The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-08

"ilnln tue walls, whether he can be made
seli-supporting or not, and levy taxes and
Ing. and upon The industries of the state,
10 support them in whole or in part [
quote from the minority report:
Therefore, if we base a calculation of
the probable results of state resumption,
on the theory that. say 900, self-supporting
convlcts Tor TO become self supporting),
shall be placed in the walls, and the
balance hired out in groups. to be secluded
from the public and worked at farming
(wnleh Is not Of that character of labor
which inJuriously completes with free
labor, at profit of about Sc per head,
w md the following probable result:
Average lumber OF convIcts for fit
teen years, 3216.
Average number self-supporting, in
walls, 800.
"Average number of unskilled labor on
secluded farms, 26l5.
"Average profit per month at So, SI5,-
600.
Average annual profit. S1SS, $50.
Total net profit for fifteen years, over
and above the total profit of The leases,
S2.l99,2OO. subject to be decreased to aid
In supporting 900 in the walls, until they
become selfsupportlng."
These are my views and these figures
are not refuted. The senator from Bexar
says the calculation OF the senator from
Hood CTraylor) as to the cost of keeping u
convict, viz: S9l per year for support H.
GLIDING food, was too low The state
ment OF the senator from Hood did not
include food The hirer under the farm
contracts furnished the food. So that
criticism comes to naugbt.
The senator from Bexar (Houston) con-
tends that proper notice was given by the
board inviting bids for leases of the pen
itentiary. He says it appeared in amo It
every paper. The minority in their re-
port mace the foil wing statement:
1--WE would not oppose the confirna-
ton of the lease simply because the pub
| lie notice by ADVERTISEMENT required 10y
the law (Sec. 20. page As, acts of 1881
did not contain the exact proposition for
bids, which were finally agreed upon, il
the contract made was, in our judgment,
good one for the state. but call attention
to the fact that the public notice given
| invited bids for the pententiaries and
convicts within the walls, and finding
that no one would make reasonable bid
under this proposition, the board leased
the penitentiarIes, and those within and
without the walls, without advertise
ment, notice or competition, as they be-
| lleveu they had secured good bargain
| for the state. But by this lease the pro-
ceeds of nine hundred convil Is, which
were at the time bringing the state a mel
profit of So per month, or of nearly 900 :
600 per year, were transferred TO the
lessees, and they were gwen right by the
leases to hire out the first year an addI-
tional number OF 67S, which would at 50
per month, give a profit OF The further
sum of $4S,8l6, aggregating $113 ,00J for
the first year, less $4,000 paid back as
J rent by the lessees, and varying from
| year TO year.
at seems to us. in the light of events
h ah hou 4
| acted, that so wide variance In the
| terms and probable profits might, and
probably would have induced competi-
tive bids, If advertised, and resulted In a
more profitable contract for the state.''
When Cows. Roberts and Lubbock and
| Mr.. Goree we're before the committee,
discussing the lease, Gov. Lubbock was
asked by me whether the old lease to
Cunningham d Ellis, at about 90 per
capita, did not furnish the state revenue
| of $4,000 per year. He said yes. l
| asked him If at the rate the state was
hiring now, viz: So per month, would the
state not get S150,000 per year. He said
yes-that If the object was 10 keep large
number OF cOnvicts outside, the state
cOu' d make heap of money. Senator
Houston asked him whether the contracts
made with the lessees were proposed by
| the board or lessees. He said by the
board. That they were formulated one
| night by the board, telegraphed and ac-
cepted next day, and no notice was given
for propositions for bids on the terms on
which the contract was made. / think
the Board exceeded its authority, and
that publication of the substantial terms
Of the lease was condi ion prece-
dent to making "a contract. But
recognize the law to be, that q principal
can ratify the unauthorized act of an
agent, anu L would ratify this act of the
board if approved the contract made.
think IL the state can save SO large a
sum of money as / shown, it ought to DO
SO. A convict ought to be required to
earn something and pay back to the state,
as far as practicable, the cost Of his con-
VictiUn. This vast sum of money can
wisely be appropriated to educate the
children over this broad land il can be
used for general purposes and redu e
taxation, and relieve the people or it
may be used on the public roads, and Lift,
in part, from the toiling thousands of the
state heavy burden now imposed on
them in road working.
The state ought to retain control and
management of convicts. 1t can better
supervise them; 1t can change the oh r.
acter of their employment, as changes
are demanded. But, Mr.. President, the
opposition OF the minority has not been
without good results to the state. The
lease has been reduced from fifteen 10
ten years; one-third Of the term and the
most profitable third has been abandoned
by the majority quasi admission that
in that respect the contract was unwise.
The lessees have been required 10 pay
$50, 900 or about that, for transporting
coDvicts from county iais to the Ueniten-
tiaries, for 1888 and 1884, more than the
contract called fora quasi admission
that so small a sum off ofthe profits of the
trade cut no figure. A provision has been
incorporated prohibiting cOnvicts from
being worked on railroads after January.
1885. and prohibiting them from working
at mechanical industries outside OF the
walls, except on penitentiaries and iron
manufacturing. These amendments make
a vast difference between what the con-
tracts were, as made, and what they
are as amended. The state has been
saved about S750,000. and the greater
evils of outside employment destroyed.
Yet the state will lose vastly more by
adopting it as amended.
Before close, Mr.. President, 1 will re-
fer to one other remark Of the senator
from Bexar (Houston). He said sit had
been said that the support Of the lease
would be the death knell OF those who
favored it," i say. SIR, that he and they
are to be congratulated in this position.
This lease was made by distinguished
men of great influence and character, by
men justly dear to the hearts of the peO-
pie of Texas. The present administra-
tion would naturally desire to be relieved
Of the burden and responsibility of this
ers of the lease have the
sympathy of both the out
gong and incoming administration, OF
gentlemen interested and their friends.
whose strength politically and otherwise
can hardly be estimated-and these sur
roundings, coupled with belief that
they are serving the state Alright, places
them in a situation 10 be congratulated.
But we, Mr.. President. venturing to
follow our own judgment antagonized
vast influences, aud stand for what we
believe to be wise policy for the state,
and for the people, sustained alone by
firm conviction and unwaverins con-
fidence that we are in the right, and per-
forming our duty.
Mr.. Peacock, In supporting the resolu-
ton. as amended, presented the follow
ing figures:
One thousand forty convicts hIr-
ed out yield. Observation-Disclosures. $74, $50
Less amount for transportation
from 1atls. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. " 600
$46, 800
To maintain 1146 convicts inside The
walls will cost above the earnings of those
hired out S1l1, 9lS.
Now If the 1910 at farm work the most
profitable employment yield only $780,
800 net, can the state hope to work the
men inside the walls and make more than
$4,000 per annum, when no one would
bid for their lease even for term OF IF
teen years.
Number o ( convicts now in the
penitentiaries ........... 2,278
Increase for last two years l2I