The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-10-25

FNOAlu D6 cullGAELl 2 guarantee AAtfAA llAf
road is in good hands. The report shows
that for the year ending June 80, 1894, the
receipts from all sources were 81 $50, 20
Operating expenses $50, 623. As. Net earn
ings 1857. 1s9a. Rental. interest and taxes
$500, 129 81 Deficit IS 1881. There was ex-
pended for Improvements in excess OF
operating expenses So, $3.50
For three years and a half, during the
time Of lease from Dec. q, 1890, to June 30
1898. the receipts were $5.03l 1885, and the
operating expenses SO. 42l, S33.27, leaving as
net earnings 81, Go, 1928. Out of the net
earnings there was paid in rental, inter
est and taxes 81. 500 1854. leaving a sur
plus of SS66a During the foregoing Pc
riod there was expended for improvements
7l640.S3.
II is my pleasure to again commend the
management OF the lessees in the use of
the states property. The roadbed, bridges
and buildings have all been greatly i'm
proved and they are kept in most excel
lent condition, and the states interests
have been most carefully and securely
guarded.
The rental stipulated in the lease has
been regularly and promptly paid, and
the management has not hesitated to eN-
pend additional sums in whatever way
the best interests Of the states property
demanded
THE STATES PENAL SYSTEM.
Besides the death penalty in certain
cases, under our statutes we have four
distinct methods of punishment for VIC
lations of law 1st, confinement in the
county Jail; I'd, fine: Sd. Imprisonment in
the county chain-gang; 4th, confinement
at hard labor in the state penitenuary.
This entire system needs careful review
for the purpose of making important and
radical changes.
1t is a question worthy your considera-
ton as TO whether the common public
gNaa H. FHn int
nance of a criminal in the county jas4,
after conviction. unless, because of some
physical infrmity, he may be unable to
bear heavier penalties under severer and
more disgraceful methods.
There are many grave objections to the
alternative penalties imposed by fine.
Ny candid judgment compels me to he
lieve that this system should be greatly
abridged
In some cases have reason to know
that penalties would not have been in
fiicted at ALL were it not for the fine to
be distributed in final settlement.
AS the executive of the state, I have
been asked time and again, to fix al
Tentative penalties in fine, when the in
nocence of the party was partially, if
not wholly conceded.
1t is dangerous to trust the liberties and
the rights of the people to such powerful
temptations on the part of the officers Of
the law
Again the social conditions that ex-
ist in our state make it possible for the
fine to be paid by innocent parties. This
system under such policy amounts, prac-
tically, in some sense to compromising a
crime.
The officers of our courts should be paid
fixed salaries, so that they may be re-
LEVIED from the temptation TO wrong-doing
toward unfortunate citizens, who can be
convicted for a price.
COUNTY CHAIN-GANGS.
/ have time and again called the atten-
ton Of your predecessors to the lack of
the management and care in our county
chain gangs. The conditions of tenn
porary lease are exactly the same as OBJ
tain in our state penitentiary, except that
the term of service is much shorter, and
yet the state gives absolutely no atten-
ton to the enforcement of the law or
the care of the prisoners so confined and
punished.
Upon this subject quote from my mes
sage to your immediate predecessors:
Upon investigation you will find this
system subject to all the criticisms that
have been justly made by the general
assembly from time to time upon our
penitentiary system, and yet entirely
without control and supervision by the
state rt
These convicts are hired or leased to
gain. So are convicts in our peniten-
tiary In the one case conVicts are
turned over to the mercy of those who
have bought their muscle without knowl-
edge by the state as to their term OF serV-
ice physical and moral condition or gen
eral treatment In the other the state
provides proper and diligent officers who
look to the proper enforcement of the
contract. the record of the term, the dis
charge from service, the medical care
of the prisoner and the designation of the
proper party to administer punishment.
In the penitentiary the convict is the
ward. in some sense. of the state In
the chain gang he is at the mercy of
those who buy his time and strength to
make money, with no designated power
to protect his rights, care for his morals
or defend his person.
In some instances these convicts are
hired by the same parties who hire peni-
Tertiary convicts, and they are. therefore,
practically confined in our penitentiary
when the judgment of the court did not
so determine and their offenses did not so
warrant. This injustice, however. need
not be mentioned in the presence of the
greater wrong done them in the denial of
care and protection by the state dur
ing their term of service.
These convicts should receive from the
state the same superintendent as is
given convicts hired to the lessees of our
pententiary.
In my judgment the general assembly
cannot afford TO delay longer the consid-
Grafton due prisoners confined in our
county chain gangs"
To make further known to you the ne
cessty for supervision by the state, it
may be proper to say that during my term
] have ordered the discharge of prisoners
from the county camps who have been de-
tanned by the authorities many days after
the order releasing them had been issued.
now have on file in this Office a letter
written to a worthy citizen of the state
hey the lessee of a county gang.
offering to sell to him a convict sent to
his camps by order Of the court and dis
closing the further fact that he has en-
gagged in this open violation of the law
as a general practice.
The state cannot longer endure or toll
crate the shameful abuse of its prisoners
and maintain its high standard of civili-
cation.
Much has been said from time to time,
through the press, in legislative debates,
and in public criticism denunciatory of
our penitenuary system. which is under
good control and management by compe-
tent state officials. while our chain-gang
system, exactly the same in its organza-