The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-08

that the prDvlHon Of the lease most com,
fnended, because II confines an Increases
number oi o0nylots within the walls, WIZ
leave many more on the outside IMAM " WIN
place on the Inside. ,-, g.,
rlsk and secure $4,000 profit for Two years
and $40, 900 for thirteen years. ,s,. ----,.,
what could the state realize u u carried
out the policy OF tho lease, II " Conhheu
400 within The walls, aud worked the pai-
ance outside for profit. -,
"As above shown, there will be an annual
average convicts outside OF the Wa!s w
.8l5 Tor the term. The state can hire them
out at an annual profit OF S72 per capita or
for The / ,Sl5 the annual profit OF $l3O OoO,
and Tor the fifteen years, net proht over we
and above that OF the leases OF VI 800, w.
Out of this sum, the state would have 70
pay for the support Of the 1,4OO in the walls
Tor nearly whatever sum consumed ABOVE
their earnings, or whatever they iacheu VI
being selfsnpportiDg, II anythlng..
"But we understood the policy ofthe state
and that of the statute to be, that as many
convicts shall be confined within the walls
,as can be comfortably accommodated ana
profitably Employed" and not that the
state shall place 400 within the walls, VINO
cannot be profitably employed" and con
sumo the profits of those worked outsiue W
1--WE estimate that 500 or 600 of convicts
now ON hand are long term men and may
be utilized within the walls at mechanical
and manufacturing pursuits Tor seiisup-
port. 81
the state or people to place every CONVEX
within the walls, whether ne can oe ii a,,S
| self-supporting or not, and levy taxes anu
borders upon the honest and law-abldlng
and upon the industrious OF the state 10
| support them in whole or IN part. 80
'.Therefore we base calculation OF the
probable results of the state resumption on
the theory that, say 600 seli-supportlng
convicts Tor to become seli-supPorIiuei'
apce hired out in groups TO De seciuueu
from the public and worked at farming
(which is not of that character OF laDor
which iniuriously completes with Tree
Iabor). at a profit of about So per head, we
find the following probable result;
Average number of convicts for 10 oo,z
Aye enss number seif:supporting In soo
average was number Of unskilled iaborers
Average ss profit per month at s6....... si5 6S $50
| Average annual profit .....':... Ao''-''
Total net profit for Is years, over ana son ooo
above til, total profit of the leases 2lyy,zvV
"Subiect to be decreased to aid In support-
ing 600 in the walls until they pecome sei''
supporting. ,,,,ot;ors II se,ms to
us demonstrable, that if the state resumes
charge of the penitentiaries and conylcls,
aud keeps within the walls Tor near pyl .ne
humber required by the lease contracts, 70
wit 400, the state can earn ap ooo Ins
nrofit of the leases as shown, 81 ,335, 2OO; ana
IF If reserves and keeps 600 within the walls,
it can earn, above the profits OF the lease'
| S2199, 200. ,ooo
"By this lease the proceeds OF 9oo convicts
hn q
which were at this time bringing tne ss ueg
a net profit of So per month, or nearly Soo.
and they were given the right BY the leases
to hire out the first year an additional num-
her of 678. which would, at So per month,
give a profit of the further sum of $4S SIG, ag-
9regating Sl14, 900 for the first year, less
$4,000 paid back as rent by the lessees; anu
varying from year to year. II seems W uS
in the light of events which have occurred
sinoethe board acted, that so wide varl-
ance in the terms and probable proillIs,
might and probably would have INDUCED
lcompetitlye bids, il advertised, and resulted
in more profitable contract Tor the state.
These are the data and basis on which the
opposing forces will meet in battle array on
tomorrow in the senate chamoei on .n,s
serious question, involving such immense
interests. But as this letter has already
snun ont to unusual length, Will post
none until tonight some views hau puTr-
| nosed expressing this morning on TINS H.
teen year lease, which, as it STANDS, trust
the legislature will refuse to confirm. H.
mo. 1871
AUSTIN, March 4.-[Special correspond
ence. II telegraphed on day before yes
terday the result OF the efforts before the
senate committee on state affairs to amend
the charter of the city of Dallas, the argu-
ments made, etc. BY invitation OF that
committee, Judge r.. E. Burke and MI
John W. Thompson, of Dallas, appeared
before it in opposition to that part OF the
bill giving exclusive original jurisdiction
TO the recorders or mayors court OF all
inisdemeanors committed within the cor
porate limits of the city. These gentlenen
j objected to that portion OF the bill above
referred to, both ON account OF its ancon-
stitutionality and inexpediency. Their
arguments on these questions were singu-
larly able and conclusive, and they made the
evident conflict OF the provisions as against
the clear language OF the constitution SO
palpable that the committee promptly
struck out that part of the bill TO which
thew objected, and left the matter Just
where 1t now is under the general laws OF
the state. Judge Burke remarked that he
did NOT care TO address himself to the ques-
ton of the consoliuation,of East Dallas with
Dallas, Ms that subject had already been re-
viewed before the committee on a previous
| occasion. but said he believed that there
we're many signatures to the East Dallas
petition of people who lived miles and miles
away from that ambitious and aspiring little
Mr.. Johnson represented the other side.
Like lawyer and clear thinker he omitted
from his argument all irrelevant matter
and boldly struck right IN the very pi.n
and marrow OF his case. He handled the
subject in as mastery and earnest man,
ner as was possible, evidencing. carei III
\ Thought ana much investigation, but alas
| for his cause, the bill doesn't bold water
when touched by the constitutional test,
which, however, is no fault OF his. lie
said substantially;
recognized as important subdivisions OF the
state; that in many important particulars
the creation of municipal corporations by
special charter or laws supplantinR the
general laws, such as the road laws, taxa
ton laws, etc, that the cities being recog-
nized as political Subdivisions OF the state
ought 70 have right to control, regulate
and punish the offenses. nuisances and
misdemeanors therein committed, ana
that thereby the ends Of the state law were
sufficientiy met and carried out; that the
object OF the amendments 10 tne
charter of Dallas asked for In the bill
was simply to. grant the city the
exclusive control of all misdemesnors
within the city limits, where the fne 70 be
Imposed did not xceed 500. and the impris-
onment thirty days in the city prison; that
nyIng ali questions Of policy and expe-
dlel,cy aside, the oniy uues ION for the con-
alteration Of the COMMITTEES, was c0nsttu-
tional one, viz: Whether or not the legs
Iature had a righi 10 delegate such a power
70 the CITY. In answer TO the argument OF
Judge Burke, that such thing Nouso DC
sle.TIv nnconstltutioDal and contrary 20
10 6s called the attention Of the com
-, -, -. a. f.rf thsf Judge Burke had