The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08

six men of all that shivering crowd.
The committee inform us that
"the officers and leSsees had discov-
cred the wrong and ordered the SER
geant to be removed This, surely,
was merited punishment for that bad
sergeant, for suppose it was inflicted
on the idea that he should have
bought more stoves, built better
houses. had clean quarters, and hired
doctor, instead of the lessee of the
penltentlary, who owned the premi-
ses, and controlled all these things.
Such was the condition of the only
penal farm visited by the committee,
for 1T was too cold for them to travel.
What was the condition of others all
over this state less convenient for in
Spection, we can only SurmiSe.
Remember that boys from fourteen
up are sent to the penitentiary-
boys on whose tender minds
good impressions could be made by
the one chaplain allowed and who
might be saved for usefulness. They
also can be farmed out in camps,
worked on railroads, and the lease
contract accords the gracious permits
sion to release them for reformation
If a reformatory institution is estab-
| lished.
This is but repetition of the ex-
perience of all times and only teaches
us anew howsdangerous a thing it is
to invest any man with power over
the bones and muscles of his fellow
men, in whose welfare he has no in
terest except to make money. 1t is
the old story of human suffering.
From the time when the mad policy
of England farmed out to the East
India company the labor of the timid
race-from the time when the avarice
OF Hastings replenished his Golfers
with the plundered jewels and treas
ureS of plundered princes and people,
until now, no darker blot on civiliza-
ton appears than that which
the convict leasing system exhibits
in every state where it prevails.
The statement made by the senator
from Dallas yesterday of convicts
shut up in mid summer at night, in
box cars without ventilation, and
dragged from thence dead in the
morning, exhibits here in Texas the
Calcutta hole in miniature. 1t has
been said that my remarks yesterday
were not arguments but appeals to
sentiment, and humanitarians.
Mr.. President, l have no apology to
offer for being able while acting
here as senator to feel the humane
impulses of man. My objection is
to the whole leasing system as
| devilish and uncIviliZed violation of
the whole policy and object of peni-
tential servitude, and now l say that
while want you to protect my town
against this convict labor, modify and
change this law as you will, will
never vote for it.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Penitentiary lease resolution pend
ing. Mr.. Gooch, speaking in favor OF
the lease, said:
The penitentiary board, consisting OF
Gov. o. NJ. Roberts, Treasurer
Frank Lubbock, and superintend Mt
of penitentiaries, j. Goree, a few
months ago, leased the penitentiaries
and state convicts to certain lessees. and
the said contracts of lease have been SUBJ
mitted to us for ratification or revoca-
| ton. On the 10Th of last month the ma
jorfty of the penitentiary committee re-
ported n resolution favOring ratification
| of said lease contracts, and minority OF
the committee signed by Messrs. Gooch,
TraylOr, Gibbs and Randolph, o posed
ratification; and L, with the assistance of
those gentlemen, drew the report. We
based it upon information furnished by
| the board and its members, and upon
| facts as they actually appeared. We
| showed that the state would lose more
than two millions of dollars by ratifyiDg
the leases. i have listened with no I'M
common interest to the argument
1 of NIn
| A. W. HoustOn) in favor Of the lease,
for had confidence that if there were
any among US whose extensive expert
| ence, whose analytical mind and whose
ripe judgment would be enabled to mas
ter the subject, that he was the gentle
man But he has offered no argument
which refutes the figures and facts stated
| in the minority report, has given us the
| benefit of no figures of his own, has Of
fered nothing which has unsettled the
conclusions L arrived at after the most
careful, exhaustive and laborious inves-
| legations. l came to this legislature rest
| ing under the belief that l would favor
ratification. was aware that it had been
executed with the aid and concurrence
of the distinguished statesman and pat
riot, Hon. o. NJ. Roberts, that distin-
guished and justly popular statesman,
| Hon. Frank Lubbock, and the very ef-
icient and often endorsed superintend
emit. Col. Thomas j. Goree. examined
| their contract and its provisions
| and policy, and il did not and
does not commend itself to my
judgment, as wise or proper. Those
who favor ratification urge that it would
be a reflection upon the Intelligence :.
judgment or wisdom of the members of
the board If their contract is not ap
proved and that failure to do SO would
also work great hardship on the lessees,
h. oil 90
sums OF money with view to manu-
featuring within the walls.
contend that IL we think the contracts
are wise we should ratify them, other
wise not. This should be the sole ques-
ton considered Section y, page AZ,
laws of 1881, under which this lease was
executed. reads: "Every lease shall be
| the first legislature thereafter c0nvent d !"
The lease contracts under consideration
contains the following clause: 1t (thecon-
| tract Is also subject to The approval or
the revocation of the next legislature.
1t was made known by both the law and
| the contracts that this was a condition,
and the lessees have neither been misled
nor deceived.
If the legislature are expected to ap.
prove lease contracts by legislative act,
when their judgments revolt at it, it is a
useless and idle ceremony to submit the m
for approval.
In investigating this question we should
consider the following facts:
The penitentiary convicts now number
2278. The annual net increase per year,
as shown by the report OF the superin-
| tendent for 1s82, page IL, is 125 per year (;
for fifteen years the net increase will be
1875. The total number at the end of the
lease contracts, fifteen years, will be
4153. not accounting for increase In popu-
lation.
The lease contracts require 400 con-
victs to be confined within the walls after
three years, but under its provisions, at
the end of the fifteen years, there may be
outside 1853.
AS above shown, there are 2276 convicts
at this time, and there will be, at the
end of the fifteen years lease, 4153, so the
annual average for the term will be 32l5,
and we take this number as q basis for
calculation.
The average number of coLvicts during
the next fifteen years will be 32l5.
COnvicts confined In the walls, 400.
Annual average outside of walls, 1915.
1t therefore appears that the provisions
of the lease most commended, because 1t
confines an increased number of convfcts
within the walls, will leave many more
on the outside than it will place on the
inside.
1t will be perceived that the argument
of the senator from Bexar (HOustOn) that
these contracts should be ratified because
they are supposed to carry out the policy
of the people, and all political parties, Of
combining convicts within the walls, ia
falacious; that it defeats in a great degree
the policy. 1t legislates against it. In
stead Of the leases being made with that