The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-15
Very Extraordinary .

The people or Texas nave been
abused a good deal for their many
faults, and we presume they deserve
the abuse about as much as other
people-but il cannot be denied that
they are very good-natured. They
have allowed themselves to be cheated
robbed, imposed upon by too much
government and by too little, made Il
believe themselves too poor TO pension
old soldiers OF educate young children,
and too rich to allow their bonds "a
mature-until finally they are brought
70 resemble a piece of putty to be
rolled and patted and nodded into any
form by any smart journeyman poll
ticiau who wishes to mend broken
pane OF cover up bad job. 1t is re-
ported that Colonel Nathan Patten
has made a formal offer 10 lease the
two penitentiaries for $4,000,
or either of them Tor $4,000 per
annum, and that he AYERS that
ne was ready to do the same at the
time the accepted bid was made, but
was hindered from doing so by the
form of the advertisement. This Is
very extraordinary Unless the offer
is "A huge Joke. and we think that the
character of the man and the nature
Of the circumstances preclude such a
supposition, an offense against the
substantial interests of the state has
been committed by the board that
Leased the peniteutiaries to Cunning
ham and Ellis for $4,000 each. The
lessees are not to blame. Not at all.
They are to be congratulated upon
their brilliant luck, for, in the light of
Colonel Patterns offer. it will be seen
that they secured the lease at just
one-half OF what it will bring IN open
market. The leSSeeS are not to blame
for buttering their bread. But
what shall be said of the board
that represented the state and
that made the brilliant trade ?
1t is not necessary To say or to think
that the members of the board were
dishonest, or that they had money put
in their pocket by the transaction, but
it is very evident that they have ex-
posed themselves TO such a charge.
The puerility of the transaction, when
viewed financially, outside of the
ascription of venal or selfish motives
is certainly palpable. But were the
members of the board noted for their
dullness of apprehension, their soft
ness or their incapacity to drive a bar
gain? The cheated, but good-natured
people laugh at such a question, and
declare that thethen governor and his
colleagues are men of excellent, very
excellent capacity in driving good
bargains; that the wool was not to be
drawn over their eyes by any sharp
ers in Texas. Then this capacity
makes the lease very extraordinary!
To take $4,000, when S20,OO0 could be
got Just as easily, is popularity of
financial capacity that sets one a
thinking. And yet the governor and
his colleagues were all-ll honorable
men, The longer enc thinks over the
very extraordinary affair the more eX-
traordinary does it become. As the
matter stands now. we cannot see how
the board can avoid both horns of this
dilemma:
1. If the board thought that it was
doing the best thing possible for the
state, it showed incapacity and child
ishness.
9. If the board knew. or supposed
that it could do better. but chose to
grant the lease for certain good rea-
sons, then the board should assign
those reasons, or have the charge of
dishonesty fastened upon its actions.