The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-04-29
TURNEY TALKS.
Not Afraid to Answer Questions Put
Him.
Pertinent InterrOgatOries Put to and Can
did Replies by the Next Governor
of Tennessee.

A few days ago the Appeal-Avalanche
believing that the people of Tennessee
would like to know the opinion OF
Judge Peter Turney on certain queS-
dressed him the following letter:
Hon. Peter Turney-Dear Sir: The
Appeal-Avalanche would like to print
your answers to the following ques-
tions:
l. Should Governor sign a bill which
provided compensation to himsel in ad-
dition 10 the salary fixed by law?
2. Has any Governor of Tennessee
ever signed such bill and accepted the
fees provided.
B. Are you in favor of the Constitu-
tiOnaI Convention? If SO, will you kind
ly give your reasons.
4. Should there not be immediate re-
form in our methods of prison admins
tration?
Believing these questions to involve
matters of deep interest to the people at
this time, we very respectfully solicit
your responses in such detail as you may
deem proper.
Very sincerely,
THE APPEAL-AVALANCHE
Memphis, Tenn, April IS.
Yesterday the Appeal-Avalanche re-
ceived Justice Turneys replies to the
questions propOunded, and submits them
to it's readers:
NV answer to your first question is:
No Governor should sign bill which
addition to the salary fixed by law. The
Constitution provides; Gle shall, at
stated times, receive compensation Tor
his services, which shall not be increased
or diminished during the period Tor
which he shall have been elected"
2 Whether any Governor Of TenneS-
see has ever signed such bill or bills IS a
matter of record, which is the best proof
of the fact, if it exist. Ofmy own knoWl-
edge, L cannot say that any Governor
has ever accepted fees thus provided.
3. l am not aware Of any necessity IOr
a constitutional convention. As rule,
l am opposed to calling one. First, be
cause il would bring a heavy charge
upon the State; and, second, there is al
ways much confusion resulting from IL,
| in that, while there may be many good
| things provided, there are generally
some evils, and we have to accept or re-
| iect as a whole at the ballot box. Also,
the Constitution provides for its own
| amendment, which is the safe way, as
| voters will have time to understand the
proposed amendment before beng
| called on to vote, and then have only a
| single proposition to investigate
! instead of an entire constitution. If 1t
shall urged that it takes too long to
amend, that provision may itself be
| amended. These things can be done
without the cost of an additional dollar
| to the expenses of the State, and While
! they require little more time for ac-
mplishment, will be more satisfactory
when accomplished.
1. There should be reform in oui,
| methods of prison administration, and
as soon as possible. While there are
300 or 400 cOnvicts, our present peni-
! tentiarv building will only accommo-
| date about i400. The present leaSeWlIl
expire Jan. /, 1896. 1 think in the
meantime (and it will take that long)we
should build prison of sufficient di-
mensiOns (away from any city) TO ac-
| commodaJe all cOnVicts, abandon the
lease system, and conduct the prison in
suchla way as to make it interfere in
the least possible manner with free
labor. The State ought not to try to
make it source of revenue, but be
| satisfied if it is self-sustaining. Hu-
manity demands that convict shall be
made as comfortable as possible, with
out being made thing of speculation
and profit. Respectfully,
p. .TURNEY.
Jackson Tenn, April q, 1892.
| -LAppeal-A ValanChe.