Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-07

the rate OF taxation or adding new bur
deus TO the taxpayers. verifying my
opinion as to our ability 20 do 30. express
eel at the time OF tie settlement
would advise that an act be passed
authorizing the Commissioners OF the
Sinking Fund to purchase 30 many of
the bonds of the State as they can do
with proprlety, using such money aa may
be spared conveniently from the treasury
after all the liabilities OF the State have
been satisfied. so that there shall be no
increase In the amount TO be paid In meet
ing the per cent. interest when Il falls
due IN July, 1901.
The Pcnitcntiary.
ann Fratlned at the excellent report
OF the Superintendent OF the Peniten-
uavy and the Board of Managers. II
SHOWS the health OF the convictg To be
excellent. the discipline good. and the
aoor profitable. The government has
been Kind and the tasks allotted reason
able. There are In prison 1910; there are
hty odd convicts at work on county
roads making total OF about 400. or
these l5S are there for the second and
mira terms. The number seems TO in
crease from year TO year. showing that
the peniucntary Is a necessity. The loss
OF liberty will not always restrain the
terrors for some nor does education
entirely eradicate the love of crime.
Inc penitentiary has been a source OF
great expense 10 the State in times past
ana Few are the years when the treasury
did not contribute TO pay, from the taxes
OF the people. the cost OF keeping ND this
institution. IT does seem little remark
able that the hardy convict who is in
generated for crimes committed and con-
n In farlr nj oh.
should not be able by his labors 20 pay
the cost OF his imprisonment ! have
ende0YOred to discover where the
mismanagement was which brought the
institution so heavily in debt, when 80
many others worked with free labor make
immense sums for their owners. I find
on investigation that II IS due in great
part 10 the unwise contracts made under
the statute. The ablest hands have been
hired 20 railroads. hut no bonds were
taken for the payment OF their hire: the
statute did not require it. and much money
was lost because OF this failure The
State clothed. fed. guarded, and supplied
the convicts with medical attention and
medicine. and took in return the worthless
bonds or naked promises Of the various
companies, which have never been re-
deemed.
a CHANGE WAS NEEDED.
I determined TO change this custom.
and while the statute did not require me
In 50 many words To take bond and Sc
curity. but directed me TO hire out
the convicts and put no restriction
on my action I'm this regard,
felt II my duty 10 demand
bonds with good security, payable quar-
terly. This enables the officers to col
lect the money when due. The result Is.
that by collecting closely what has been
made by their labor large surplus has
been added TO the credit of the institution,
after all expenses have been betrayed
IN 1880 there was paid into the Treasury
$s.6S1S
In 1891 there was paid into the Treasury
S36.l7O.lS.
In 1892 there was paid into the Treasury
S43. 5000.
In 1893 there was paid into the Treasury
S9S. 67T.75.
The net result Of work done at the peni-
Tertiary during these years.
When we remember the staGnatiOn In
business of all kinds, the cessation of
work on the railroads. and the return Of
every convict the report Of the officials
Of the institution for the past year is
very gratifying. and / trust that hereafter
We will make not less than $4,000 net an
nually and have no occasion to make APP
preparations TO support this institution.
The Superintendent Is required 10 re-
port quarterly to the Auditor the amounts
due the State for the hire Of convicts,
etc. without making IL the duty Of the
Auditor TO collect these accounts The sta
tute does not give power 10 the Supern-
tendent 10 do So but he turns the accounts
over to the Auditor. and there ms duty
ends. There should b. no room here Tor
doubt as to the duty Of either of these Oh
should
rendered 20 the Auditor, TO let him see
what IS due the State from this source
| OF revenue and the Superintendent should
| be required TO collect all the money due
from every source as shown by his ac-
| counts. and after collecting II he shouid
pay il over TO the Auditor. The Audl'or
| should collect only from the Superintend-
cnt
DEFECTIVE STATUTES.
On thes,, subjects the statutes are de-
fective. and should be revised The SUPER
intcndent is the chief executive officer
Of the penltentiary; he has the manage
ment Of all the property. real ana
| personaI: II is his duty to control IL
| and be responsible for it. and 10 instl-
| tute suits for the recovery Of debts que
\ the penitentiary Further, he IS required
on The first day Of each month TO re-
mort 10 the Board of Directors the re-
| celpts for hire of the convictS, etc. lie
| is also general purchasing agent, ana II
! is made his special duty to enter INTO con-
| tracts for the employment OF the con-
victs '',yithin the walls Of the peniten-
tiarv" Such being the duties OF the
Superlntendent. ne should be required 70
| hire out all the convicts. whether tney
are 10 be worked within the pentcn-
tjary or upon the railroads. The super
| intendent should take charge OF all thls
work. under the advice OF the Board oil
Directors. and hire out all OF the con
victs and collect the money LOT thel,
hire The Auditor Is IA very busy man, and
has no time to see after the collection
Of the money due the pententiary. There
~ no wisdom In having divided response
bilitips As the law now stands. II there
was danger OF a loss, and prompt action
VAS necessary, the Auditor might say thai
there is no authority vested IN MN 10 col
lect this money The superintendent
might say that IL was not his duty, and
thus by negligence ana delay uep'
once good might be lost.
IMPORTANT RECOMMENDATIONS.
recommend that the statute be
changed. and the Superintendent be re-
ouired 10 hire out all c0nvicts ana TO
take bonds payable TO the state. WIN
good security. and that he be required 10
collect the money anu pay II NN'l W
the Auditor Of Public Accounts. lie
should also be required 10 give suiii-
cicnt bond in case OF default on ms
part 20 make the State safe.
Humanity requires the law hiring con-
victs 10 De worked on the railroads To
be repealed. The results show that the
change from the heated workshops,
rooms and cells TO the exposure ne
cessarily incident to the work and con-
hnement on the railroads is so great
that IL cndangers the health and lives
of the convicts. and exposes them 10 a
risk 10 which they were not consigned
when they are sentenced TO hard labor
I'm the penitentiary." They have not for
feited their lives by the commission OF
crime. but only their liberty, and they
| should not be compelled 10 labor IN an
| exuosed position, where their health may
be endangered. BY an examination OF inc
r.ports OF the officers of this institution
v0u will see the difference IN the rate
of mortality among those who work on
The railroads, and those who are en-
ployed inside the prison and the differ
cnce is fearful.