Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1886-01-15

and ia have died, 2 being killed while
resisting arrest or attempting to e.
cape, and 6 By casualties.
Under section 2, Of an act approved
January 81, 1877, 1 approved Ia 1881
contracts made by the Superintendent
Of the PenitentiaTy for necessary re-
pairs and improvements TO the amount
Of s27, 343.39. This SIN was credited
on the lease for 1888, and the balance
Of sl2,076.61 due on the lease for that
year was, on December 81, 1884, paid
into the treasury.
In the year 1885, 1 approved similar
contracts to the amount Of $27,419.42.
which was credited on the lease for
1884, and the balance of $12,100.58
due on the lease for that year was on
December 10, 1885, paid into the treas
ury. During the past four years $751;
III. so has been paid into the treasury
by the present ~lessees, being all that
was ever received in the States history
from that source. The sum due on
the lease for the year 1885 has not been
paid.
Under the act approved March Is,
1884, the Superintendent visited the
different convict camps as often as the
limited appropriation Of $500 for his
travelling expenses would permit. He
has reported to me from time to time
that the convicts were well clad and
fed and humanely treated, except in
one or two instances, and his reports
have been confirmed by the absence of
all complaint to the contrary. l know
from personal observation, as well as
from the Superintendent reports, that
the convicts within the walls are treat
ed in every case with the utmost kind
ness consistent with the proper dis.
cipllne Of the prison.
On the goth day of December last,
under the provisions of an act ap-
proved March Is, 1884, Hamilton &
Hoskins, assignees Of Hamilton, Allen
& Co., undertook to transfer and as
sign their unexpired lease to the peni-
Tertiary to the Gulf e Ship Island
Railroad Company, by an instrument
Of writing a copy of which is now on
file in the office Of the Secretary of
State.
The assignment contained condi-
tons and stipulaJions, which the At
torney. General and myself thought
contllcted with the act authorizing the
transfer, and when the railroad
company rendered its bond, we with
held our approval from it, believing
that it would be best to postpone all
action until the Legislature could have
an opportunity to consider the whole
subject, and in the propriety Of this
course all the parties interested con-
CURED.
The present lease expires on Jan
uary l, 1887, when the Legislature will
not be in session. 1t therefore devolves
upon the present Legislature to pro
vide for the disposition of the peniten
tiary in the contingency that the trans
fer authorized by the act of 1884 fails
to be effected, or having been accom-
plisbed thereafter, from any cause
terminates. There is difficulty in de
vising a scheme for the administrator
Of the ~penitentiary which will insur
the humane treatment of the convict
without imposing unnecessary bur
dens on the people. The subject ha
engaged the thoughtful attention o
our wisest citizens, and from time Il
time different plans have been adopted
but In practice none have proven
entirely satisfactory. The present
system of leasing the convicts is no
satisfactory in its results and is moi
approved by the people," as declares
by the Legislature of 1884, and ther,
is a general demand for a change. l
the State should assume control of tn
penitentiary, 1t would be compelled t.
employ the convicts outside the prisol
walls, since they cannot be confined o
prohtably employed within them, an,
this would be attended, I fear, no
only with great %pecuniary loss to tn
State, but with the same evils whicl
result from the present system. Il
other words, the State would incur tn
large expense consequent upon takinI
charge Of the penitentiary, to no pur
pose. While, therefore, you may b
opposed to the leasing system, as
have frequently expressed myself, yo
should carefully consider whether tn
State could make any other dispositio
of the convicts, through her agent
with more satisfactory results, an
whether it would be safe, or proper
: for the State to test the experiment.
, have canvassed the objections to bot
plans, and am inclined to the opinio
that il the act of 1884 could be amend
ed and revised so as to protect tn
rights of the State and insure th
faithful employment of the conyicts i
: the construc. ion Of the Gulf and Shi
Island railroad, or other work Of pub
: lie utility under proper regulations 70
their comfort and treatment, it woul
; be the bestand most advantageous 81
! luton of the. problem, both for til
State and the convicts. The road
projected through a high, dry, rollin
country that is celebrated for its salt
g brious climate, and the health Of tn
convicts. which is often impaired /
the delta where they are now chief
omnlnvnd would undprOo a snapd