The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-12
CRUEL WORK AT THE CAMPS.
THE CONVICT HORRORS LAID HE
FORE THE LEGISLATURE.


tant Appropriations Made - A
Lively Fight over the Bill TO Al
low the Governor to Issue Treas
ury Notes.
Atlanta. Ca, Dec. 11.-Mr. Reagan of
Henry county, chairman of the peniten-
tiary committee of the House. which re-
Gently made an investigation of the condl-
ton of the convicts in the state peni-
tenuary camps, made a highly sensa-
tional report to the legislature to-day The
story told in the report is one OF starva-
tion and cold and heartless cruelty al
most too horrible to be believed. with
few exceptions the convict camps were
found to be in fearful condition, with
the inmates subjected to every cruelty
and half-starved and half-clothed in the
bargain. 1t is a sickening record that
stares out from the report and the re-
suit VIII probably be such an upturning as
has never been seen since the lease sys-
tenn was first established.
The report says at most Of the camps
insufficient building were provided for
the comfort of the convicts and that such
was especially the case at Alexanderville,
Echo, Rising Fawn. the camps in Worth
county and at the Dade coal mines. At
Echo Andersonville. Toledo and Max
well the buildings were miserable substi-
tutes for house, being on the ground in
a malarial section and subjeeting the
convicts to disease and death.
AT Alexander" continues the report
the conVicts did not receive one third as
much food as was necessary. At the
everything being in the very worst con,
half starved"
The rnoaf eapratf tfocat 49, 80 A. .....
covers the Dade County Company camp
although the balance Of the camps We're
found bad enough to shock any humane
community. Siberia, almost loses Its hor-
rors in comparison with the Dade county
camp. The report says of Il: I'm addi-
Iion tt TO being starved and without sum-
cient clothing they are treated with great
cruelty, the system of corporal punish
ment adopted by the superintendent. who
II seems Is also the whipping boss, Is the
most brutal ever inflicted by one human
being upon another. The half-starved
convict IS thrown upon his back and
whlle IN this position a machine attached
water Is thrown into his nostrils until
ne Is almost trangled, and as the victim
SHOWS signs of reviving, the water "A
process is repeated until the victim has
barely enough life left In him TO rise from
the ground. Such brutal and inhuman
treatment snould not be tolerated a daV
ana the infiictor should be properly nun
! lshed. such outrageous conduct is a dis
grace 10 the state, and we recommend
\ that the proper authorities look after this
matter without delay and that said con-
| Yicts be removed from said camp and
from the control of the said superintend-
The report concludes as follows; seWe
| feel that the great state OF Georgia cam
not aHord to allow those who are placed
| in her custody, criminals though thew be
| TO be starved or beaten to death Tshev
| are certainly entitled to humane treat
ment, and 1t is the duty OF the state to see
| tnat they receive IL.
with a few exceptions, we fnd the
camps IN a bad condition and the convicts
not We'll treated. and we most heartily
\ condemn the present lease system ana
| congratulate the people OF the state that
| It is soon to be ended and the blot upon
the fair name of our state removed for
ever"
Several important appropriations were
| made by the legislature to-day The
| House refused day before yesterday TO
| appropriate the money asked by the State
| Normal School at Athens for a building
Of dormitory. The Senate, however,
| this morning put an amendment to the
bill giving the $4,000 to the Girls. Nor.
NAL and Industrial School, allowing the
! Athens school $1,000, and after some de-
| bate the House accepted the amendment
SO the normal school will get a dormitory
after all.
The Senate also inserted in the bill
| 5000 for the Neurological School, but
| the House refused to agree TO this, and
| the Senate receding, the archaeological
| School gets nothing.
The Senate declined to pass the House
bill providing for the issuance of s24O,-
| 900 treasury notes for the payment of In
digent soldiers pensions, but instead
passed resolution authorizing the gov
ernor to make temporary loan to pay
| these pensions The House, when this
| substitute was sent over, refused TO agree,
| but insisted that the Issuance of the
treasury notes was a better method OF
| upon which the state would have to pay
out considerable in interest confer
| ence committee was appointed.
The House finally agreed to the Senate
amendment on the bill. The governor
will borrow the money and payment will
their pensions for 1895, however under the
| Senate amendment.
The Senate also passed the bill appro-
! priating $500 TO repaint the state capital
dome, which needs II very badly, and al
| though having defeated a similar House
| measure II was agreed TO by the lower
branch for the sake Of harmony in the
The Senate Killed the bill by Speaker
| Fleming Of Richmond, making the earn
property and not subject to the debts Of
Mr. Fogarty's bill empowering the city
! of Augusta to construct drainage canals
outside of the corporate limits was passed
/ and is ready for the governors approval
The bill cutting down the fees OF oil in
pectors was lost in the House, after hay
/ ing passed the Senate on Monday.
| The bill to repeal the act under which
| municipal corporations are authorized to
/ levy a tax upon drummers was lost in
4 the Senate, after a sharp debate
\ Mr.. McCurry of Hart county, chairman
/ of the special committee, sent TO Angus
/ IA to-examine the fish ways in the SaVan-
/ nah river made his report in the House
/ this morning, accompanying 1t with a res
/ olution directing the fish commission to
make periodical examinations Of the fish
| ways. and report upon the same to the
| government. If he finds that the fish
ways are not adequate the governor is
/ to take steps to have them made so. in
order that the people living above Au-
| gusta may have the pleasure of angling
/ in the Savannah for the festive shad in
| season.
| The general assembly adjourned sine
/ die tonight at y o'clock. The adjourn
ment was conducted amid rather more or
/ DERBY scenes than usually characterize
/ the last hours Of Georgia's law-making
| body on account. Of the fact that both
/ houses had their hands full Of business
i Quite a number Of bills were left over
/ on the desk Of the clerk OF the House
but none OF them are Of great import
/ ance.
The House tonight presented Speaker
/ Fleming with a handsome silver service
I IN recOgnitiOn of his services 81 speaker