Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-30

The petition which the WomaR's Tenn
perance Union OF this State sent TO the
Legislature some days ago relative u the
convict lease can hardly fail to attract
attention. 1t takes the ground that the
lease act OF February, 1876, has never
been respected as it should have been, in
dealing with cOnvicts, and that because
it has not been horrible abuses have
brought the leasing system into dIsrepute
among all right thinking people.
There is nodOubt that the leasing sys-
tenn is Objectionable for many reasons,
but bad as it Is it could be relieved OF
some Of its abuses il there were a deter
mination on the part OF the Legislature TO
take hold OF the convict question firmly
and deal with it in a business-like way.
1t is wrong, and every Chris
tian man and woman will say
that it is wrong. to expose the female
convicts to those OF the other sex OF to the
convict guards, ana 1t is only increasing
the burdens OF the State 70 permit the
youthful o1enders-those imprisoned for
minor offsnses and who are, therefore,
subjects for reformariou-to associate
with the hardened offenders. There are
many OF the Georgia convicts who, if
properly treated, could be fitted to become
good citizens, but as they are forced 70
associate with iTrecla Unable wretches
in whose bosom all desire for an honest
and useful life and all nope of improving
their condition are dead, there is not ore
chance IN hundred that when released
they will not only return to their evil
ways, but will influence others to enter
upon a criminal course.
The legislature ought to awaken 10
the responsibility Of the State in this
matter. Can it be possible that the State
proposes to permit a condition of affairs
10 continue to exist against which all
right-thinking people protest? 1t cannot
shirk the responsibility resting upon it
by pretending that nothing can be done
to correct the system. Something can be
done, and growing public sentiment
will soon force the Legislature to at
tempt reform of some sort.
There is another thing in connection
with the convict lease which the Legisla-
ture ought to take notice OF. 1t is the in
sufficient sum which the State realizes for
the hire of the conYicts. How is it that
Georgia gets only about $4,000 for her
1927 convicts, while Tennessee gets Sl01,-
coo for 1900? 1t is stated that North Car
DINA pays all the expenses Of her govern
ment out Of the hire of her con-
victs. Are Tennessee and North
Carolina conVicts worth more as laborers
than Georgia convicts, or is it that there
the convicts are made profitable to the
State, while here they enrich individuals
II the State is TO bear the odium for
abuses which society contemplates with
feeling agin to horror it should have all
the profit there is in a system which
makes such abuses possible,
II there are any who think that the
leasing system is not criminal making
one let them look at the figures. When
it was inaugurated in this State a few
years ago there were $50 convicts. There
are now 1927. There has been some in
crease in the population Of the State
since the system was authorized, but
the percentage of that increase is small
compared to the increase in the number
of convicts. IL the system with all it's
abuses is continued, the number OF con.
yicts within a generation will be some
Thing fearful tn communicate