The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-14
their duty to The people is Gripping

their duty to the people Is Gripping
/ them.
There Is no interest that Is not grasp
/ ing. There Is no interest that does not
obtain every advantage 1t can from gov
ernments. / feel. however, that the ex-
| celent men managing railways In Texas
will not object to reasonable regula-
| tions.
call your attention TO the incon-
venience and trouble constantly arising
between the two races submit
whether, N the colored race Ia forced In
to second-class cars, 1t would not be
proper to demand for them reduction
OF fare. The policy OF separating the
races on the trains will not be ques-
toned.
The assessment laws he thinks should
be materially remedied so rs to embrace
all taxable property.
About the free schools, he says the re-
cent amendment to the constitution and
laws pertaining to free schools have en-
abled the Board of Education 20 greatly
improve them; and II is believed that, Mt
no time In the past have the friends Of
education had so much to encourage
them. The present scholastic year viii
be about six months, and is believed to
be ample, except in cities, towns and
ihlckly settled districts, where addi-
liOtlhl llOHtHS Cull Dt uuutu u Nut ItOllt
desire them.
The penitentlaries have been n source
OF considerable comment from the press
of the State, and he says: There are now
2G32 prisoners in the two penltentiaries,
and invite the attention of the Legisla-
ture to the rapid increase of convicis.
There can be no doubt that q reform In
some shape Is necessary. There are
some oiienses for which lower grade of
punishment should be adopted. The wis
dom of allowing jurles to inflict the pen
atty OF confinement In the penitentiary
for life, for deliberate murder. Is not APP
parent. The man who willfully takes
life should no longer be permitted to
annoy society or government.
Looking to the lessoning of the num-
Der Of convicts in the penitentiarles, |
again suggest the necessity for House
OF Correction, In which might be con-
fined boys and others, rendered harm
less by age or other conditions.
The penitentiaries can only house
about 1900 convicts, while we have on
hand 1882 Very large expenditures will
be required before all conyicts can be
placed inside the walls.
II is questionable whether the act of
the Eighteenth Legislature prohibiting
the use of convicts on public works was
no sound reasoning In the idea that con-
victs come in competition with what is
termed honest labor when worked out
the walls. Ii is certain they are engaged
outside of the walls In labor that free
men viii not do, and that when placed
In the walls they must be put at trades
that will force them into competition
with free and honest labor-industries
that are not new, but those now IN oper-
alton throughout the world. Persons
who peep through enclosures or win
dows, or who use fine field glasses TO
shock themselves, may be shocked ut
the sight of convicts ut work, and yet
II Is safe to say that % per cent. of those
who go to the vicinity Of the peniten-
| tiaries or convict camps visit them.
/ However, when II can be done with
due regard to other interests, there is no
/ doubt but that inside the walls Is the
proper place for oonvicts.
The present board has managed to
make the penitentinries self sustaining,
but 1t has been mainly through the
wages derived from outside labor and
the strictest economy. Great credit Is
due to the officers of the two penitent a
ries for the faithful manner In which
those Institutions have been managed.
He recommends an increase of the
penalty for carrying concealed weopans,
and the payment of salaries instead Of
fees in some of the departments.
lconclusion, he says of the Alamo:
Under the authority of Act of the
Eighteenth Legislature, purchased the
Alamo property in San Antonio.
There Is no one authorized TO take
charge of and control this property, and
| have had it locked up to preserve 1t
from being despoiled by thoughtless
/ persCns.
Some veteran might be given charge
Of 1t, under such regulations as the two
houses think proper TO prescribe.