Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-03-17
A pENIrENrIARY FARM.

n
The Senate on Friday passed bill |
for the purchase of a prison farm by a
vote Of % to Ii, which covers the whole |
ground. is simple in its operation, com
prehensive and thoroughly practical
in every way.
The Senate has done its duty faith
fully and eiTectually. The debate on
the measure was characterized by an
intelligent and elevated conception of
the subject, and full appreciation of
the duty resting upon the Legislature
TO carry out promptly and earnestly
the DEGREES of the Constitutional Con-
vention.
1t only remains for the House to re-
cede from its hasty and ill-advised &C
ton of few weeks ago, and concur in
the Senate bill.
In the hope therefore that it may be
of some avail, the LEADER will make a
few comments on the practical features
of this measure.
] III DTONlNltS lOI u NOlAl
posed of the Prison Board of Control
together with five practical farmers
who are to select tract of land for the
prison farm of not less than five nor
more than ten thousand acres, (which
in the Judgment of the Board is best
adapted to the purpose in respect to
location, soil, diversity of crops and
general sanitary conditions" The
prison Board of Control knowing the
wants and requirements of the Peni-
Tertiary, and the five practical farmers
being judges of land, makes a commits
sion that will be sure to make wise
and prudent selection.
The title is to be certified in writing
by the Attorney General to be perfect,
and finally no contract of purchase can
be closed without the written approval
of the Governor. 1t is simply impos-
sible that the public interest can be
better protected or guarded, than is
provided by this bill.
Again, under section two of the Sen
ate bill, the work of preparation can
be begun very soon, a part of the con-
victs can be put on the land at once
and put to clearing up and getting the
proper structures under way. The
work will then go right on, and each
year more convicts will be withdrawn
from the lessees and put on the land,
so that at the end of the year 1894, ar
rangements will have been made for all
the convicts. Thus the work will be
done without hurry or confusion and
with the greatest possible economy to
the State.
The commission is not restricted to
any particular tracts of land heretofore
offered, and has the whole State to
choose from.
The sum of $4,000 is appropriated, or
so much as is necessary, for the pur
chase of the land, and in addition, the
earnings of the convicts are dedicated
farm.
A fine body of lands ought to be pur-
chased for $4,000, and the earnings of
the convicts will probably reach the
aggregate of $4,000 or $4,000 more for
the support of the Penitentiary.
From the standpoint of the highest
public morals, the appropriation
should be more liberal, in view of the
fact that the State has been making
this lease-system a source of revenue,
and covered many thousands of these
convict-earnings into the State treas
ury.
1t is not too late for the House to do
its duty by passing this Senate bill.
For the good name of the Legisla-
ture it is to be fervently hoped that
the blind and reckless folly of post
poning all action in this important
matter will not continue to control the
| House.