Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-11
FELTON'S GREAT SPEECH.
SENATOR BROWN DECLARED IN
FAVOR OF THE BILL.

SENATOR BROWN DECLARED IN
FAVOR OF THE BILL.
The Chain Gang Again Denounced rs
school of Corruption and Crime-stS-
tistics on the Increase of Crime in the
SsAte-The Opposition Unlimberine its
GurS.
ATLANTA, July I0.--In the Senate to-
day Chairman Cabaniss, of the General
Judiciary Committee, msde report ia
vorable to the passage of bill prohibiting
Presidents and directors OF railroads from
owning shares in the capital stock OF The
corporations in which they are interested.
Mr.. Ray offered a resolution which was
referred to the Penitentiary Committee
requesting the Governor TO commute the
sentences Of all convicts Of good charac-
ter in the penitentiary for more than ten
wears for the offense of orse-stealing or
other larcency to ten years, and to dis
charge the convicts who have already
served ten years for such Ofenses.
The Senate adjourned till Monday.
DIR. FELTON's SPEECH.
In the House to-day discussion of the
TefOrmatory prison bill was resumed. Mr..
FELTON, continued his argument, and said
That every convict when released was "A
crime centre. The chain-gang, to cata-
lOgue it, is a school Of vice, immortality
and crime. If this condition Of things
originated from ordinary crime centres
there could be some extenuation for IL,
but Georgia, responsible for this increase
OF crime, spies the procuress for the
chain-gang. Her leading duty seems to
be to multiply crime and cOnvcts. Six
months ago there were 1000 cOnvicts.
Now there are over 1900. Where is this
TO stop? What the limit and the result?
Three hundred and seventy-nine were dis
charged last year, and they became so
many crime centres.
ENEMIES OF GOOD ORDER.
None of them will come out improved,
put will emerge enemies of society and of
property, hating the law and white
people. The present system Is cruel, I'M
civilized and unchristian. Under the
progress of civilization penal servitude
has been softened. The last legal feature
practiced in the courts OF Europe was in
1870 He was glad to live in the nine
teenth century, and proud TO find in the
constitution Of Georgia that excessive
bail shall not be required" excessive,
Unusual o. cruel punishment" is pro-
hibited, and no person ''under arrest OrIn
prison shall be abused" What was the
consideration of the SYSTEM TWENTY-FIVE
thousand dollars per annum diminished
by salaries. Virtually the State lets them
out for victuals and clothes.
NOT PECUNIARILY PROFITABLE.
1t was stated that the real value of
these convicts was $3.50 per capita per an
mum. You pay taxes for their arrest and
trial that few men may grow rich. He
objected to the system that brought con-
Wet labor in competition with free honest
labor. He was not surprised at the muir
murings Of mechanics at this system.
He would rather that honest free labor
should be employed in making brick for
the State house than cOnvicts. The sys-
TEN does not pay in money, revenue or
character. He favored sending females TO
q refOrmatOry because they were females.
He did not care whether the criminal was
black or white, he would rescue her from
that hell because she was a woman. All
tribes, however savage, discriminate in
favor of woman.
FAVORED BY SENATOR BROWN.
He said that Senator Brown favored the
measure If the ages were fixed under 16.
The speaker concluded amid immense ap-
plause, the densely packed galleries join
ing in.
A large floral offering was laid upon his
desk, sent by some admiring friends.
AIR. Gustin moved to amend the title to
'hOuse Of correction"
Mr.. Harrison, OF Qutman, opposed the
bill in n forcible manner. he was fol-
lowed by MIR. Harrell, of Webster, both
contending that the present law was suf-
icient.
MIR. Lamar, of Pulaski, Mr.. Russell, of
Harris. and Mr.. Robbie, of Richmond,
made strong speeches in favor Of the
measure.
Mr.. Arnheim, of Dougherty, said that
the convicts were getting along well
enough and were better fed than farm
labor.
ITS LEGALITY ATTACKED.
Mr.. Butt, of Marion, opposed the bill on
the ground that it was not legal.
Mr.. Hart, Of Greene, moved to amend
by including all convicts between the ages
of and Is.
Mr.. Hackett, of Chattooga, spoke in IA
Vor of the bill.
The discussion occupied the entire ses-
sion and ELECTED much interest.
Al the adjournment of the Senate that
body took seats in the House to listen to
Mr.. FeltOn's argument.
The discussion OF this measure creates
much interest here. as it is thought TO be
a well organized fight against the system.