The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-08

|
J ture. was passed to third reading.
House bill No. Mr.. Townsend
: to amend the amendment to articl
: 1902, chapter 10 to 80 of the code, rela
: tive 70 hiring convicts, was taken III
, as special order and after discussion
was lost by the adoption of the ad
verse report of the committee. Ave
43, nays 80
The discussion was participated il
pro and con by MeSSrs. Townsend
Hazlewood, Hill. Woods, Scott, Mour
Sund, Foster of Limestone, Stout
Mckinney and Swan.
In discussing the bill Mr.. Halle
wood said he hoped the minority re
port would not be substituted. The
costs of conviction. amounting from
$40 to $50 and even 500 in some
cases, was great tax on the people
lie was opposed to forcing citizens
VINO might he convicted of minor of.
fences, and so unfortunate as to be
poor, to work at 1915 cents. He would
rather pay his part of the county's eX.
penses as a citizen than do this. es-
peclally when any good man could
get dollar a day for his labor.
| Mr.. Hill-There is nothing in that
law to prevent hiring convicts at 10
cents if you can get no more, no mat
ter what they get credit for in prison.
1t was system of peonage. Hehoped
the house would vote it down.
Mr.. Woods, of Lavaca, hoped the
minority report would be adopted.
He admitted the law was subject to
two constructions. If the majority
report be adopted it will open
| the ha n
burden on the tax payers
instead of those who have been con-
victed. This virtually punished the
innocent tax PAYERS. The law as it
stands Is relief to the guilty. The
county treasurer and other officers
intended don't get cent of benefit as
the law stands.
Mr.. Scott hoped the minority report
would not be substituted. This, he
argued, was an age of progress, and
the people wanted ne such antique
legislation.
Mr.. Hurst moved to lay the motion
to substitute the minority report on
the table.
Mr.. Townsend, of Colorado, in sup
port of his bill, said: While the OBJ
jects soug to be accomplished by
the bill might not be of much impor-
lance to some sections of this state, it
is matter of vast interest to the
people of my county and to my sec
ton of country generally. The OBJ
iect of the bill is to reduce the mini
mum credit to be allowed conVictS in
cases of misdemeanor from fifty to
thirty-three and one-third cents for
each days labor, Sundays inclusive.
Under the law which was in force
prior to the special session of the sew
enteenth legislature, no minimum
price was fixed, and there was no
shield or protection for convictS, and
they were hired out for trifiing sums.
which practice was almost reduced to
a system of peonage. To that law l
was opposed, and am still opposed. /
believe that convict's rights should
he guarded and protected, as well as
the rights of every other person; but,
MIR. Speaker, since the passage of the
present law fixing the minimum
price at fifty cents per day, counties
in this state have been unable to
dispose of these conyicts and their
jailS are overlooking. / believe that
to reduce this credit to 33H cents
would enable counties to hire out
their convicts, empty their jails, and
thereby encourage the officers of the
country to prosecute the criminal
laws to effect.
To convict a man under the pres
ent law simply means, when he is I'M
willing or unable to pay; that the
county will pay his board and give
him refuge for some definite period
Of q
this floor is, that to pass this bill in its
preSsively, and Is a hardship upon
that class who are unfortunate and
unable to pay the penalties adjudged
against them. Now, / contend, Mr..
Speaker, that man is a blockhead
who would pay 80 cents day for con-
victS and furnish them clothing and
medicine, as the law prescribes, when
free labor can be easily had from
eight to twelve dollars per month, al
IN st everywhere in this broad state.
l say that the law, as it stands
on the statute books to-day.
simply says to the transgressor, that
if you are convicted, whether you are
able to pay your fine and cost or not,
if you refuse to do SO, the state of
Texas will make you present of one
half or two-thirds of the same. as the
case may be.
Men are now convicted in many in
stance who are able, and amply able,
to settle their fine and costs, but who
refuse to do so, from the very fact
that they are able to hire themselves
out for from three to FIVE dollars per
month and give the necessary bond,
thereby paying from only three to
five on every SIS due on their fine and
costs, and making the convict a
monthly gift of $40 to $12 over and
above what the county receives for
his labor. l truly hope that members
of this house will give this matter
their careful consideration before they
pass upon it, and cast their votes in
diligently. 1 trust that this motion
will not prevail, as it effectively kills
the bill.
Mr.. Moursund took the position
that the county should not be reSpon-
sible for fines or costs of conviction.
The county officers were the only per-
sons interested Would it be just to
allow justices of the peaceto condemn
men to hard labor for two years? the
extent of the penalty for about half
of the offtnSeS committed. 1t labor is
worth $50 per month. under the law
YOU allow but onP-half and by the
amendment but one-third. The fault
was in the neglect of officers to do
their duty. He hoped the house would
sustain the majority report.
Mr.. Foster, of Limestone, favored
the motion to substitute. 1t worked
no hardship to violatOrs of the law,
only as they should bear the burdens
of their offences. 1t should not affect
those who have done nothing and are
charged with no crime. 1t was falla-
cious to say the law don't prescribe a
limit. You can't hire them over for a
month. not even for a month and a
half. Good labor can b had at less
than SIG. What was the difference in
making man work at ten cents and
taking the money he had worked for
at ten cents?
| Mr.. Hurst renewed his motion.
Mr.. Upton in the chair.-Mr. Du-
rant rose to speak, but failed to get a
hearing before the question was put.
Chair-The question is on the mo-
ton of the gentleman from Parker
(Mr. Hurst, to lay on the table the
motion of the gentleman from Colo
RADIO (Mr. Townsendl, to substitute
the minority for the majority report.
The vote resulted ayes 43, nays 33
Chair-The question is now on the
adoption of the majority report.
Mr.. Stout-There is no reason why
one class should be made to pay their
| finaS and others on free In my comfy