Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-12-15

n retormatOTy for young conyicls
Will be established as there has been a
growing demand for 1t that cannot
longer go unheeded. | believe that
IeNas Is the only state OF its impur-
lance that is without such necessary
institution. The reformatory will he
sufficiently agricultural to enable the
boys to raise enough produce for the
consumption of the institution, and
the more useful trades will be taught
them.
ATTACHMENT LAWS.
| feel sanguine that our attachment
laws VIII be radically changed, so as to
provide for an equal distribution Of the
assets of failing debtors among attach.
ing creditors, and also pro vide for their
pro-rata liability in suits for damages
by the attached debtor The present
law works many hardships on debtors
who could, with little indulgence,
work out Of troubles; and under the
present grab game one or two
creditors can prevent the indulgence
by majority of the creditors. The
present law invites collision aud fraud
on the part Of the debtor, and perjury
and undue haste on tho part of the
creditor, and is opposed to the best
commercial interests of both parties.
Under the existing system II country
merchant finds himself in the least
trouble, there Ia a race among the
wholesale merchants ss to who shall
first attach, and each is afraid of the
other. This condition ofttimes I'M
settles commercial confidence, and I'm
many of its results is unjust, frequently
enabling the wholesale merchant TO
make his entire debt out OF the un-
opened aud unpaid-ior goods of an
other wholesale merchant. Ii fire.
| quently happens that the first attaching
creditor helps the attached debtor 10
/ defraud other creditors In consideration
| of not being sued for wrongfully pro-
curing the attachment. This is cry
| ing evil which / know is fully appre-
ciated by many members-elect, and
| they will, no doubt, hasten TO remedy
it. a majority of the legal profession,
as well as of the merchants, are fully
aware Of the defects in the present sys-
tenn, and realize that 10 breeds dishOu-
esty aud distru-t
THE PENlTENrIARY.
/ do not know what may be found
necessary In the management of the
! peuitentiary. | have been told very
recently by the superintendent that
| the state from realizing on manufac-
tured articles. think, however, that
the state will be able to keep
that institution on ~ self-sustain-
ing basis. Too many offenders are
being sent TO the penltentiary. More
of them should be confined on the
county farms and made TO work on
county roads. As the matter now
stands, we will have to reduce the
number of penitentisry oilenses o.
build or lease two more penitentarles
within the next five years. The peni-
tentiaries are not located so as to ena-
bile the state TO realize the greatest
profits on manufactured articles.
Everything brought into or carried
out of the penltentiaries has TO pay the
greatest possible light. They are not
located for commercial advantages.
There are two things certain; the lease
syatem will not be resorted TO again,
and public opinion favors putting the
convicts within the wall as rapidly as
possible.
MECHANICS LIENS.
The Democratic platform adopted at
Houston requires the enactment of a
better mechanics lien; but over this
subject there will not be much con-
troversy, as it is generally conceded
that the present law is not sufficient
in it's protection of laborers and sub
contractors.
NATIONAL CATTLE TRAIL.
|, / have heard that the stockmen
would petition the legislature TO desig-
: date aud condemn trail, or rather 10
take steps looking to that end. When
tine legislature does act In the matter
/, Il hs "a nh a
tional amendment permitting a special
tax on range.stock 10 pay the expenses
of such trail 1 judge from the dis
cussions in the st. Louis convention,
and from cOnN ersation with stocklnen
in Texas, that some legislation will
be necessary in this direction. A
prominent stOckman in the Pan
handle told me that he lost almost
$1,000 worth of cattle this fall at one
time by reason of one herd from a
lower latitude having been driven
across his range.
THE FEE SYSTEM.
It's not improbable that the legisla-
ture will investigate, and in some In
stances abolish, the fee system. This
would, no doubt, have grand
effect in gambling cases and cases OF
arrest for prostitution. They are,
under the present police Tegulat'ons OF
the state, continuing otfenses. For
every 500 these classes pay In lines
they pay $1,000 in costs TO officers, and
thus it Is made against the interest OF
officers to suppress these oifrnses. In
7 one county In this state the records
show that in one year there was less
than $1,000 collected in fines from this
class OF cases, and more than $1,000 col
leeted in costs from the same casts The
present system, especially In respect to
prostitutes, has the effect OF permitting
the more unfortunate classes Of society
, 10 be preyed upon adj libitum by the
more fortunate class, without any re.
sultant benefit 10 society at large. BY
, this policy the offenders are not regqq,.
, lated nor Is the ofiense suppressed: III
la license from which the officers
, alone get the benefit The effect is de-
moralIzing, as this class Is looked upon
not as criminals, but rather as legitl-
mate and prolific source OF revenue
| Ilaliga ADfiIls