Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-26
TURNER'S PLAIN TALK.
His Opinion on Leading Cues
tions of State Concern.
The Governor Has No Right to Other
Fees Than His Salary-Against
the Constitutional Convention.

the Constitutional Convention.
A few days ago the Memphis APP
peal valanche addressed the fol
lowing letter to Hon. Peter Turney
DEAR SIR: The Appeal Ava
lanche would like to print you
answers to the following questions
l. Should a Governor sign bill
which provided compensation tC
himself in addition to the salary fixec
by law?
2. Has any Governor of Tennessee
ever signed such bill and accepted
the fees provided?
8. Are you in favor of the constitu'
tional convention If so, will you
kindly give your reasons?
4. Should there not be immediate
reform in our methods of prison ad.
ministration
Believing these questions to in
volve matters of deep interest to the
people at this time, we very respect
fully solicit your responses in such
detail as you may deem proper. Very
sincerely,
The Appeal Avalanche.
Memphis, Tenn, April 10.
Justice Turney replied as follows:
My answer to your first question is:
No governor should sign bill which
provided compensation for hims Ii in
addition to the salary fixed by law.
The constitution provides: "He
shall, at stated times, receive com
pensation for his services, which
shall not be increased or diminished
during the period for which he shall
have been elected"
2. Whether any Governor of Ten
nessee has ever signed such bill or
bills is a matter of record, which is
the best proof of the fact, if it exists,
OF my own knowledge, l cannot say
that any Governor has ever accepted
fees thus provided
3. / am not aware of any necessity
for a constitutional convention. AS
rule, | am opposed to calling one.
First, because it would bring heavy
charge upon the State; and, second,
there is always much confusion re-
sulting from it, in that, while there
may be many good things provided,
there are generally some evils, and
we have to accept OF reject as whole
at the ballot box. Also, the constitu-
ton provides for its own amendments
which is the safe way, as voters will
have time to understand the proposed
amendment before being called on to
vote, and then have only a single
proposition to investigate instead of
an entire constitution. If it shall
be urged that it takes too long
to amend, that provision may it.
self be amended. These things can
be done without the cost of an adj
ditional dollar to the expenses of the
State, and while they require little
more time for accomplishment, will
be more satisfactory when accom-
plished.
!. 4. There should be reform in our
methods of prison administration,
and as soon as possible. While there
are 1900 or 400 convicts, our pres
ent penitentiary building will only
accommodate about 400. The pres
ent lease will expire January l, 1896.
| think in the meantime land it will
take that long, we should build
prison of sufficient dimensions away |
from any city, to accommodate all
cOnvicts, abandon the lease system
and conduct the prison in such way
as to make it interfere in the least
possible manner with free labor. |
The State ought not to try to make
it a source of revenue, but be salts.
fled if it is selfsustaining. Human
ity demands that convict shall be
made as comfortable as possible,
without being made a thing of specu-
lation and profit. respectfully,
p. TURNEY.
Jackson, Tenn, April q, 1892.