The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-06-08

lUStASo "io uOL ln9C by work. |
ing convicts outside of the
walls and the increased risk of escsne
Is q social evil; but to remedy these
things requires money, that can only be
had by taxation. Public sentiment on
this question is worth nothing unless
II is strong enough to Justify its rep
resentatives in the necessary eXpendi.
ture, and if Senator Maxey meant in
his interview that it was not this strong,
ne was probably correct, but it ia grow
ing. There Is no use trying to be eco
nonical when it comes to leyying taxes,
and eXtravagant when II comes to
spending the revenues, or vice versa.
Some oil tho members of every Legisla.
ture are very economical when il comes
TO the tax bill, but eXtravagant enough
when 1t comes to the appropriation bill.
But this kind Of a policy won't work
long at time. These are
the kind Of political sins which
sooner or later find 40 man out
The percentage Of escapes and deaths
among tho plantation convicts is very
small, as is shown by the annual ro.
ports, and the recent attempt at rescue
ls about the only one which has Oc-
CURED and was not successful.
However desirable IL might be to have
all tho convicts confined within
the walls, it is an expensive undertake
ing, and whom thore they will not be
seli-sustaining for some time.
Last year New York State, with her
penitentisries all built, had to appro-
PIRATE one million and half OF dollars
on penitentiary account. If the State is
not willing to go to thsneeessarily large
expense, IL might work the least tracta-
bic ConYiCts in the quarries
and the balance on tho plan
tationg, but this would REQUIRE
at least one-half million, as the State
would nave to control the road leading
to the quarries. Thore would be o large
and increasing demand for this mate
rial all over the state.
II tho taxes are not increased
for tho purpose Of inCarcerating
the cCuvicts within tue walls,
perhaps the most Objectionable
feature Of the present system could
DO removed by utilizing more convicts
now at work on railroads, In developing
and making q permanent industry Of
these granite quarries, or on work of a
similar nature,
In stationary employment of this
kln1 the percentage Of escapes would DO
less and IL would DO accompanied by
comfortable confinement at night.
This change might be made by a very
small increase in annual revenues, but
a radical change in thS system can't be
made except &c an outlay of large gum.
| believe q full discussion Of this ques-
ton by tho press viii result in a specific
declaration by the next State conver-
tlon. don't believe it will be favora.
Die to the present slipshod policy.
No State has eyer been able 70 devise
a perlectly satisfactory scheme of con
vet LABOR, or. one where con-
Wet labor didn't, to some OK
tent, conflict with honest labor. Ifccn-
victs are supported in absolute idleness,
tho expense OF supporting them IL grea,
and consumes largely OF tho substance
OF tho honest peOplo,and the final result
Is about the same as If worked IN COM
petition. If convict labor ia worked
within che walls, or in developing new
industries, the competition is not so
great or so keenly felt as when worked
on railroad gravel-traius, where they
perform labor TO which large portion
of our floating population are adapted,
and labor which they ere in search Of
II the State or counties use this labor on
public roads or on othor public works,
or in developing now industries, thore
can DO no reasonable ground
OF complaint, as this will
take the bread out of no mans mouth.
The advantages Of confinement within
the walls are that the punishment Is
greater, the chances Of escape less and
the competition less. This Is the same
case in less degree where they are
worked on plantations or in quarries,
but tho reverse IS the case where they
arc worked on railroads. In my opinion
the representatives of the people should
set themselves diligently to work in ro-
ducing the number of State conviots;
they should then agree on n fve-year
policy, during which time one-third of
tho conyicts should DO left at work on
tho most secluded plantations, ono
third at work within the walls and one.
third put 20 work in tho quarries. Dur
ing this time the State could with the
surplus convict labor drawn from the
different sources build penitent,aries
located with n view to manufacturing
successfully, and al the expiration OF
the five years we could have all within
the walls and tho quarry.
| believe this could easily bo accom-
plishod by ono years increase in taxa
ton nc the rate Ofl0 cents additional tax.
If we undertake to put them all within
the walls Immediately IL win require
an immediate outlay OF at least $780,.
GOO and for several years, oven under
favorable circumstances, tho penltentia-
ries would not be self-sustaining. In
Illinois and other largely manufacture
ing states, II has been found necessary
TO use a large proportion of tho convict
labor IN quarHying and other rough
work, which could be dono within or
under the shadows ofwalls.
The character of some Of the labor
makes this necessary and this Is much
moro necessary in the south, whore we
have so much greater proportion of un-
skilled and ignorant labor.
CAPITOL SYNDICATE.
RepoTter-Do you think tho capitol
syndicate will abandon their contract,
and If SO what will the state do2
GibbsrI don't know what Is going on in
the conference between the capitol board
and the syndicate, but believed last
winter, and am still Of opinion, that the
syndicate will abandon their contract,
unless thoy get concessions, which they
are not likely to got. l think the pres.
ent contract rs very good one, II
strictly complied with, and q tho pres
ent syndicate abandon the contract 1t
would be better tor the state
than TO make many CONCESSIONS.
Ii the present syndicate is not
willing or able 10 comply with the
contract to the letter, tho chances are
That they would not be able or willing |
unless they were such as would be
10 The disadvantage of the state.
The present annual expense Of state |
supervision is not much II any loss than
10 would DO II the State were 10 complete
tho building on State account. believe
t'st with tho proceeds Of sale of land
tho state could without extra expense
ctmplete the capitol and substitute
granite for limestone, but OF course this
would contemplate the use Of tho CON
Wet labor in Slate qusrries. The great
est difficulty about this whole matter Is
that II the syndicate throw up tho con.
can't issue bonds even based
On the land, to get tho necessary money
% complete the building, but must
sith0r lind some syndicate which is will
nE TO flush tho capitol for what land
\ left, or stop tho work until the land