The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-15

verify DtlltNci blo0, NAiN'
make under the lease from 81 ,50O,0 900 TO 81.
ono O00 clear profit within the next ten
wears. and, if they can do this, why not the
staieP Lei us look at some figures which
were submitted the other day by Senator
Traylor, and each item was put down IN
accordance with Superintendent Gorees
report for the years 1880 and les2:
ID verbs wooden goods at 30 cents lR lSoV's en-
u, 2S Observation-Disclosures w
Is yards cotton goods alto cents (R' 1850 20
ps 1a Shoes at sl25 jR. iSSo, p 81, . 90
2pair socks at 25 cents Or. lSS, p. 25l...; U
ITO o ras pay VI su", 60 90
MSa ih per year per man ,R. 1851 p. ~ SO
SMIionery ammunition, etc lR: M lSSo ?; ~ 95
TobNtco regular rations, TX. 1851 p Zo|'' 9 90
Tobacco extra, (R. 1880, p. 25) ,......;....' ~
Pro rata of bedding for guards and con-
yicts (R 1884, p. 23 .........,..,....''..' %
Pro rata expense Of state officers .;...';,' 10
D lsss il i% - n. a., 70, ss g
Clothing 10 discharged and pardone' SR' 20
1880 p. 81. ,.........,,...'. '''''''''''t l"
So OF
o1S ser coil'io' a. Wv re' ~ 1872 10
Profit per capita per annum to iessoes .,o, M
or %s sIase profits to the state upon the fore
5eo convicts in walls self supporting
us conYCts at A net pToht each per
capita per annuma Zli2l0
o7l5 conyicts for fifteen years. ......... 3ll322I
Deduct amount to be paid by lessees of 625,OOO
Leaving a clear profit over lease of. So 4SS 200
estimate for ten years on the same bass, the
average number being 29OS: -
500 conyicis in walls self supporting.
q 4e3 convicts Oh farms at net proht oil
SOL per annum per capita for one
Q. Sos convicts for ten years. ..,...... 2427,O20
Deduct amount Of lease for ten 1900.
wears. ....................s 2Oa0eO
Deduct carrying convicts for ~
eight years. ...,...'' ''''''''' %V'VV' 400 m
Leaving profit over the lease of; .s2,O27,o2O
New, is 1t not strange that wnen the state
resumed control of the penltentiaries under
Governor Hubbard's administration, that
institution paid $4,000 yearly above ex.
pepses. and when it has been leased out
since at the rate of 100000 per annum,
that we should now be content to take only
$4,000 year? The maudlin sentimental
ity that urges that no money should be
made by the state out OF the states con-
yicts. / have no patience with, provided
that these convicts be treated only as the
law contemplates. What is the sentence
that is imposed on them when sent
to the institution That they, shall
be put to hard labor" But while this
labor shsuld be performed by them TO the
best interests and good of the state and
themselves, yet If any profit is to arise as
a result, then the state should have the
benefit. They should not be put up to the
highest bidder like SO many cattle, to go
into the hands OF men who take the con-
tract for profit solely, and, under the abom.
Unable system, will work the last one. Of
them TO their very utmost tension, while,
to- t1if same reason, stinting the1 in food,
closl AZ, etc., I'm order that that profit
might swell to the hsaaviest proportions.
Nor lave l any Patience with that dema-
goGcal Gry mat this convict labor comes
oonst91iIly and necessarily in contact with
r. labor. -,
the past season every hand that could be
,, found and coVxed to work was offered SPLEEN
did remuneration by the planters, %no, Tor
lack of sufficiency OF labor, faw thousands
of bales OF cotton go 10 waste upon the
stalks in the fields. No man, woman or
child, who could perform the simple effort
ofpicking the staple, was deprived oil one
hours work upon our farms. / concede,
however, that this is not true OF convict Ia
bor on railway construction, ETC., as thous-
ands of our annual influx of immigrants,
and of our present population as well. are
adapted for and seek just such employ
ment.
Bnt il is contended that Texas
il not in a condition to resume. II not now,
when, in the name of common sense, VIII
ne ever be? She resumed in 1877, on S3O,-
60. and scarcely any machinery on hand,
and yet made profit OF $4,000 per annum
more than the lease gave the state, as
stated above. AT present we have S2,VyO,-
600 in the treasury. Surely, then, II with
the $50, 600 appropriated fy the 18th legis-
lature. with quantity OF machinery on
hand. with the $4,000 more proposed to
be given TO the lessees to buy additional
machinery. with the buildings in good
condition, the state ought TO be able to re-
sume. n ever. But 1t is argued that
the state cannot handle the
business as an individual can. The history
we have lust alluded to does not bear out
lbe inference that she will lose any money
by resumption, while the experience OF Ar
kansas and other states, POSTPONED once
precisely as we are now, proves the profit TO
accrue IL the state can secure an efficient
treasurer and comptroller, and other Off
ciais WHY can she not secure as goou su-
perintendent and assistants. as efficient
ones as even the lessees can And II Is not
too much to say that under the latter me ,,
treatment to these luckless criminals VIII
De far more humane and liberal.
In n recent letter from the secretary OF
state. of Arkansas, lie shove that MS
state Is realizing some 1913 per capita per
month, or more than SIX times what texas
does. IL we had such lease, then we
would receive, BY comparison some nao siDg TO-.
900 per annum, instead OF tue $500 W
posed by The applicant lessees. But we are
told thst advertisement after advertisement
failed to bring better bids. But, in response
10 this, let il be forever remembered that
in The avard the statute was never com.
piled with, and. Ne Mr.. Gibbs said, that
me peniten'isry board advertised out
little oser one half Of the cOnvicts, ana
those 70 be worked as the most I'M
productive branch OF con let labor
and in their advertisement they never men
toned the 800 conyicts on the Brsz0s farms,
wboEere netting the state oger S5o,O9
annually Surely y Is ssa
isisfrire could by any possibility ratiiy
a1ea.e. with al these facts In their FAC e,
whereby the state would be put into such
a cslerorv Is this lease proposes.