The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1888-02-18
Another PenItentIary Investigation.

The committee appointed to investi-
gate the present management Of the
penitsntiary have prepared a volumi-
nous report Of which the following is
synopsis
/. The leasing system under any
form is wrong in principle. Where
the power of the employer Is absolute
it is most certain 10 be abused. The
system Of leasing convicts restores a
system of seryitude worse than slavery.
Subleasing is doubly Objectionable.
Treatment under that method is gen
orally harsh, as shown bY the fearful
mortality under the system Numcr-
Gus eases of frOsthites are reported.
which could hardly occur in the clim-
ate without undue exposure. The
treatment of cOnyicts in the camp of
j. IL. Mcdonald. ON the Kansas CITY 4
Birmingham railroad, was simply muir
derous. Brutal and often fatal inju-
ries were inflicted on the eOnvlcts-
His lease was annulled in June, 1851.
The high death rate in this camp is at
tributed to cruelty, 9.0S recent repre-
senting the death rate of eonvicts in
his camp The lessees are entirely re-
sponsible for this abnormal death rate.
The health Of convicts in camps for
the past few months is comparatively
good.
2. The condition of the conYicts has
been improved since they were re
manded TO the immediate control of
the railroad company and placed un-
der the supervision Of the board of
control In the walls we iindno cause
Of complaint The death rate il very
low. In camp the eonyicts are well
fed and fairly clothed, but their quar-
ters arc of the rudest character, and
but little attention is paid to the clean
illness of tho conyicts or camps. In
stances Of cruelty are not uncommon
Some do not como to light, on account
of system Of intimidation. One in.
stance mentioned by DIR. Horny i
positively shocking. There is no cvi
dence that the lessees are aware o
these things. They forbid all cruelty
and unusual punishment, but they can
not and should not be held blameless
They could have informed themselvc
of the abuses existing by taking ordi
nary diligence, and are clearly respon
sible for keeping brutal men in thei
employ. Abuses are sometimes exag
gerated. Punishment must be inillet
ed to maintain discipline, and is occa
sionally necessarily severe, and ther
are many vicious persons among tn
convicts who require the stcrnost re-
preston.
8. Tho committee recommend tn
abandonment Of the leasing system a
soon as practicable, but it cannot b
done at present Great improvement
in the treatment Of convicts has bee
made in the last few months, owing l.
the supervision exercised by the boar
Of control, and tho appointment Of Off
cials charged with the personal man
agement of the conyicts is recommend
ed.
4. The committee recommends whel
the leasing system is abandoned tha
sufficient land be set apart and con
victs not able to do hard work shoul
be set to work cultivating the soil.
| 8. The report recommends tho ostal
lishmeni, in the walls, of factories lo
cabinet making, smelling, wagons, ct
6. II recommends certain repairs q
penitentiary building.
Z. II advises n change Of the law
; to what constitutes grand larceny, an
recommends the pardon of those no
serving out terms for violation Of Il
pig law.
3. II recommends the lessening ,
time for good conduct.
0. II advocates lighter sentences (,
young violators of the law.
There il nothing in this report thl
is not trite except the candid avowi
that the leasing system is the only on
compatible with the States revenue
and condition. This is exactly th
outcome which we predicted month
since.