The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-17

day out and their thirst driving them to drink OF the
water n which they were compelled to deposit their
excrements. es4a hasas a,ags
The CAGES on both public works and on plantations
are Of tha udest and most unhealthy character made
by lettin4 wooden posts in the ground on end and COW
cred by same method usually 30x6O feet in side aud
in this structure from rs to 100 convics wet cold and
dirty wee huddled together, and the stencil from the
filth accumulations SO offensive that in more instances
than one the buzzard and carron constantly hover
over them. as sa4s
In other Instances many conycts who were subleased
in lots from exposure and i'll treatment, have been
badly crippled and 1t is feared in many instances per
manently by losing toes and contracting oo malades
lchlbaineSn rising from frost bitee n faet "a 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 a hole dug
and he buried where he was killed. and the man that
committed this crime is still at large
In fact the system of leasing out the convics under
the laws OF this State has opened the gate 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 subetng system is utterly
horrible that the committee regard it as improper to
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 a committee we 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 OF the camps monthly, or oftener
if necessity requires the Governor directs Also
giving him power to annul and cancel sub.contracts
and report and prosecute to conviction all inhuman
barbarous, or cruel and unusual treatment of said
prisoners by the guards subessees 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
tion of prisons and farms in different portions of the
State, and the working of the convcts on these State
plantations under the eye and supervision of bonded
State officers, and that the money on hand belong
ing to the Penitentary fund, and the required
to be paid in and now due, be used to that end Or if
that policy snot deemed advisable that the convcts
be employed in the construction Of railroads and
levees. Such works. in fact are 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 70 protect the conyicts from oyerwork
They advise that certain penalties prescribed now by
law for minor offences be so fixed that while they will
still remain effective and certain Penitentary may
not be filled forcrimes 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 1t important that new bond should be
cuted in this behalf
They recommend that the proper officials shall ut
collect of the essees the amount due the State
the sum Of 39,420.00-which amount has been due
since the 1st Of January, 18e4-said committee here
with filing the report Of the Governors Private
Secretary-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., ,g 10 sa
JEFF WILSON, Chairman,
A. w BRIEN,
RoBT E. HoUsToN.
LEM. MOORE, ,sae i is3
j w. ODoM, .sm .le| p
j. j. WHITE
G. II. MOORE,
Committee