The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-16


day out and their thirst driving them to drink of th
water in which they We're compelled to deposit thsi
Iexcrements asK tA
The cages on both public works and on plantation,
are of the udest and most unhealthy character mai
by letting wooden posts in the ground on end and GOV
cred by same method usually S0x6O feet in size aac
in this structure from rs 100 convics wet cold and
dirty were hudded together, and the stencil from the
filth accumulations so offensive that In more Instances
than one the buzzard and caron crow constantly hover
over them.
In other insances many convicts who were eased
in lots, from exposure and i'll treatment have been
badly crippled and it is feared in many instances per-
manenty by losing toes and contracting foo maladias
chilblains, rising from frost bites. In fact in one
instance, where worked by railroad, a stout hale,
hearty man was hung up by the heels and whipped
until he died under the punishment, and hole dug
and he buried where he was killed. and the that
committed this crime is still at large.
In fact the system of leasing out the convets under
the laws Of this Staff has opened the gate so wide for
crimes to be committed against this class of helpless
people that in many instances it has been taken ad
vantage of In fact the subletting system is so utterly
horrible that the coImittee regard it MS improper
place before this Honorable Body any more Of its
horrors than the results of this system and to recon-
mend such Legislation as it may deem proper.
AS committee, W. recommend that for the present
there be law passed increasing the salary of the Su
perintendent and adding to his duties, by requiring
him to visit each oi the camps monthly or oftener
If necessity requires Or the Governor directs Also
giving him power to ;nnul and cancel sub.contracs
and report and prosecute to conviction all nhuman
barbarous, or cruel and unusual treatment Of said
prisoners by the guards sublessees and the passage
Of law prescribing the pains and penalties to be
visited upon them upon conviction. They recommend
law be passed requiring the State to purchase lands
in at least two other places in the State for the
ton of prisons and farms in different portions of the
State and the working f the convicts on these State
plantations under the eye and supervision of bonded
State officers, and that the money now on hand belong
and
be paid in and now DUE be used to that end Or If
that policy is not deemed advisable that the convics
be employed In the construction Of railroads and
levees. Such works, in fact as likely to aid in
promoting the best interest of the people of the State
but that the State retain and exercise at all times the
right and duty to protect the convcts from overwork
and cruel and inhuman treatment in every respect
They advise that certain penalties prescribed now by
law for minor offences be so fixed that while they will
still remain effective and certain, our Penitentary may
not be filled for crimes minor in their nature.
They have been informed that the firm of Hamilton,
Allen Co., the original lessees and contractors has
been dissolved by mutual consent and that the senior
member of said firm has bought out his said partners
they deem it important that bond should be exc
cuted in this behalf. afe siaaMa
They recommend that the proper officials shall at
once collect of the essees the amount due the State
the sum of $3942000--which amount has been due
since the 1st of January, 1ss4-sad committee here
with filing the report of the Governors Private
Seretary-and place the same into the State Treas
ury, to be credited to the Penitentiary fund. And
to the end that these suggestions may, be carried
out, they have prepared some bills which accom-
pany this report, and recommend that the House pass
the same. And having as fully reported as time in
this behalf will permit respectfully submit the same
for the consideration Of this Honorable Body
Respectfully. etc.
JEFF. WILSON, Chairman
A. w. BRIEN
RoBT E. HousToN
LEM. MOORE,
j w. ODoM
J..J. WHITE, M
E. H. MOORE,
Committee