Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-30

The island lease expires on the LIST OF an
usry, and the serious question confronts the
Taxing District authorities az 10 what will
be done with its prisoners. Yesterday after
noon an APPEAL reporter called upon sew
eral practical business men, in order to OBJ
tain their opinions upon the question.
PRESIDENT MADDEN,
who, OF course, is we'll posted on the subject,
was first called upon. IN response TO the
query OF the reporter he said:
Goa New Year., the Taxing-Disfrict con-
victs will be returned 10 us with flying bau-
ners Tue law and the lease will then end.
There are only two ways TO remedy the mat
ter. The FIRST is for the Co4nty Court 10 make
the island workhous The second is to be
app led il the County Court does not make
il such. We have drafted bill asking the
Legislature to make the island workhouse
for the county and the Taxing District"
sSuppose the owners Of the island refuse
TO lease The labor of the convictsp
"There is precision in the bill giving US
authority to locate our workhous elsewhere"
"Could not the prisoners be probably put
upon the streets?"
"No; it would take more 10 pay the guards
Than the prost from the work would realize
What do you think OF having work
house built?"
"That would be losing game. All the
work the eonEiets can do, can be done much
cheaper By regular laborers and by ma
chinefx 1t would simply be contest OF
muscle U.s. steam, and steam will beat muscle
every time; it has been doing it for forty
wears. ! can fill the Jail in a wek. The
stationhouse is now full"
How much does it cost 10 provide for a
prisouer?"
"Thirty cents day. From the island pso-
ple we made ten cents day from each con-
Wet Unless something is done We Will have
10 put all the prisoners in the Jail on midi
mus against the State. WE ought to deliver
the prisoners free of cost and place them in
the hands of lessees under a reasonable 10
strainto
COL. H A. MONTGOMERY,
who has had long experience with laboring
cal knowledge of such matters than any other
man In Memphis, was found at his Office and
interviewed by the reporter:
"My opinion" said he, sis that these men
ought to be pat TO work on the streets. La
Dor is worth from 81 TO 81 so a day; and
there is no especial reason why the Taxing
District should not reap the benefit from the
labor of It's convicts. The island Iessees
were able TO take them and make money on.
OF them, and what they can do the District
can do. There lie plenty Of sanitary work to
do aud plenty Of street paving, and / am
confident the District could save money by
employing its prisoners on this work. As il
Is now it practically makes nothipg.p
MAJ. PETIT
was the next gentleman sought after. He
was found IN his Office. A short time ago be
had served as foreman of the grand jury.
and the Leland matter was then brought
prominently 70 his atteution.
81 will have to confess frankly,P he said to
the reporter, that / have no matnred
opinion on the question. have thought 2
good deal about it, hut nearly evsry expedi-
ent proposed seems open TO objectis,u. II
will not do TO throw these criminals uAon
the community
"What do you think, msioE, of establish-
ing = regular Horkhouse7"
at is objectionable, because il comes into
composition with honest labor. II seems to