The Russellville Democrat., 1881-03-10
THE PENITENTIARY.
A Review of the Management of
 that Institution.
A Scathing Arraignment of the Lessee for BarbarOus Treat
 ment Of COnViCtS.

When Dr. Meek, chairman of the committee on penitcntiary, submit ted the report, he presented Q bill prepared py said committee provid ing for the state of Arkansas to take control of that institution, which was read first time; whersupon Mir. Parham, of St. Francis county, moved lo reject the bill, when Mir. Weaver moved the previous question, which motion prevailed.
 Mfr. Meek as chairman of the com mittee, being entitled to fifteen min utes in which to discuss the bill, arose and said.
 Mir. Speaker: 1 know not what objection the gentlemen can have to this bill that they should make an effort to throttle and cut off debate in this manner. The committee on penitentiary have been hard at work and have given close attention to this matter, and 1 think are at least entitled to some courtesy by this house. I approhend, sir, that gen tlemen on this floor can have no ob jection to the form of the bill, for it is almost an exact copy of the Mis- souri law. It IS only changed to make it applicable to this state. I take it that they are opposed to the state assuming control of the state prison. They contend that the state is not able to run it. My opinion is that gentlemen who talk thus have not taken the trouble to investigate the subject closely. Mir. Speaker, I have given much attention to the subject, and will say that the state is able to run it. It can not only be made self sustaining but will become source of considerable revenue to the state. If Col. Ward can take the ponitentiary and make millions out of It why can not the state make it at least self sustaining. It can be done, and should be done. The state is entitled to all revenue aris- ing from that source. Besides, sir, there are other reasons why the state should assume control of thls ihsti tuition. The contract system is a cruel, barbarous and inhuman one system which is opposed to the civilization of the age in which we live. The contractor will be ani. mated oy single motive-to make money. The convicts will be driven early and late; will be made to sweat and labor to put money in the con tractors pocket. No attention will be given to his physical, moral, mental or spiritual needs, but like beasts of burden they will be com. pelled to labor and toll until their physical powers give way. and the poor wretch sinks completely ex. hausted and death ends his suffer ings. Such has been tho end of hundreds, and hundreds more, if the present accursed system is contin. ued, will be murdered by it. Look, If you please, at the death rate of that institution for the last two years. One hundred and forty seven deaths occurred, one hundred and two of which occurred during last year, to-wit, 1880. Can . parallel be found Tn the history of the world? ? My God what charnel house! It is foul blot upon the fair escutch- con of our state; a stench in the nos trils of heaven; disgrace to the age in which we live. Great God are gentlemen so lost to all feelings of humanity as to turn deaf ear to the crics, grsans and death moans which