The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-29


fairs and Inventions, and the Sick
Congressman.
| Especial Correspondence.
| WASHINGTON, March %.
While sauntering around this even
ing, after the last hosiery repast for
the day, the STATEsMAN's represent
alive came in contact with w. j.
Purvis, Esq, of Albany, New York,
and knowing that the gentleman was
from a state in which the
TREATMENT OF PENITENTIARY PRIS-
ONERs
Has caused much discussion, he was
Immediately button-hOled for an in
terview. Said the scribe: MIR. Pur-
Wis, L would like to have, for the
people of Texas, your views on the
convict lease system. You have
spent life in Albany, and know,
probably, much about the arguments
used pro and con in the legislature of
the Empire state"
while l have not paid any special
attention to the matter l have care
tulip read the newspaper reports and
seen elections pending TO great eX-
tent upon the question, and | am free
to say that the people of New York,
the vast majority, are intensely hos
tile to leasing the penitentiary con-
victS TO corporations. Personally, l
regard leasing convicts as
\ REMNANT OF BARBARIsM,
An evidence of id sluggish sense
of humanity on the part of the people"
"Why, don't you think that a culprit
ought to be made to work after
his convictions. especially when he be-
comes Il financial aid to the state in
stead of heavy eXpense?"
TO be sure L believe that a
convict should work, but not
one stroke for individuals. His
crime is against the people, and
society Furnishes him as an example
to other criminals, not sOlmuch to de-
grade him and use his labor to fill the
public treasury. l think that state
prisoner ought to work under the
supervision of the penitentiary
authorities, but not any kind of
mechanical work that will reduce the
wages of skilled workmen on the out
side, as is done in so many states,
and as is still done in New York.
A convict that is well fed and made to
crack stones for eight hours day
inside the walls of penitentiary will
be well punished, save his expenses to
the state and come out a better man
than he went in"
Well, said the scribe, won't this be
the case if he is leased out?
No, sir; was the emphatic response,
not a bit of it. He is always let out
to some INSCRIPTIONS contractor, who
LEN TNlNr 4
machinery, with the intention of get
ting the most out of him at the least
expense. The prisoner is worked to
death, and ill-treated on the rail
roads or in mines, or if he is
made to do mechanical work the
| goods he produces are put upon the
market at prices with which
HONEsT-kABoR CANNOT COMPETE.
The mortality among leased convicts
is enormous, they are badly fed and
clothed and driven like dumb beasts
| by the hireling subordinateS of
heartleSS monopoly or individual. 1t
is noticeable fact that leased con-
victS always return to their former
habits when their time expires; they
feel degraded and broken in spirit and
have no courage ever afterwards to
face society. They are made lifelong
criminals. Men are convicted as pain
full necessity on the part of the people.
| The state should not desire to make
money out of them. ANY right
minded people would rather see GRIM
inals properly punished at an expense
than have them bring countless thou
sands to the treasury by being leased
to persons who will have possession of
both the body and soul of the convict
ed. In one case society is satisfied, in the
other society commits crime against
itself. The gentleman's attention
was called to the recent discussions
on the subject in the Texas legisla-
ture. He expressed surprise that
LOBBYISTS SHOULD VISIT AUSTIN
For the purpose of bulldozing the leg
islature, and said that he did not think
the people of Texas would long stand
any such foolishness. We have been
worried with the convict lease lobby
in Albany, too, but public opinion has
checked 1T several years ago, and now
all that affects New Y ork state is the
mechanical competition of the con-
victs with honest labor. 1t will not
be long before we remedy this latter
| evil.
The gentleman parted with the
STATESMAN reporter, after being
thanked for his remarks.
After mature deliberati0n,, and a
mountain of newspaper denunciation,
Secretary Chandler has at last con-
cluded that he would enforce
THE EIGHT HOUR LAW,
which has remained so long a dead
letter on the statute books of the
| United States.
He has issued an order fixing the
hours of labor at the navy yards from
3 O'clock in the morning until in
the afternoon. thereby annulling a
former order of the department which
would have shortly gone into effect,
making the hours from Z in the morn
ing until 8 in the evening. The or
der of the secretary is the only wise
political action thus far attaching to
the Arthur administration, and is
very favorably commented upon by
public men. The law was passed
during Grants administration, and
was always enforced while he
was in Office. Since his time
all workingmen employed by
the government have been
forced to labor ten hours a day the
same as if they were employed by
private firms. 1t has long been ex-
pected that the government would be
sued AMI made to pay for the extra
time. 1t is said that Gen. B. f. But
Ter has the case in hand and will some
day enter suit and make Uncle Sam
suffer for the foolishness of officials.
TEXAS POSTAL AFFAIRS.
A postoffice has been established at
Crysyel. Lavaca county, to which
mail will be sent from Williamsburg.
Special mail service has been discon-
tinued to Coesfield, which will
hereafter be embraced in route
31,538. running from Coleville
to Dexter; the change takes place
April 1. James L. Jones has been
commissioned postmaster at Paluxy,
Texas Mrs. Martha H. Holley at
Pennington; Charles A. Davis at
Wimberly.
TEXAS INVENTORS.
John Gartner, of Dallas, has been
granted a patent for screw-propeller;
Joseph j. Holland, of Bryan, patent
for combined corn and cotton seed
planter; Charles Lewis, Del Rio,
patent for harrow.
JUDGE REAGAN
is still In the city. He was TO have
left before, but has suffered somewhat
of a relapse and no definite time can
| 10 occiorpa1 for hiS loo