The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-02-10
The Penitentiary.

hurried reference to the points which |
Oh. hamilton makes in favor OF the |
ssees who have had charge of the con
lets in Mississippi since 1876; but since
ne subject is one that has been extern
vty discussed and is of great public
interest, we feel that the cause of justice
I'LL be advanced by giving publicity to
ONE of the facts which he has collect
d..
From 1886 to 1876, period of forty
ears, during two years of which period
he Penitentiary was not in operation, the |
Excess of disbursements over receipts
vas over $500, 600. The exact portion OF |
his sum spent in construction and for
is net stated. The act to es
-abish the penitentiary, approved Feb
ruary %, 1886, Appropriated $4,000. and
for several years thereafter the appro
priations were largely in excess OF the
L eeds of the institution. In 1910, the pen
itentiary was opened, and twenty eight
are reported for that year, while
S3S $50 we're expended. In lS4l, S52-
400 81 were appropriated and spent, in
addition to SIS, 29l.7l paid for salarie-
and master workmen. This, it would
seem, was largely for buildings and ma
ahinery. In 1843, with sixty-seven con-
victs, the expense to the State was over
SIS 600. or about S225.00 to each convict.
IplS45 there were "a convicts aud a net
profit of $4,000. In 1916, there were
80 convictt,and a loss of S, 884 90. In 1913
Gov. Brown says in his message: The
success of the Penitentiary for the last
two years has not equaled the genera eX-
pectation. In 1916 the balance sheet ex-
hibited loss of $S,884.53. This year
the gain is shown by the same exhibit
to be a gain of $S5 Is. In justice, 1t
must be admitted that the losses have
been greater than the reports indicate,
By investigation of the account of 1916,
il will be seen that Sc, 339.48 has been
drawn from the treasury in that year,
and in this year, 1847, S6,339.4S has
been drawn for the use and support OF
the institution, and that the income OF
1916 is credited by the stock, tools, etc,
on 9,649.07: in 1847, by S26,
60363 All this material is valuable butts
precise value cannot be estimated unless
converted into money" In 1S48 there
were ninety-seven convicts and loss of
50, 1926. A gain of S3,6SS.23, and
eighty-six convicts are reported in lS49,
and with about the same number of con-
victs gains are reported as follows: 1852,
81, 973 90; 1858, $40, sos 90; 1854, S5,l19.-
90, 1855, 1883. From 1855 to 1861,
the expenditures largely exceeded the
income, except ia 1861, when there was
a profit. The penitentiary was destroy
ed in 1863. In 1865 it WAS re establish
ed, since which time the expenses have
been appalling, except when the peniten-
tiary was in the hands of lessees.
From 1866 to the middle of May, 1876,
say ten years and half, the cost
amounted to S40l $685.. At this time
Col. Hamilton and his associates took
charge of the penitentiary, the average
number of convicts being $50, and be
makes the following showing of hi
transactions with the State for the nine
years and half following; that is tC
say. from the middle of 1876 to the last
of 1885:
Buildings and walls erected
and machinery purchased
by Lessees, less amount
paid by State for ma
chlnery -....................-.-.Sl lot, 400 81
Cash paid State by Lessees
less amount paid by State
for Superintendent salary $4,000 OF
Net ain....................$ lS6, $50 g.
In no year since the war has the Pen
itentiary cost the State less than SIS, 1881
which was the cost in 1872, till Col
Hamilton became lessee.
The figures collected from Other
States, the reports of more than thirty
prisons having been examined, show
that in every instance except one, where
the States control the labor of the con.
victs, they do so at considerable expense
We have not used Col. HamilDn',
figures for the purpose of upholding The
leasing system; but they are well worth
the consideration of those whose duty il
is to manage the Penitentiary in the bes
possible manner.
The statistics of deaths and escapes a
the Mississippi Penitentisry compare
favorably with those of other States
having the same character of convicts
What to do with the Peniteutiary, is
perhaps, the most important question
before the Legislature; but it is a ques
ton which cannot be satisfactorily deal
with until other questions are settled
and to these it seems to us the Legssla
tnre should address itself earnestly anS
promptly.
Who has the legal custody of the con-
victs at this time, the Lessees or tn
Gull and Ship Island Railroad Compa
ny? If the Gulf and Ship Island Rail
road Company, then there is nothing
more for the Legislature to do, for thu
Act of 1884 provides all the Legislation
needed. But suppose that there ha
been no legal transfer by the lessees t.
the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Com
pany (about which there seems to b.
some doubt), and it is true in law that
the obligations of the lease are still il
force. if the Lessees desire to surrender
the convicts and abandon the leas.
would it not be wise to permit them te
do so?
| We hope that the way will be clear t.
break up the leasing system, and tina
the convicts will be given to til,
Gulf and Ship Island Railroad Com
panys without hope of reward othe
than shall come fron the construction
of the road, and on no other condition
than that the Safe shall be. at n,
expense, aud that the convicts shall b,
comfortably fed and closhed and hu
namely treated.
1
| Hon. E. BARKsD4LE seems more &C
tive and Jealous o. the interests Of hi