Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-25


ductiye, andlIn that event greatly prcfe
TO see these idle lands In the midst OF sci
Elements, SO that the benefit OF their US
would be more generally distribute,
among the people. The action of III
land board has tended TO produce an ar
of free grass for large cattle companies
and the tax for public schools has in
creased from about seven and a half cent
on the hundred dollars to twelve and
half cents Almost any change would b.
an Improvement on this system. The nc
tion OF the board In assuming Junction.
I of at least questionable legality
among others. I'm doubling the rental
over the minimum loure prescribed b,
] the legislature, together with other arbi
| trary regulations OF n temporary anC
! changing character, tended necessarily C
discourage leases and turned man,
thousands OF dollars from the dool
OF the treasury. A disrespect of the laws
was begotten, prosecutions have been
met by hostile public sentiment in the
! localities affected, the use of armed
forces has been seriously agitated for tlie
purpose OF driving occupants from the
public lands at the point of the bayouet.
and general excitement bepotten. hurt.
ful TO the state and lts progress and nm.
inst In many instances 10 the citizen
againt whom anathemas have been
hurled. think all this could have been
avoided by wise and iudiclous manage
ment, and can vet be rectlncd by the
same methods. The use OF troops i'm
times OF peace does not commend itself
TO the average Texan, and can only be
Justified in extreme cases and after the
exhaustion OF every civil remedy wise
craftsmanship can suggest. Our people
are accustomed to look 70 the legislature
for their laws, and there IL no reason
why legislative functions should be de-
vOlyod upon executive officers in so inn
portant matter as the control and dis
position OF our lands. Carefully guarded
regulations should be prescribed by pub.
lie law, and these regulations should he
Of such a character as would secure their
prompt enforcement by the machinery of
courts authorized by the constitution
In localities subject TO lease stringent
provisions should be made to prevent tho
free use Of the public lands; but
the lessee Is also entitled To legal protoc.
tlon under his contract with the state and
should receive 10 TO the same extent ne
any other citizen. The management of
the lands should be left where the Con.
stltutlon evidently designed Il should be
left, with the commissioner of the gen.
eral land once, with no discretion vested
In him TO abrogate or disregard The Main
requirements of the law, but with sufli.
Client machinery at his DISMISSAL 10 keen
himself informed OF the situation and 10
execute the powers granted him Inv law.
and he should be held To n direct ogIcial
accountability. without any division ~
responsibility with any board or officer
OF course you will understand thnt ONLY
outline the general features of the avs.
ten. In the limits of an interyleyv n 10
not practicable TO enter into n dlscussion
OF details, all Of which must he left IN The
legislature. | only state some general
principles, the iudclous Inauguration of
which think Will tend greatly Ia relieva
MS from serious public embarrassmen,
| am welded TO no particular line ~
policy, except as TO rapid sales IN nctnol
settlers. In this | am ipiexIhlp and mn.
alterable.
What are your views as In nonitcn.
tiary management
Gen. R,-Thc true tbeorv nj course 4,
to connne all eonyIcts within Tho vail
aud make them self supporting Rnt
there are lnsuperable dincnitias IN ~
application Of thnt nrlncinin
as we have room now in onr nenitentiariel
for less than half tho convjcta md ma
money on hand to bntld addittonaI
prisons, Conyicts should moi he confno,i
In dleness, NJ the expense of hnnne, ,,nn
pie, but should contribute Inv their lahor
1t least TO their own aunnort nosidn. |
i'hard lahorn Is part of Inc punlshment !
which tends more Ia reformas
lion than idleness think we shonId |
ioster and encourage tho Indust,Ins ni
ready established In onr nonItnntIar,es
so rs TO make our present instltnt,nns ~
hat character self-sustainin0 nnd r,rod
ially, without Imposing too heavy Inv
BURDENS upon the people. ESTABLISH ana
construct one or more Prisons With othcr
Industries, until the state CON ta,o carg ~,
III persons nnderpoinr nunishment mi
viii necessarily take tIme. hecansc ~ ,.o
lad all the prison room yvc needed a. MI
lime the DEVELOPMENT M nrIson inSns
.ros, like any other Indnstry ~ mora Wv
ess slow, according 10 circnmst,ncos
ind business tact and nnnagemont IT,
.he meanwhile, upskilled convict I,h,,r
night be utilized mon n eonyict tarn,
owned aud oporated nv tho state ~ nar,
" her penal system. and conirihntIn,y hs
Is products To the sppport Of conyirts
within the walls. II ms ALWAYS orc,rrad
o me that the utilization az convIcts an
prison farm wonld congict Lass ,c,,h
,nnest labor than their conGncnont Mir
n walls, for tho growth of ngrlcnItncni
PRODUCTS by them could not mnterlolly
feet prices ar .ylnt tho mnrlot ,.hti