The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-04
ANN: !! !: g! !: 9: ::


.ted over the penitentiary lease matter aud
rs :his alLimportant question has cut, and
destined yet to cut, 50 prominent figure
In the history Of this legislative session, aud
to have much bearing In the political
sphere for the future, will outline as well
as can TO our readers the chief features,
pio and con-, TO the end OF putting them IN
Intelligent possession Of the main facts.
II will be remembered that the Seven.
teenth legislature created Penileniisry
Board, giving thereto the general manage
ment and control OF the peniteniianes and
conyicts, defining its powers and duties,
and, In measure, indicating the policy OF
increasing the number OF convicts within
the walls by lessening the number employed
on the outside. This board was composed
of the governor, o. NJ. Roberts, the state
treasurer, Y. II. Lubbock, anu the superln-
tendent, Thomas J. Goree. Tue said act also
placed at the disposal Of the board funds,
as follows:
ist. The proceeds of the lease OF the
Huntsville ponitentiary, TO be used in the
improvement and security of the poniten-
tiaries, ID. For completing improvements
at Rusk, $50 go. a. For completing
work and buying machinery Tor Rusk,
500 900, Tor work and machinery for Hunts
Vile, 10000 Some time last June, the
board determined 10 offer the peuitentiarics
for lease, on the basis Of contracting rapidly
the outside labor, and TO foster the building
up ofinslde Industries. Tothisend advertise
ments were inserted In some leading
state papers proposing lease OF each peni'
tentiATy with 900 or more cOnviCls To be
confined within the walls, and also one tor
lease Of conviots by shops under the "Cnu-
tract aystem;h also advertisements inviting
bids TO contract for about 300 couyiCts on
farms, In numbers of not less than sixty.
Tho bids for this outside labor TO ho opened
on the 10Th of August last. There were
about u dozen applicants for TINS outside
labor, and contracts were made
with these for something over LOON
conyiclH 40 $40, the contractors
TO furnish prison houses, feed
conyots and guards aud got ten
hours labor per day, the state pay
ing the guards aud other expenses ayerag-
M, u monthly cost TO the sRme OF some
$500 per convict per mon lh, or mel
monthly revenue TO the treasury otsay 5000
But, by the miudle OF September when the
board met there was only one bid lui
lease In response TO advertisements a.
aforesaid, and, as this was coupled will
conditions not 10 be acceded TO- re.Gdvet-
tiaements were made until the LIST Of Nov
ember, and down TO the 20th 10 bids were
yet in, a day or two subsequent
10 this there were two PROPOSE
iionB made to the board tor lease,
the one from Cunningham a Ellis for th,
Huntsville penitentiary Tor fifteen years
ana the other from General Candy, o
Nashville, Tennessee, for the Rusk branch
but as these did not suit, they were also 10
jected. Finally, about week later, thes'
same applicants made q proposition for th,
lease with the following terms, which wer,
accepted, viz; /. "'The state TO lease eacl
penitcntlnry for fifteen years. one.halI OF al
the oonvicts TO be assigned to each. 2, Tn
lessecs To assume and carry out IN gooC
faith the contracts for farm labor made Au
gust 10, 3. The lcssees 10 pay all expense
connected with the penitentiarios OF what
ever description, that the state woul
have to pay ii operated ol
state account, 4. TO place and keep al
property belonging to penitentiatics In goo
repair, 10 have use OF buildings, maohiu
cry, ETC., and appropriations Tor machinery
D. To commence on January 1889, wit
800 convots at Rusk penitentiary, TO be IL
creased In equal numbers each year, unit
the number reaches 500 at tho end of ihir
year. o. At Huntsville penitenta'y, I
commence with 100, and increase TO 600 b.
end OF third year, Z. To pay $4,000 pc
annum for each penitentiary, and in add
ton thereto, after the end oftwo years, {
receive convcts ~ county jalls and carr
10 penitontiaries Tree OF any expense to th
state. \, The state has employment
guards, aud only parts with the labor ,
oonvicts -. The right In reserved by III
state, Il. withdraw boys from the penitei
tiaries, Ia reiormatory be provided lc
them, and III new prison be built to have
proportion OF the convicts thereafter r,
ceivod for such prison. A,
The foregoing ID substantially the hislor
OF the lease and the actions OF the hoard
Under it, IL is conceded, the revenue TO III
state Will not be 10 great as from the forme
lease, but the board contends that bette
provision is made for the security and com
tort of the c0nvicls, and all done at the cN
punse OF the lessoes, who, under the requr,
menta for compensation and increase
guard force, will cost these lessees abou
$4,000 annually more than heretofore PAL,
They further contend that the saving
transportation after two years will IA,
about $4,000 per apnum TO the stat
and that within three years n
tho conyicts that can be proitabl
employed will be confined within the wall
aud further, that IN u couple OF years fro
now, tho two penitentiares will pay To Il
state u net annual revenue Of some $is
600.
Now, on the other hand, the minority ,
port OF the senate committee, as made Il
days ago, opposes the lease on the followil
grounds, saying;
First,-We think the state can resur
control, and coniine Us many convicts wit
in tho walls Ms tho lessees are required
coniine, and cause the outside labor to ca
about 81 1855, 200 within fifteen years.
Second.--We think tho state can resuu
and coniine about GOO convicts within Il
walls (long term men) and save. above d
profits OF the lease contracts, about 10
600 within fifteen years.
Third We think II the state can 50
these sums, 1t ought to do 30; and II can
wisely appropriated TO schools. pub
roads. or reduction Of taxation, or OFT
public use; and the contamination of su
result ia more desirable than to cxpcnd
in paying II 10 induce the confinement O
z limited number Of conyicts within d
walls, who are not selfsupporting, VIII
the greater portion are worked outside
the prisons.
Fourth.--We think the state can bett
manage Its conyicts, alter Its policies, reg
late tho character of labor and industries
the conviots, IL II remains unembarras &
by tho rights and interests of lessees.
Eifth.-We think II We ratify tho lea
We commit the state TO the policy OF I
lease for tlfleen years; for white the |,
prior TO 1881 provided that any future |,
islature might revoke lease for any eau
the law OF 1881 seems to coniine the right
approval or rejection To the first legislatr
Except for violation of tho terms of t
contract).
Sixth.--Ifit Is TO DO tho policy of /
state 10 Withdraw convict labor from q
Kind OF employment al which free lat
can receive remuneration, that class viii
cannot support themselves can be- plac
,pon tho first. sspublic roads and brid,
OF the state ~ a charge upon the count
for their actual expense only, and Il
would relieve, to u grt ut extent, the FREQ
boring classes nom q heavy tax and burd
and establish a good system of roads.
Seventh. I'VE are opposed to the appro,
of the leases, for the other reasons me
iully set out , n the io,tsgo'ng statements
icctions 10 tho proposed lease by sayi
shnt. "among other things, II Ia urged
q Sss ~ annravinr Tho iaasaa ihai ~