The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-02-13
WEDNESDAY, February !, 1883
Sen ate.

The roll was called--a quorum present.
MIR. Mallory introduced the petition of certain
| liquor dealers of Escambia county asking that
the revenue law be amended 50 as to increase
the license OF vnous and malt liquor dealers or
reduce liquor dealers license
Mr.. Baker introduced memorial signed hv
| +. Pasco Conference Secretary, reciting the
passage by The Florida Conference OF "a rcsolu-
| Ion, relating 10 the passage of local option laws
Mr. Swearngen offered the following resolu-
| ton: WHEREAS, There has been a resolution
adopted by both houses to adjourn the Lerisla-
| ture on The 18th inst. TO visit the State Fair at
jacksonville and, rhereLs the tax PAYERS of the
! State demand that the REPRESENTATIVES of both
Lranches OF the Legislature shall take The lead in
all economical measures therefore be il LesoJreI,
/ hat members OF the Legislature shall receive no
! per dtem during their absence while visiting the
! State Fair at Jacksonville; which was referred
/ Ia the Committee or State Affairs
! Inc Committee on Education reported the fol-
/ lowing substitute for Mr. Delan0's memorial to
| Congress:
WHEREAS, There is Il large percentage of IL
litcrac persons III The State of Florida, "A large
/ port n of whom We're but recently released from
bondage: ana fehcfFoS, the stability of Rcpubli-
| can institutions depends largely upon the
Intelligence of the people: therefore, The Peope
! ofHc State IF F20rtdd, represented in .Snate and
| -1~fH5lg no rcs0tcc dS folJ0trs That our Sena-
tors anh Representatives in Congress be re.
! qncslcd to use their efforts to procure grant
! lioul INC HIeu states 10 lne Sate OF / iOrCa OF
| al the lands IN Florida belonging to the United
States, 10 be applied by the STATE for educational
purposes. But nothing in said grant shall de-
pnve actual settlers from the rights now guaran-
tced by the homestead acts OF Congress; ordered
cngrOssed for third reading.
The following bills were introduced and re-
ferred
By Mr.. Dell-Senate bill No. 1877: To be en-
titled act TO protect citizens of this State who
may make advances upon promise of payment
IN labor, and for other purposes; 10 Committee
on Judiciary.
BY Mr. Dclano-Senate bill No. 1888: To be en-
/ titled an act for the relief of VIM. F. Bueknor,
/ late Collector Of Revenue of Nousia county; to
! Committee on Claims.
| BY Mr.. Mallory-Senate bill No 1S9: To he
entitled IN act to incorporate the Water Works
Company OF Pensacola; TO Committee on Cor
poratiOns.
BY Mr. Pohiil-Senatc bill No 100: To be en-
titled an ac! in relation to garnshment: to Com
miiice on Judiciary
The committee 10 visit the convctS made the
following report, which was read and ordered to
be spread upon the Journal:
SENATE CHAMBER, Tallahassee Fla, Feb ,, 80
Hos. l.. W BETHEL,
FreSu}cnt Of tie Senate:
SIR--1 0ur committee appointed to visit and
examine the condition, care and management Of
the State cOnvicts beg leave To report that they
have performed said duty, and report that the
present sys stem OF letting and hiring said convcs
is, in The opinion of your committee, The best
that could BE- adopted-for the Stale in a finan-
cial point OF view, and for the convict in
rcioImatory and healthiul manner-as the State
derives IA revenue of $4,000 per annum for said
cOnvictS above all expense and the said c0nYicts
though subjected to a rigid disciple and forced
to labor, are humanely treated, and not
crowded into close prison house, such as would
be n, cessary for their proper confinement should
the State adopt The system in force before the
adoption of the present one in 1877.
The present contractor, FL NJ. Wood. of Su
wannee county, took charge of and received said
convcts, about 1873 in number, from the East
Florida Railway Company, at Live Oak, Fla,
on the lst day OF January, 1888 in very good
condition, since which time, your committee
learned, ten have been discharged and eight re-
ceived in the camp (Which is situated eleven
miles southwest of Live Oak, in Suwannee
county) thus leaving at the present time 1876
convicis on hand, which about the average num-
Der, and of which about three-fourths are col
ored; of this number, only two are females, both
white and sentenced for life.
The cOnvicis are employed in the turpentine
farms, which is ACKNOWLEDGED to he the most
healthy employment we can have in the South
ern country, which statement is borne out by the
fact that there is but one under medical treat
ment and his malady being of no serious ma
ture that there are but three others not able 10
perform full duty, and one of them being from
paralysis.
There was, during what is termed in that
county the dengue epidemic" considerable
sickness among said convicts-ihat is, during
the first fall month Of 1S82-but, as your com
| committee are informed by DR. j. S Hankns,
the competent attending physician, was of a
moderate type, not of a fatal nature; and here
your committee would say, that DR.. Hankins,
who visits the camp at least twice per week, and
every day, when necessary, is fully competent in
every respect to fulfill the duties OF physician for
| el.,s~
statements, convinced your committee that they
were well fed and clothed. and seemed (though
strange it should) to be perfectly contented.
Your committee was in the camp about the
hour Of noon, when those convics who were at
work had their dinner, and had an opportunity
OF judging for themselves in the matter OF food,
and found that there was plenty, and OF as good
quality as the laboring class Of any country re-
ceive-being more than required by the Board
Of Public Institutions well cooked and decently
served, and eaten with relish; and your
committee examined that of those who were a
work in the woods. and found it the same.
The clothing OF the convics is of sufficiently
| heavy texture 10 keep them warm, and in guam
| tiy sufficiepi-they having each, at all times,
| two suits OF clothing-the State Board requires
that they have four suits Of clothing, four pair of
| shoes and two hais, each per annum, which your
| committee find WAS supplied them
| Your committee, upon careful inquiry and in
| specIion could find no evidence of any inhuman
| trca 'nent To the convicts, but on the contrary,
were satisfied that the punishment, when re-
sorted to, only in extreme cases, was very light,
| being never more than fifteen licks with leaih-
er strap, and never producing any but temporary
suffering and administered only when necessary
! 10 compel the convict 10 labor when able, and
| that none of said c0nvcts are required 10 labor,
| If complaining. until they are tully discharged
| from the hospital by the physician and pro-
| nounced by him able.
Your committee particularly inquired as to
| any convict being allowed TO hire their own
| time, and find that this Is not the case in single
| instance, and that every one able 10 Is required
TO perform personal physical labor, as required
by law, not before sunrise nor affer sunset, and
that all the reports to the contrary are unfonnded
As the sentencing convicts is in manner for
j the purpose of reformation, and not alone for
/ punishment, your committee would recommend
! such necessary legislation as would enable them
/ 20 have religious training u least once week,
| or each Sabbath, and would recommend the ap-
4 preparation of ESQ per annum, ont OF the funds
arsipg from Ne hire 0f said convicts for the pur
pose 81 paying suitable person tos0 instruct
aid nn1vfcss the cCnyjcts did, during the year
foea = 49, 41ff1a RNit1iauz iDalff,efi0s,