The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-02-22

state resumes charge of the peniten-
tiaries and conyicts, and keeps within
the walls Tor near by) the number re-
quired by the lease contracts. tO-wit:
400, the state can earn above the
profit of the leases as shown, 81. $780,
200; and If it reserves and keeps 600
within the walls, it can earn, above
the profits of the lease, 81, I99.2OO.
1t Is given as an argument against
state resumption. that individuals can
manage mechanical and manufacture
ing ventures more economically; and
on page 10 of the superintendent
address he quotes from reports relat-
ing to the prisons of northern states,
and shows that they are not selt-sup-
porting under state management. He
saws: The conYicts in northern
prisons are all within the walls" and
and as neither under resumption"
nor under the lease system" is it pro-
posed to put all cOnvictS within the
walls, the results given are not peril
nent, nor declared by the Superintend-
ent To show that the state could not
manage outside convictS as success
fully as individuals.
We would not approve the confrma-
ton of the lease simply because the
public notice by advertisement" re-
quired by the law (section 20, page As,
acts of 1881 did not contain the exact
proposition for bids which were finally
agreed upon, if the contract made was,
i'll our Judgment, a good one for the
Estate. But call attention to the fact
that the public notice given invited
bids~for the penitentiaries and con-
victs within the walls; and finding
that no zone would make reasonable
bid under this ,prOpOsition. the board
leased the penitentiaries and those
within and without the walls, with
out advertisement, notice or COMPETE
ton. as they believed they had Sc
cured good bargain for the state.
But by this lease the proceeds of nine
hundred conVictS, which We're at this
time bringing the state net profit of
So per month, or nearly S65,OO0 per
year, were transferred to the leSsees;
and they were given the right by the
leases to hire out the first year an
additional number of 67S, which
would, at Sc per month, give a
profit of the further sum of
$4S,Sl6, aggregating $4,000 for the
! first year, less $4,000 paid back as
rent by the lesseeS; and varying from
year to year. 1t seems To US III the
! light of events which have occurred
since the board acted, that 50 wide
variance in the terms and probable
| profits, might and probably would
have induced comparative bids, ii adj
vertiSed, and resulted in a more profit
able contract for the state.
One of the objects of the erection
of the East Texas penitentiary near
| Rusk, in Cherokee county, among the
iron hills. was to develop by convict
labor the iron interest of that locality
and section. No compulsory provi-
sion is incorporated in the lease con-
tracts compelling this policy to be
carried out.
Under either the leaSe-contractS or
under resumption, the state officers
and employees are to supervise and
guard the convicts; so in this respect
the treatment OF the cOnvicts would
not be ditferelt.
We think that if the policy of plac-
ing all cOnvicts within the walls,
whether they are Self-supporting or
not, that fifteen wears is too long a
term TO contract that the largest pro-
portion may remain outside the walls.
| We recognize the lesseeS as being
worthy, reliable gentlemen, financial
ly and otherwise, and of humane dis
position; and rs having Il reputation
for honorable department in business.
1t is not on account of the persons
who have obtained the lease. but on
account of the provisions and policy
of the contract, that we TO not APP
prove.
We recapitulate: We oppose the
approval of the lease contracts for the
following reasons:
l. We think the state can resume
control and cOnfine as many convicts
within the walls as the leSsees are re-
quired to contine, and cause the out
side labor to earn about Sl.335. 200
within fifteen years.
2. We think the state can resume
and cOntine about 600 eonVicts with
in the walls dong term men) and
save. above the profits of the lease
contracts, about S2,200,0O0 within the
fifteen years.
3. We think if the state can save
these sums, it ought to do so; and it
can be wisely appropriated to schools,
public roads. or reduction of taxation,
or other public use; and the consum-
nation of such a result Is more desira-
bic than to expend it in paying it 10
induce the confinement of limited
number of convicts within the walls,
who are not self-suppOrting, while the
greater portion are worked outside of
the prisons.
4. We think the state can better
manage its convicts, alter its policies,
regulate the character of labor and in
duStries of the cOnVictS, il 1t remains
unembarTassed by the rights and in
terests of lessees.
). We think if we ratify the lease,
we commit the state to the policy of
the lease for fifteen years; for while
the law prior to 1881 provided that
any future legislature might revoke a
lease for any cause, the law of 1881
seems to confine the right of approval
or rejection to the first legislature
! Except for violation of the terms of
the contract).
s. II it is to be the policy of the
state to withdraw convict labor from
any kind Of employment, at which
free labor can receive a remuneration
that class which cannot support them
1 selves car 10 placed upon the the first
class public roads and bridges of the
state as a charge upon the counties
for their actual expense only, and this
! would relieve, TO great extent. the
free laboring classes from heavy
tax and burden and establish good
system of roads.
Z. We are opposed to the approval
of the leases, for the other reasons
more fully set out in the foregoing
statements.
JNo. You've GOOCH,
JNo. II. TRAYLoR,
BARNETT CRIBS,
NJ. Y. RANDOLPH.
Mr.. Jones, by permission, in
PRODUCED bill amending the
law authorizing county com
miSSioners courts to issue bond:
for the lerection of courthouses, anC
to levy tax to pay for the same.
Senate joint resolution No. 2, relat-
ing to public schools, was taken up
and several committee amendments
TO certain provisions thereof were
adopted. when the resolution went
| over.
Mr.. Gooch moved that com
J mittee substitute for the
bill providing for the salt
] and lease of public school lands, bt
, made the special order Tor Tuesday
! and from day to day until disposed
of; and that 100 copies of the bill bt
printed by morning for use of the
senate.
Mr.. Davis moved to amend by max
, | inu the hill Snapial order for WpdnPS