are not, and from considerations Of
economy, cannot be erected for the
temporary use which is alone required.
When the work is stationary. the
number of convicts sufficiently large
and the time Of the lease long enough
to warrant it, there is no reason why
structures, to be approved by the
Board Of Directors, should hot be
erected by the contractor, in which
the requirements of health, security
and humane discipline should be as
fully consulted as in the Penitentiary
itself.
The annual report of the Board of
Directors and Superintendent Of this
institution to be submitted to you
makes a most gratifying financial ex-
hibit. The entire appropriation of
the last session for the maintenance of
the PeDiteptiary, for continuance of
work on prison wall and for the pro-
lection against fire, $4,000 in all,
remains undrawn in the State Treasu
ry, and is applicable 20 such other pur-
poses as you shall direct. The ins:i.
tuition has for the first time IN its
history from its earnings sustained
itself aud made necessary permanent
improvements; is free from debt and
has to its credit cash balance to be
carried forward to next year This
amounts to the suu of $4,000, and
| am convinced can be quadrupled
each year if the institution continues
to be managed upon the business prin.
ciples upon which it is now conducted
This cannot be done, however, unless
the Directors are permitted to obtain
the market value of the convict labor.
and if they are hampered by special
legislation, donating any portion Of
this labor to enterprises which, how
ever commendabie, are more or less
local in their character. When such
enterprises are deemed of sufficient
general importance to warrant public
let it be done directly, and go
n0mlne, and the act stand upon its
merits. 1t seems to me that such
profits as may be had from the labor
of our criminal population should Ell
ther 60 into the treasury to Tighten
the burtheD of the general taxes, or,
if it find special appropriation, that it
should supplement the fund for edu-
cation whose benefits enure to all and
whose results decrease crime itself.
1t gives me pleasure to be able to
bear testimony to the efficient dis
charge of duty by the Superintendent
of the Penitentlary and his subordi-
cate officers.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The aggregate current expenses of
the State last year for al! purposes,
except interest, was S354,739 and of
this sl07,l64 was expended upon the
Lunatic Asylum, being little more
than one,third of the whole amount.
The number of inmates during the
fiscal year was 400 and in the fact
that but twenty-six of this number
were supported by friends, and that
the remainder were charged to the
State as INDECENT poor, is found the
explanation of this heavy expenditure.
There cannot be On the part of any
one a desire to limit the benefits of
this noble charity; but it should be
limited to its purpose anG remain
charity. The paupey alone should re-
ceivc the bounty of the State; Those
who are able to pay 10 whole or in
part for the beue6ts of the institution
should be required to do so =; and its
proper share of usefulness should not
be limited by incuuberiug it with in-
mates not properly within the pu7-
view of its establishment. In this
connection l commend tc your earnest
consideration the report Of the Super
intendert of the Asylum. The rem
edy he suggests will undoubtedly cor
rect the evil. 1t is to return to the
mode prevailing before the war, and
to require each County to suppor,
those whom its officials send as pau
pers to the institution. This is en-
tirely consistent with the scheme of
our poor laws. The County levies the
fund for the maintenance OF its sane
paupers, and it IS expended under
local supervision. 1t should also levy
tax and retain supervision Of the
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