The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-27
Mr. POPE.S SPEECH

:, p,rs,prSr; believe that every SEN
hare will accord to me the credit oil
s s'O pursued conservative course since
Iva been member OF this body nave
Ian an extreme view upon any ques-
~. nat has come up for legislative action;
~, link that the position ! occupy on the
- -',,on now before us for consideration is
N.,nsayvatiye one, and ii the views | enter
q" '.,, ara adopted in the end, they will prove
.ahsto the best interests ofthe entire state OF
Tsvas. This question of penitentiary man
cement is one of great Importance to Texas
"a ali must agree that it is an extremely
s;tscult one with which to deal. The posi-
,;on take is, that it is impossible for the
.,a,s 10 resume control ofthe public prisons
:, mis- time with justice to herself. What
,nsn shall we do? Shall we adopt the
amendment of the senator from Duval Col
irs, or the one offer ed by the senator from
shelby Johnson)s The amendment of the
s,nator from Duval proposes to curtall the
iasse 10 a term of six years. This, Mr..
Resident. means resumption, because
40 Iessees will not consent TO under
,aEs the management of these prisons for so
.hnrt a time, and il is almost a self-evldent
,,onosition that heavy financial loss must
XII 10 their part, if they should undertake
snch an experiment, and will here do JUS
,ics 10 some of the senators who favor re-
sHmntion, by saying that the lessees cannot
undertake. a contract for lease, aud make
any money out of it for the first five or six
ears Therefore, believing that the inevl-
iahle result will be resumption If the
amendment of the senator from Duyai is
sdopted trust that the senate will vote II
down. But do advocate the amendment
of HE senator from Shelby, which limits
The term to ten years believe it is my
dnty to do this, In justice to the interests of
Texas, and in justice to the able and faith
ful public servants who leased these prisons.
refer to the penitentiary board, composed
Of Governor Roberts, Treasurer Lubbock
and Superintendent Goree. BY law this
board is given the power to lease these peni-
tentiaries, subject to the action oil the legis-
lature
Standing here in my place To-day | say
that the refusal Of this legislature ~ ratity
these leases will be nothing more than a
vote of want OF confidence, reflection upon
L
the most experience in reference
10 penitentiary management, our public
servants who have made these contracts? or
We senator's who have given it but little
thought?
Alta Joint session of the committee from
hoth houses, every member of the peniten-
tiary board was present, and by invitation
OF these committees, each member adj
dressed at length the session in reference to
the contracts. Is there o senator here who
can say that the Cogent reasons there given
By each and every member of the board
are entitled to no respect? or that We should
ignore the arguments 0t Governor Roberts,
Treasurer Lubbock and Superintendent
GOree?
But you who oppose these lease contracts
do not agree amongst yourselves in your
opposition. The senator from Anderson
(GOoch) and the senator from Hood (Trav-
l0r)want the state to resume, because they
allege she can, by 80 doing, and work
ing ConyictS, as the lesses do, make
money. The senator from Dallas Gibbs
and Travis (TerrelD want the
state to resume for the purpose of treating
cOnyicts hulnanely, and making their COM
fort sure. The senator from Cook Davis
wants the state to resume because he heard
OF q convict being dead in convict car in
north Texas. Mr.. President, it is also
claimed that the leases were not let fairly;
that the advertisements did not disclose
the terms upon which the penitentiarics
were finally let.
Now, let US examine into this. The board
published notices in the New YORK Sun,
Chicago Tribune, ST. Louis Republican,
Dallas HERALD, Galveston News, San An
tonic Express and Austin Statesman.
When the time came on in Jane to open
bids, none were found to have been put in.
Then thousand circulars were sent out to
various states, to prison managers and cor
respondence opened by Superintendent
Gorec with parties whom he thought might
bid, but when November came was the sit
uatlon amy more promising! 1t is true,
That IN the meantime, Il mean between
June aud November 29), that one Jorty,
from Georgia, had visited Austin to can.
vas the matter, but he left, seeing 10 good
thing in 1t; and one other, New York
man. made an effort to enlist some capital
lists from his state in behalf of the enter
prise, but failed
cunningham d Ellis, who had positively
declined TO renew their lease, were here in
November, but would not touch the enter.
prise, and no one was found who would
Inc board with the responsibility of doing
something, were then confronted with the
danger oil resumption, and keenly feeling
.heiI responsibility to the people, iormu-
lated proposition for each of the peniten.
tiares, ana submitted them to the present
.essees, and contracts were made.
Now, II there was such big money in these
contracts. why was it that the Georgia man
ana the New York capitalists turned from
Inc consideration of the same and wanted
nothing to do with them? Were not these
leases The best that could be done? think
80, and am influenced largely IN this opin
Ion by the action of the board would dc
VloleLce to my sense of justice if were tc
fepuulale their action. IL would be acting
N pad faith to the gentlemen who have
maze these contracts with the state agent:
II We annul these contracts. II was will
Hlliculty that the board secured even at Sc
iate day the bids of these lessees, anC
" was nothing but reasonable for the lessee.
10 expect the 18th legislature to ratify thesl
contracts, They have great expense (par
t'Vulurly the Rusk prison lessees going on
velievlhg chat the legislature would ratif,
one contracts, making arrangements Il
carry out their obligations. Mr.. President
some senators cal resumption "bug.a
poo poo, SIR, ttell you and every senate
uefe mat II would be a sad day for Texas /
We revoke the lease contracts. tell yoI
nat IL we fsil To ratify these contracts, re
SUMPTION follows rs a necessary conse
gueneei the highway is opened up for raid
upon the treasury, ami then farewell to tn
cash balance. Appropriation after appro
ptiation to cover deficiencies in peniten
uary management will have to be made b,
lhe legislature from term to term, and vi
w WI ihen, when 1t is too late, see the erro
but II is said that the state coul,
no better, now by rcvoking these con
tracts and entering into others. |
Is also said that these lessees ar
Ev,ns TO make big money out OF their con
=, Mr. President, who can read the terms o
.neSe contracts, In connection with the law
,,esulsting them, and can but admit tina
we iessees should he allowed large mar
g 5n Tor proiitsP Section ~. OF the laws -
lool, page Is, is such u restriction thrown
Wuuuu the management Ut lrSsrcs tina
ne mere whim nf superintendent ma
destroy the most valuable rights that tn
lessees have. THIS law tthougn 1t was uu
necessary has been vmDniiei IN the yer,
contracts themselves
Dut Mr. pr,-ty.., t..... ........ a. -.