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

sfg Of CHAPLAIN 0ne month t7D0n, bali "
aalafy NJ nleit sergeant nne mouth tDW
delivery nfcpnvlcts ifdfn lNl after Two years
hne month 81 5000 monthly rental, fBjBj
monthly repairs and incidDutals, 9Np ~
hoard 6flDt guards and 30 sergennts (2ll
monJ nt $50, ~ ,6s} ~, cost Of maintain
Ing 30 conylCts for one MONTH 9lDO'Q WI
compensation for services Of lessoes, CLERK
hire, stationary, stamps, teegrams. itayel-
lng expenses. otc., per month, $1,000 90,
toih amount. $40 $50 Os; expenses $50 CON
yols. Twelve months, $2l0OGn ~. expenses
one convict twelve months, S2O9.63; expcns'
es one convict one mouth, Sl7 40; expenses
one convict fifteen years. So l42 05; expenses
/, 100 convicts fifteen years, sSOll, 302 90
Where, then is the immense profit that
they are 10 make even If everything con-
nected with their leases should move
smoothly along without jar? But as
have said. thew must be allowed large
margin for profit, because OF the large
amount of capital they are forced to IN
vest the stringent laws regulating the
management and the hazardous character
of the enterprise. Think, sirs, of what an
immense sum they must expend in order
to supply machinery and supplies
of every description necessary 10
operate their business. At Hunts
Vile much of the machinery must be
thoroughly overhauled, and much more
added. At Rusk there is not pound OF
machinery. But | say that the amount to
be expended Tor machinery is not The most
important item. The stock of supplies the
lessees will have TO carry from year to year
is the big thing. Remember, senators, that we
are dealing with u question OF vast magni-
tude. Remember that if you reject these
contracts you force the state to take hold
of the management, and who Of us here is
prepared to meet the emergency? Where
is the senator who has made the calculation
of the appropriation necessary for resunp-
ton, aud is prepared to present the figures
TO this senate? How much are you going to
expend for machinery? How much are
you going to appropriate to furnish sup
plies and keep the stock up for two years!
Who is going to step into the shoes of the
lessees and supply to the state the vast
number Of agents that they have 10 aid
them ia carrying on the work? No, sirs: it
appalls me when contemplate resumption
in this sudden manner. Sirs, | will never
cast my vote to hamper this administration
with resumption. will never consent to
handicap this administration with such a
weight at the very commencement OF It's
term. Again, Mr.. President believe that
if the state intends TO resume that it must
be done gradually, and do not the provis.
ions of these contracts show that the board
took "a long step in that direction, when
they provided such large increase in the
number of those to be confined within the
walls, as we all know that the state, when
she does resume, desires all, or nearly all of
the prisoners placed within the walls.
Finally, Mr.. President, believe that ii
the state should at once resume, before
many elections have come and gone. you
will see the machinery of this vast peniten-
tiary management used as a powerful politi-
cal engine, and if, for no other reason than
this, the people would curse the day. that
the state took charge OF her public prisons.