Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-02
WORK FOR THE CONVICTS
GOV. GORDON'S MESSAGE on
THE PRESENT SYSTEM.

Convict Labor IN Building Macad-
amtzed Righwsys-Experime mt Farms
Worked by State Prisoners Also sug-
gested
ATLANTA, Dec. LIN the Senate to-day
the following new bills were read:
BY Mr.. Observation-Disclosures and con-
frming The charter OF the Macon and
Covington railroad,
BY Mr.. Powell-Regulatlng the busl-
ness of insurance.
BY Mr.. Dean-Providing for appeal
from one jury in the Superior or City
Courts to another special jury; also,
authorizing amendments to be made 20
schedules Of assets in cases of voluntary
assignments.
BY Mr.. Hawkes-Amending section 1903
of the Code relating to the guardianship
of minors.
The bill amending the charter OF the
CITY of Macon providing for the erection
OF public market house passed.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House to-day motion to re-
consider the bill passed Yesterday in
cooperating the Georgia Fire Insurance
Company OF LAGRANGE was adopted. Tue
argument for reconsideration was that
begin business on $4,000 capital paid in,
which was insufficient security tor tn Q
policy holders and contrary TO the law
and policy OF the STATE.
The following new bills were intro
duced:
By Mr.. Wilcox, of Ware-Proyiding
for the registration of voters in Ware
county.
By Mr. Evans, Of Washlngton-ReRu
lating fishing in the Little Onoopee river
IN Washington county.
By MIR. Ashley, OF Wilcox-Making it
Illegal TO seine for fish in the Alapaha
river in Wilcox county; also appropri-
ating money for an artificial leg for G. ).
Mccall DubOse. OF Wilkes: also, incor-
poraIing the Washington and Elberton
railroad.
The bill amending the registration law
o! Washington county passed.
Mr.. Calvin. OF Richmond, introduced a
resolution 10 prOlogg the session beyond
forty days for such time as necessary TO
transact public business. On motion of
MI Calvin tie resolution was tabled.
Mr.. " heller, of Walker, offered a resO-
luton fixing the hours OF the daily session
at from O'Clock IN the morning to l
O'Clock in the !.ternOon. This was lost.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The Governor sent in the following mes
Sage 10 bOtn houses:
Tothe Senate and House Of Representations:
Your attention is respr ctfully invited to the
suggest ons herein sub nitted, and if your
Judgment approves, your cooperation is 30
Icted.
Both our penltentIary system and agricul-
tura Interes demand consideration by the
legislative ana Executive Departments OF
this State. MY reason Tor referring to both
in the same official communication VIII clearly
appear, ! trust, In the further reading of this
mes re.
II tba fret piana fhera saanns IN he a sarioua
defect 10 the law authorizing the leasing of
the convcts OF this State. There is apparently
no provision made for retention by tine State
OF the cOuvicts, or any PORTION OF them, should
the lease. or any part OF 1t, be declar, d for
feited. The law seems to provide that in case
of forfeiture the cOnvlcts shall MT be re-
tained. but shall be re-let TO other lessees, for
period not less than twenty years. / re-
spectfulls refer you to sections and OF the
set OF Feb. 25, 1875.
II the present system of farming out or
1eas ng the cOnvicts TO individuals or corpora
tious Is 10 be the permanent policy Of the
State, then the provisions referred to may not
be defects; but II tie present system is ever
TO be modified or abandoned, respectfully
recommend that the law be amended as to
permit the State to retain possession of such
convlcis as NAV be recovered from the lessees
or any one of them, through forfeiture or
lotherw sc such retention and control Dein G
necessary TO enable the state to test the Wis
dom and practlcability of other systems.
THERE ARE OBJECTIONS,
as the Legislature Is Iuily AVA Q, uTgeuIO tne
present lease system. These OBJECTIONS in no
degree or respect Involve personal criticisms
but are lodged wholly against the system
Itself.
it makes possible the infection of greater
punishment than the law and the courts have
imposed.
Ii renders impracticable the proper care BY
the state of the he lth of its prisoners, or their
requisite separation according to classes,
sexes and cond ions
II reduces to the minimum the chances for
reform alton.
Il places convict labor in many instances IN
dir CT competition with the honest labor Of
the ate
These, briefly stated. are some of the objec-
tions urged against the present system. IL
will be generally admitted that they are of SO
grave character that the Sta'e viii not he
idgti6ed in continuing the system. provided
it can be changed legally and without
the violation Of good faith ani provided
also that better system should Ue practical
lie.
After much reflection venture the opinion
that another plan might be adopted legally by
the State, aud IFS practcaOilIy at least par
TALLY tested at an early day without any vio-
latiop Of good faIth.
lido NOT ALLUDE TO THE SYSTEM
Of conGniuS the convicts within walls apC
buildings, as formerly existing In TINS state,
ami still adhered 10 IN some OF the othel
10 that plan the objections are almost. il
not quite as serious; for while IL avoids some
OF the DIM ulties noted above 1t encounters
others. to which the lease system is les
liable, or from which 1t is entirely Tree. FO
instance. the ceath rate is greater under thi
old plan in most of The States than under thu
new in our S ate.
Under the old system in Georgia the eXpens,
OF maintenance wa Ouerous, and this expense
with the large number OF COnyict- now OF
hand, would be a burden upon tho labor anC
property Of the people too heavy TO be
incurred.
Nor do I refer to the plan which has beer
suggested OF u-irg the convicts in building OF
improving the pubic roads Of the state
There h 40 doubt, think, that such EN- ploy
inent OF the states prisoners II not too grea
a present burden, would be Al
Improvement upon the lease svs
ten: and It " uld surely eventuate in grea
and lasting benef to the people.
AN EXTENSIVE CoRRFsPoNDKNCE,
conducted for months st, has drawn from
certain localities 10 different 5 ates a fund o
important Information a. to me cost o
macadamizlng roads and the relative advance
in value OF property along and contiguous Il
Bucn mpruved highways.
Should the wisdom OF the Legislature de
wise a feasible plan for using the Stale con
Victe or n portion OF them, on such public i'm
provement-. it will meet my hearty rOn ur
renee. But there are serious obstacles 20 thu
practical working VI This plan al o. The Gu
tire force thus employed must be guarded
housed fed and clothed by direct AVIATION