Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-06

DIR. FELTON, and the Convict System.
In his Moutezuma speech DR.. FELTON,
made some statements relative to the
profits of convict lessees and the degrad-
ing and brutalizing tendencies of the
leasing system that are worth more than
a passing notice.
With reference to the profits, he called
attention to the fact that the statement Of
the Comptroller General of Tennessee
showed that that state gets annually for
her convlcts from the lessees sos 600.
This sum is not subjected to any deduc-
tons for expenses, but goes directly INTO
the treasury. The average number OF
conyicts is 300, and the lease is for only
six years.
In this State the convicts yield only
$4,000, although the average number OF
them is 1900, and the lease is Tor twenty
years. The State does not get the benefit
o the whole $4,000. Out of it comes the
salaries of keepers, assistant keepers,
chaplains, etc.
The question which is here presented is
this; Why is it that Tennessee realizes
so much more than Georgia does?
Are the Tennessee convicts better la
oorers than the Georgia convicts are?
There are no reasons for doubling that
the profit from the labor of each Georgia
convict is as great as that of each Ten
essee convict. In that case somebody
IN Georgia is making enormous profits
without risking much, if any, capital.
Bad as the leasing system is, if the Leg
- ~ mol > Inv
should not the State have at least a
reasonable share of the profits arising
from it. 1t costs the taxpayers of the
state many thousands of dollars annually
90 maintain courts and enforce the
laws. Every convict has cost the State a
good round UNI. Why, then, should a
few individuals be permitted to pocket
almost all the profits arising from the
labor of convicts. If Tennessee gets $780,
600 year for 300 cOnVicts Georgia ought
certainly get more Than $4,000 a year
tor 1,5CO convlcts. Assuming that DR..
Felton's figures are correct, there is GER
tainly room for suspicion that Georgia is
not getting as much for her convicts as
she ought to.
But small as the amount is which this
State gets from her convicts it is much
greater than some other Southern States
realize from their cOnvicts. In Florida,
for instance, according 20 a recent COM
munication published in the MORNING
NEWS, the lessees not only get
all the profits arising from
the labor of the convicts.
but also receive $4,000 a year from the
State. The Florida lessees must have a
very profitable contract. 1t is probable
tnat they could pay the State $4,000 year
and yet make a very handsome sum an
nually. In several Southern States, when
the present convict leases expire, the tax
payers will have great deal more to say
about the new leases than they had about
the old ones, if the leasing system is adj
hered to.
There is, however, growing sentiment
5ainst the leasing system. and if there
were any other way of caring for the con-
victs without too great an expense public
sentiment would lie wholly against 1t. DR..
FELTON, calls it an iniquitOus system, and
his language is by no means too strong.
II would pay the State much better in the
long run 10 utilize the convicts in build
ing public roads throughout the State
than to lease them for the paltry consid-
Grafton of $4,000 a year.