The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-02
rennesaee,s Convicts.

The legislature Of Tennessee is consider
ing the convict problem, which was brought
to the attention of the public BY the action
of the Bri ,eville miners. 1t is evident that
the problem is not going TO be solved
quickly. AID the chances are that II win Dc
pretty much 10 the same condition az the
end Of the twenty days session ior "hich
the legisla .ure has been called together, as
it is now.
The legislature doesn't huow what to do
with the convicts Many suggestions are
made. but none of them seem to meet with
general approval The state now gets a
revenue from the convicts OF 100000 a
year II the lease system should be aban-
doned the state would lose this large addi-
tion TO its revenue, and would have to ex-
psnd large sum in feeding and guarding
the convicts. 1t is pretty safe to say that
at least s25O,0O0 more would have to be
raised by taxation than is collected at
| present.
The people are not willing TO bear so
large an additional burden Of taxation.
And, besides the state hiss no penitentiary
building. The prison it had was destroYe ed
by fire. and it would cost an muense sum
to build another The people, particularly
the farmers, do not feel rich. The low
price Of cotton has depressing eff act upon
all kinds Of business. and, hence, there is a
desire that the taxes shall be as low as pos
sible.
But what is the legislature to dol The
miners say they will not submit TO COMPETE
ton with convict labor, and it Is probable
thar il the miners should be successful in
their resistance TO that kind Of competition
all other free laborers would object to the
competition Of convict labOrers.
And there is another factor in the prob
lem. Those who have contracts with the
state for convicts object TO having these
contracts broken. II the contracts should
be broken they would hold the state for
damages. The state, therefore, seems to be
in q dilemma. 1t does not see any way out
Of the trying situation in which it is placed.
Ifit could get release from its contract
with the lessees It might employ the con-
victs upon the public roads. In that way
the taxpayers would get the benefit of the
extra taxes they would have to pay for the
support Of the convicts.
1t may be that the discussion OF the con-
vict problem in the Tennessee legislature
will suggest a solution of the problem that
will lie acceptable to all the states which
now have tue lease system. 1t ls certainly
to be hoped that it will The lease system
is very unpopular in this state. II q
better system should be suggested
one that would not impose too heavy bur
den upon the taxpayers-it would be
adopted without much opposition. But this
state, unpopular as the lease system is,
would not abandon that system for one that
would require a considerable increase in
the rate of taxation. 1t would certainly
not do SO as long as the class Of men who
now direct the states affairs are in power
The present legislature will not, in
all probability, make an appropri-
alton for the military organizations,
although it understands that these
organizations are depended upon to preserve
the peace should disturbances of an unusual
character arise. And that such disturb
ances are to be expected is evident from
what occurred at Briceville, Tenn. Con-
victs are working in mines and at saw-mills
~ Wis otAbpJ uAh q ipNSAb u5utuSb NOL4DebA-
ton with convict labor is likely to occur at
any time.
But the lease system has got to go. It
may take years 70 substitute some other
system for it in all the states in which con-
victs are now leased, but the Brlceville
demonstration marked the beginning of an
agitation that will not cease until the lease
system passes out of existence.