The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-01-17

information here provided could not
hitherto receive a satisfactory re-
Spouse.
QUARANTINE.
The power vested in an officer neces-
sary to make laws of this character
effective, by which he disturbs COM
merce in its legitimate operations and
restricts travel and the exchange of
business transactions, trenches so
closely upon the exercise of arbitrary
functions that our people quitenatural-
ly render it an unwilling obedience; yet,
If the frequent and periodical appear
ance of yellow fever in our State prior
to the enactment Of quarantine laws
be accepted as true, according to our
State health officer, we should hesitate
to dispense with this safeguard to the
public health, and it's importance is
emphasized when we contemplate the
effects of the recent terrible epidemic
which spread its freightage of disaster
and ruin throughout Florida. When
her whole people were bowed and
trembling under the dreadful scourge,
with her industries paralyzed and
commerce wholly suppressed, while
want, pestilence, and death were join
ing in their unsparing work, the zeal
Gus and fearless efforts of DIR. Ruther-
ford to save our people from the immi-
nent peril of such scourge should
justly entitle him to the thanks of all.
His report is submitted and you will
find full account of his Stewardship.
PENAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITU-
TIONS.
The imposed necessity to economic
time and space, in order to crowd into
this message the many subjects
deemed worthy of your consideration,
leaves but little room for more than
the statement that the reports of
those in charge will clearly show, we
think, that in the disbursements of
the public money they have been gov
erned by the strictest rules of economy
consistent with the best interests of
their institutions.
And one in any considerable degree
familiar with the details of their la
bors, must be impressed with their
zeal and devotion to the trusts COM
mitted to them. In the discharge of
their official duties, seconded by the
hearty cooperation of their respective
boards, they have endeavored to do
the very best for the State, and the
welfare of the unfortunate ones en-
trusted to their care. They submit to
you many important suggestions in
their respective reports, which are en-
titled to earnest consideration, and
we trust that there may be a careful
examination of the wants of these in
situations, and such necessary appro-
priations made as will be conducive
to the best interests of the inmates.
In this connection it becomes my
tiary Board. with the full concurrence
of all parties interested, and upon the
earnest recommendation of the super
intendent, believing that every
consideration of economy and public
interest suggested change in the
present law for conveying prisoners
from the different counties to the pen
itentiary, and in order that the State
should hereafter exercise this duty by
the employment of proper agents I'M
der the control and direction of the
superintendent and financial agent, it
was determined to extend the existing
contract 80 days to give your honor
able bodies sufficient time to fully in
vestigate and weigh this important
matter before the State should enter
into another contract. 1t is believed
that the prisoners can be as cheaply
and much more satisfactorily conveyed
to the prisons by the State than by
private contracting parties. The con-
tractors are simply required to carry
and as they find it more to their in
terest to convey them to Rusk Peni-
Tertiary, large majority are car
ried there and have to be Immediately
by the State to the places
where they are needed under the
different labor contracts, entailing the
cost of several thousand dollars each
year in addition to that apparent in
the contract for first deliverance. The
exact amount you may obtain from the
report of the Financial Agent, and
while it would be difficult for any fair
man to find just grounds of complaint
with the contractors for this work,
either in their honest purpose to comply
fully with the obligations entered into
with the State, or on the score of will
full neglect of duty, yet prisoners are
suffered to remain for days
in the different county jails after their
and sentence and notice
given, creating an unnecessary burden
and expense on the different counties |
for feeding them, and loss to the |
State by inability to place them |