The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-26
A UNIT AGAINST THE BILL
THE CHATHAM D LEGATION ON
THE CITY ELECTION MEASURE.

VieWs-The Fight on the COnVlcJ
Ieasa Svstem-A Determined Oppo-
sition TO It-Msj. Ryals' Bill to Pr5v.de
Protection for Bathers at ceaside
resorts.
Representative Ryals, who is at home
taking few days rest from his legislative
duties, was asked by MORNING NEWS re-
porter Yesterday for his views on the bill
placing the city offices in control OF the
people.
Looking at the bill from different stand
points" said Mai Ryals, there are both
good and bad points In it. It will work well
enough in some cities. but it is a wrong
measure for Savannah. Representative
buff Of Bib county is a champion of the
bill because he believes il will work a
reform in Macon. The manner in which
things are conducted now in that city re-
suits in the perpetuity of set of officials
not in accord with the people.
Here matters are different. We
have one of the best municipal
governments 70 be found anywhere, and
the offices are filled with capable and honest
men, which might not be the case If the law
were changed. The bill is a general one.
affecting all the cities in the state, but in the
event Of its passage I will make an effort TO
have Chatham county exempted"
AN EXEMPTION BILL.
"Can such thing be donep
30, yes. Special bills cannot lie passed,
but under general bill place can be ex-
empted."
Twin Chatham's delegation stand to-
gether IN opposition 90 the measure
u cannot speak for any one but myself"
answered Maj. Rysls, but you can put me
! down as an opponent Of the measure as far
as Savannah Is concerned. and viii make
a fight when it comes Up, If 1t cannot be ar
ranged beforehand"
Representative Clifton was asked for his
position on the bill. Put me down." said
be, AS unAl,erably opposed to the measure.
I see no reason for the passage of such
law, and don't believe it will pass after its
provisions ara thoroughly understood by
the members Of the legislature. The effect
on Savannah would be demoralizing in the
extreme, and before long, under such cir
cumstances, the city offices would probably
be filled with persons not at all creditable to
the people,
The visiting legislators were also ap-
preached on the subject, aud each one of
them said he would vote against the
measure in the event it is reported back
from committee, which some of them ssem
20 doubt Representative Tatum of Dade
voiced the sentiments of the delegation.
1--WE don't believe the legislature should in-
terfere in the control Of the municipal gov
ernments. The cities know better than we
do which is the wisest plan for securing
faithful officers, and the legislature has no
business to interfere with those plans 1t
might probably prove good enough law
for country towns, but in cities, where all
sorts Of elsments reside, 1t would work to
their detriment to great extent. Quote
the delegation unit again the measure"
TO FIGHT THE CONVICT SYSTEM.
Maj. Ryals wants to break up the convict
lease system of Georgia THE humiliating
position that Tennessee has been placed in )"
said he, ION account Of just such a system
as Georgia should teach US lesson. Some
action ought to be taken 60 break it up be-
fore we may be called upon to send our
military to protect convicts against free
labor. Il is something which should not be
any longer tolerated In this enlightened age.
| Let Georgia take her convicts out of the
| hands OF the lessees, and put them to work
| upon the public highways OF the state and
draining the low lands, so as to make them
habi.eble. The lessees have no claims upor
| the state, because they have not fulfilled
| their contracts"
TO GO BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
| "Will you offer a bill at the present SEES
sion to break the leasesp
II don't know" said Maj. Ryals. "Sev
eral members and myself have been work
ing up sentiment in the legislature on th'
matter, and met with considerable success
| A committee will go before Representa-
tive Clifton's penitentiarY committee auC
| place before it the reasons why the nefari
Gus system should be broken up. showing
that the sentiment of the people is in favo
of its appeal The result hope for will b.
bill covering the subject reported by tn
committee. 1t has been claimed by some
that the state is pledged to the lease system
for nine years yet, but | deny that Georges
is pledged at all, because the lessees hav
not fulfilled the requirements OF their con
tract"
MR.. CLIFTON IN LINE.
Representative Clifton is as thorough,
against the convict lease system as his col
league, Maj. Ryals. He sald the peniten
tiary committee, of which he is chairman
will offer a bill shortly to abolish the sys
tenn and take the convicts back under tn
control of the state to do the states wor
wherever free labor is not in competition.
THE convict lease SYSTEM" said Repre-
. sentative Tatum, lis something whic
should never have been lnaugurated, and
, blot on the history Of Georgia, who
, must be wiped out at the earliest oppor
, tunity. IL will be this legislature whic
will have the honor of wiping GU
that blot The system has been
loss to the state from the beginning. TAX
for instance Dade county, which repre-
sent. It is a county rich in mineral de
l posits, such as iron ore, coal, etc. Some
D thing like 700 convicts do the mining there
Break up the lease system, and free lsbo
will have to be employed to oper
ate the mines. The wages earned b
the miners would be from 81 10 TO SIS pc
9 DAY. See what a volume of money woul
thus be put in circulation throughout th
4 state. As it is now the mine owners ar
: the only ones who make any money, th
5 convicts receiving no wages, and the stat
=. receiving but pittance for their labor"
/. MY idea," continued Representativ
d. Tatum, "is to wall the convicts in wheI
(. it is not practicable to work them on uh
o.. roads In these prisons let them manufat
ture farming implements, which the stat
can sell at actual cost, including of court
the maintenance OF the convicts. Thl
would save to the agricultural communit
: the mlddlemen profits on such articles"
a PROTECTION FOR SURF BATHERs.
c Mai. Ryals said his bill providing foF Il
compelling OF owners of bath houses to pr,
n vide suitable protection for bathers will u
e doubtedly pass. He has shown the con
q mittee the great necessity for the step, pal
It ticularly at the seaside resorts and it be
q been so fRvorahly imprt sSed that the bi
will be reported favorably and given rigt
OF way In the House.
IN, r-agord n tho hill r. braat- I'm tho tiol<e