The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-28
HOTSTON'S SPEECH.

-, I.ase-Ths Humanitarian side q
o,e.tion Ventilated and a New Phas'
.,tsa-A Few formidable Figures
M PRESIDENT: ! hsd hoped that thi
.,,.,ion would have been settled without
,se lengthy discussion to which the senate
S..lisieped, and regret that | feel called
-, myself to discuss it, for do not know
,s,, my discussion OF twill throw any ligh
NM, the subject. But, sir, it is a question
~ great Importance not only to individuals
mn 10 The people at large and | have &C
o,,i,uely given it my close attention, and
m. .esl that would not be doing my
AMY not 10 give the senate the benefit o.
NY investigations $500
ftake a different view of it from most Of
~ senator's VINO have spoken. IL is not q
Srsstion OF sympathy or Senumentality
s1t h isa question whicn should address
sss'f 10 the senate from business and
n,rscticai standpoint. l do not know that
am right about it, but | feel that am
aorrsct VIXEN | say that in all civilized
coWptries the conyiCts are considered bur
Ssn upon the good people OF the country.
THIS uosltiOn cannot be disputed. 1t must
10 admitted to be true, and in the deter
mining of what shall be done with the
nresent system, as how to guard, feed and
cothe aud work them, rs to what is TO be
dome with them, they are TO be considered
burden upon the good people OF the state,
and every effort should be to make that
burden as light as IL possibly can be m ade.
Now. N the discussion Of the question the
ttt.. q L..
amendment, but 1t has embraced the whole
deId. The last speaker (rerrelD considered
the whole question, the whole system, and he
took the position That resumption was bet
Tor than the lease system, 1t was rather
remarkable speech, coming from senator
Of usually tar views and matured judg-
meat. a senator who usually confines him
sef to the legitimate bounds OF argument.
Bat. sir, in thus case, he seemed to forget
himself and 10 be carried away into field
of maudhn sentimentality, which the
question at issue did not justify as the oc-
Cas!1O merits, His speech was Tor resump-
ton, and those senators opposing the lease
In lis present form are in favor of the state
resuming control, not sir, Tor the purpose
Of carrying OUT the democratic platform as
laid Gown for some time past, and not as
ratified by the people with the object of
connnug the couvcts in the walls of the
state penitentia les, but, sir, to bring gain
to the state from speculation III the labor
Of these convicts, hoping to make
much money out of the project. Such is
the far deduction from the speeches ana
arguments OF the senators on that side of
the question, 1.-THE state were ready to
resume, add to place all the convicts in the
walls OF the penitentlarieS, and If such were
the sentiment OF the people and OF the legis-
latute, would not be here favorlng any
lease whatever. But take 1t from all that
mas been said here that it is considered i'm
practicable to-day or at any near time to con
tine the cOnyicts within the walls. Then
say that resumption is also impracticable
from business standpoint. If then the
object is to make the burden upon the
country entailed upon it by these convicts as
light as possible, it must be by the lease
system. The experience not only of Texas,
but of all the states of this Union.
is that they have found the bur
den is heavy when the state
undertakes to manage the convict system
and convict labor. The lease system, it is
wei! known, is the only one by which the
people have found relief from the great bur
dens growing out of the support of these
criminals, from the heavy taxation re.
Quiged TO support them, and just here let
me say with reference TO the support of the
c0nYlCls OF Texas, without taxation, that the
remark OF the senator from Travis (TerrelD
mat rather than see what has been going
on ID ms state, the lease of the conyiCts and
Their hre TO contractors, he would Willingly
increase lhe taxes TO five cents more on the
9lW 70 support them, sounds to me strange
from inc llps OF That senator, who, when we
were Cohlendlng for tax in support OF free
schools and the education of the children of
tlls state, opposed it. | say il comes in
Dad grace when it comes from the lips
o. tAa! senator standing in front of those
hoaaYJCated the lowest minimum tax for
free schools.
NJ President, so long as the state can
dispose OF this convict labor, SO as not 10
make Ia burden upon the people, lust
that long will oppose any increase OF tax
aIgn necessary TO support these conyic,s
under state resumption, and perhaps in en-.
forced ldleness. BY the lease system
heaVy burden has been taken from the
slsle ana placed upon others, and upon in
uNluuals. IL has been burden upon the
leSsees VINO hope TO make money out of it.
II OF course wonld be folly to expect to
lease convict labor TO men who did not ey-
pee' TO make money out of it. But / say
tne st'te cannot aud never can make money
uut OF II as individuals can And | warn
wv "ueh you put this business in the
aanus OF tne state relying upon the delusive
n5ueS anu estimates OF senators on the
O'ne. sue VINO are not well posted, and can
n.y. oe US well posted, as the state officers.
VINO made the contract; | warn Won thai
wa VIII make most ingiorious failure
Wnen you place this business in the hands
o. state officials, who are interested only in
utaWlng their salaries; you place these con.
S!Cls where they will be subject to all the
uire results of ill-treatment ana neglect SO
,NIuly painted by senators, and where
,IIeN suiierlngs will be increased rather
t 1l diminished. The dreadful pictures
i oounn py senators may be indeed certainly
SV anJ ior When the conyicts are lett in the
i"hOt VI men having no interest in their
IaoYl heir health or their lives-men who,
Ia. win the worst classes, care little
s sO" naruly they fare, how much they sui
~. VI soon they die, so their salaries are
pssVnpuy paid. You would create horde
i,a serseants, guards, inspectors and under
eeuBs palu by the state, regularly drawing
,'oM lhe people their salaries and caring
!. az more Tor tue life, health or well being of
tne convict, or for his reformation, than If
NC were dog or wolf.
"a the other hand, take the lease system.
u Eau we know the lessees are interested i'm
u ny SuhVicl well being from the fact that
Nou ne Is sick or dies he can't perform la
~ WY they lose the profits from hslabor.
c ro "a. 'heh us the conviots are unable to
o v'ioIIh isoor from ill-treatment or bad
,o the lhducement is greater to the les.
,ee, 70 employ responsible guards and hui
r ,,"ue etnployes than 1t would be TO state
Ihn"uSsers, who would have no interest in
M, oohvlcts well being or his labor
= n's much deem necessary in reph
oro We humanitarian argument. There
l ,n Oeen abuses, there have been actual
I So,s seeming hardships upon these convict,
49,. Is no doubt abont that, but is il con-
' ~ oy any senator what kind of oeople
s ,,! ars dealing with? Remember that The
! f,s,eS nave under their charge and control
H., ,ery worst classes of society, men made
~, ,,,Spy'a'e ny the loss OF everything that
, "v, ' men to virtue and obedience to
' "m me. men who have no regard for them.
is,IIeS' ,he,r families, Their country or their
Vii Ana ~ II not TO be expected there
ht. . VI ABUSES; Is It not to be expected that
,"S desperate men will attempt to escape,
nv ,lat 'hey will be shot down when they
wi 70 escape aud tree themselves, ana
"A UaNNa.