Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-10
FELTON'S REFORM PLAN.
CONVERSION OF CONVICTS BET
TER THAN RECONNICTION.

Among the 0ualkers of COlODiAi Days
Crime Declared on the Increase ia
GeoreiA-Amendment of tho Bin Ex-
pected by the Author.
ATLANTA, July 9.-The House met at 9
O'Clock this morning, when the regular
order, which was consideration Of Mr..
Felton's bill looking to the establishment
of reform penitentiary, upon which the
Finance Committee had made favorable
report, was taken up.
Mr.. Gordon offered an amendment strik-
ing out from section the words, "and
two of these overseers shall be capable OF
and required 10 teach the juvenile con
victs in the elementary branches
Of an English education and
! from section Q the words,
"that whenever q juvenile female convict
passes the age Of is years, and the term
| Of penal seryitude for which she was SEN
fenced has not expired, she shall cease to
! receive compulsory education in the Gle
mentary branches OF an English educa-
ton, and shall only, in common with all
the inmates Of said prison, receive moral
and religious instruction."
THE TWO IDEAS IN THE BILL.
lie said that there but two ideas in the
| bill-that OF reformation and education.
! He objected to premium being offered to
/ vice by giving them opportunity not
! afforded to others. The Legislature was
TO be congratulated that DIR. FELTON, had
been inspired with the idea Of REFORM
| Those that go out from prison should not
! he bad leaven, but perform their duties as
| good citizens. The bill WIS the keynote
! Of ('nrigtinOitV and humanity
On motion of Mr.. Butt the bill was
taken up by sections, and Mr.. FELTON, took
! the floor. Most earnest attention was
/ paid ~ his utterances. He said that he
had good reason for believing that a ma
iority OF the good people Of the State in
dOrsed the object Of this bill, and he was
pleased 10 know that many members of
the House had expressed deep interest in
its objects and purposes. LET us amend
and perfect the bill, and make it salts
factory to every section"
OBJECT or ITS INTRODUCTION.
He had introduced it as a nucleus
around which the wisdom and Justice and
humanity Of the Legislature could con
struct a bill that would be creditable to
their craftsmanship. 1t was the KEYNOTE
OF the humanity Of Georgia. Whenever the
humanity Of Georgia was properly ap-
pealed to, GeOrgia's great heart was
ready to respond and act. 1t was a
novelty in Georgia, but no new ex-
pertinent in the United States, and in the
most enlightened, humane and civilized
nations Of Europe. Every State in the
Union, except five of the Southern States,
have tried this reform plan-New York,
Pennsylvania and Massachusetts taking
the lead. Pennsylvania first started
II on the American continent in 17lS.
PENNSYLVANIA'S LEAD.
In l777 the Society for the Alienation
of Miseries of Prison Life memorialized
the Pennsylvania Legislature demanding
separation of the sexes in prison. The
book OF JohnHoward called attention to the
infamous management Of prisons I'm Lon
don in 1921 Pennsylvania passed a law
embOdying all the matured ideas OF prison
reform now practiced in the United States
and the woTld-the separation of white
and colored. old and young, boys and girls,
males and females, hardened criminals
and young offenders. NauX describes
the prisons and pen:tentiaries of Pennsyl-
vania in l711 as "mOral pesthOuses, but
better than Newgate in London. All
classes and conditions were huddled to-
gether.'
A MORAL AND SOCIAL PEsT-HOUsE.
1t was a moral and social pestnouse,
where disease and cOntagiOn dwplt. and
the centre OF infection. We ridicule the
old Quaker, but in the providence of God
he has carried Christian charity and
prison reform to the OutpOsts of Christian
civilization. New York had the wisest
and most efficient system PRISON reform
in the world. In Pennsylvania the idea
was solitary confinement at hard labor.
In New York it was that Of
indefinite sentence. A prisoner SEN
fenced for burglary for twenty years
may be discharged on parole within
twelve months, or permanently within
eighteen months or two years. The result
of this system has been good, as attested
by the Governor and Legislature. Fully
so per cent. of the convicts came out law
abiding citizens. 1t is cheaper to reform
than try them again for crime.
CRIME INCREASING IN GEORGIA.
More murders were committed in
Georgia last year than ever before. Crime
is increasing. We are forced 70 eXpend
thousand of dollarsin court houses
and jails. he considered the
present chain-gang saystem OF
Georgia barbarous, degrading, ma
! lignant and devilsh. "Where is the
| law authorizing this syBtemg Jpause for
n reply. There is record about il wish
| could blot out tor Georgia's honor and
/ glory; not repeal but wipe it out"
Or. FELTON, continued this line for two
hours, and at the hour Of adjournment
still had the floor. The speech created
/ quite sensation.
At IL O'Clock the House adjourned out
/ Of respect to the deceased member, Rev
/ Richardson, from Epson county.
BILLS IN THE SENATE.
Bills were introduced in the Senate to-
! day as follows
BY Mr.. DavidsOn-A bill to make opera -
| tive the State Geological Department and
! 10 provide for continuation of the survey.
/ BY Mr.. Lewis-To provide for a suspen-
sion Of the sales OF estates OF deceased
persons.
/ by Mr.. Jordan-To prevent the Presi-
| dent aud directors OF railroad companies
\ from purchasing shares or interest in the
! capital stock Of the corporation, OF which
| they are officers, and 10 provide penalty
/ for the same.
BY Mr.. Tignor-rO authorize the Orei-
naries Of the State 10 issue II. fas for their
| fees and costa.
AT II O'Clock the Senate adjourned out
| II respect for Rev. Mr.. Richardson, Of
/ Epson county, a member Of the House.
WIIE IkTtInEF nEN HHVUEv