The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1883-03-22

Tuo penltontiary Losses, Lake bhnpnos
Ghost, VIII Not Down-Iiepiy 10 some
Expressions Of Approval From SENT
Private scuroe--O fioiais, ne Offtlais, Must
stand the Test Of Rigid scrutiny, Etc
no. 3S.l
AUSTIN, March l5.-lSpecial Correspond
ence ii notice In the Galveston News OF
this morning special from Dallas contain
ing interviews AMI expressions OF opinions
on the penitentary lease business with
several of the leading citizens OF our
city, and ! am gratified to see the
very general condemnation Of the sem
ateis act of confirmation. But re-
greet exceedingly the position Of Judge
George N. Aldridge, who, certainly when
he spoke, was no. in possession OF he
facts, and did not give the subject due con-
sideration. | suspect, too he was induced
to IL by his great veneration for the estima-
bile men constituting the penitentiary
hoard. But he is frightfully astray
where he says 1.-THE cry against 1t was a
huge bugaboo. The people opposing the
lease did not stop to think, but caught up
the cry against it because they thought
there was an enormous steal in IL, or some
thing of that kind. The legislature could
not have done otherwise without aiming a
direct stab at the men by whom the lease
was let-three as honest men as there are
in the state, Messrs, Roberts, Lubbock and
Goree-and if there is anything TO be made
by it the lessees are entitled TO it. 1t IS
noted fact that the penitentiary would not
pay by working the men inside, and the
setting aside of this lease would necessitate
putting great many more men outside
the walls, in order that the state might not
lose by resumption"
take direct issue with him in his propo'
sitions that "the people opposing the lease
did not stop to think but yet Thought
there was an enormous steal in it, etc;
The reverse is the case; the opponents OF
the lease did stop TO think, and thought so
much and so accurately that they dis
covered that the state In ratifying that lease
was giving to or swapping with private
CORPORATION some 81 100000 10 $4,000, 900
clear net ga n, OF the states money in ten
years time, for $4,000 year. They thought
that If the state in 1877 could resume with
only $4,000, no machinery in the
walls poor prison accommoda
tioEs, etc, and yet make some
$4,000 yearly, it could resume in 1888,
when she has nearly $2000,000 in the treas
liry, when the penitentiary is well supplied
with good machinery, when the NNll.
legislature had appropriated some $3.50 600
for improvements when the. XVIII. legls-
lsture proposes to give the lessees Sl5O,OOO
additional for further improvements, and
when everything inside the walls is in good
condition. When he speaks about direct
stab at the penitentiary board" the reply
is, what then means the provisions
which require approval of. executive ap-
pointmenis and acts, by the legislature or
by the senate? Are these meaningless ex-
pIessions? Does refusal to confirm what
ever an executive does, requiring contirma-
ton, mean thrusts and stabs? Then better
wipe out for ever the idle words. If the ex-
ecItiye authority is exclusive, then let us
know it, and stop the further nonsense
about confirming certain of his acts; and SO
too of boards whose acts call for ratification
Besides this, it is notorious and it is every
where conceded, even by the board them
selves, that the lease made
was not the lease advertised. 1t is noto-
rious, and is conceded, that from the adver-
tisement was the omission of all notice oil
some 900 conyicts hired out at SIG per
month, or Sc per month clear net, or SO .4OC
total monthly, as an inducement for further
and better bids. Is the judge posted on all
tnis matter? Evidently not. AS for "the
state losing by resumption" the reply is,
ii the lessees can make this 81 500, 900 annu-
ally, with Mr.. Goree as superintendent,
why shall the state with the same superin-
tendence lose money? Are these the only
men out of population off, 900, 900 people,
with business sense enough to make any
money out of a contract of lease like this?
Has the state not as much funds as Messrs
Cunningham and Ellis? Is her credit not
better? Do their notes sell at $40 for the
500? Have they $1,000 600 or over 81 ,000,-
900 iqutbeir treasury? IL so, then why call on
nr0nOgad augmentation M