The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-14
Our sriadcmcanor Convicts.


II il is possible to induce the legisla-
ture to take some action for the better
protection OF chain-gang convicts in the
different counties. the special message
which the governor sent TO that body on
Tuesday. and the report Of ex-Assistant
keeper Of the penitentiary. who visited
the convict camps Of many counties,
ought to accomplish that object. Both
the message and the report contain state
ments which viii arouse the Indignation
Of right thinking people throughout the
state. The governor, in speaking Of the
report, says; 1T reveals such inhuman
and barbarous conduct upon the part of
some of those engaged in working this
class Of convicts. that comment by me is
unnecessary TO induce you to act prompt
" to save our state from longer submit
ting TO this burning shame"
Mr. Wrlghts report shows that. in some
Of the counties, he discovered a deplor-
able tateof affairs, the convicts. male
and female. white and black. young and
old. being herded together. when not en-
ployed at their tasks, in places so filthy
as to excite disgust. In some OF the camps
the food was found to be scant and un-
wholesome and it was discovered that
camp bosses and guards used the lash
freely whenever it pleased them to do SO.
Many instances We're found where the
convicts We're held in prison longer than
the law permitted, and there was plenty
of evidence TO show that the convicts
when i'll, had little or no medical atten-
ton, and no other kind of attention that
would contribute to their recovery Mr.
Wrights observation was that their
clothing was scant and filthy. and was
the same during cold weather as in warm
weather. He speaks of the punishment
which some of the convicts he saw re-
coived as "cruel, brutal, savage and bar
porous
1t is not strange that the governor de-
clares that. judging from Mr.. Wrights
report. the treatment of tie chain-gans
eonvicts is "inhuman and barbayous,"
and calls the legislature TO take some
steps toward removing from the state
the shame ami disgrace TO which she is
subjected by the method of dealing with
county convicts.
The county authorities do not wilfully
subject the convicts in their care to in
human treatment. The treatment is the
result of neglect. In most If not all of
the counties, the county commissioners
Serve without pay They give very little
attention to the county convicts. They
either hire them out or utilize them on
public works under the direction Of SUI
perintendents and bosses. They know
very little of what is done in the convict
camps. Every once in a while there is
a scandal, and then the commissioners
realize that certain responsibilities rest
upon them, and that they have been neg
lectihg duties they are bound to per-
form
What is the remedy for the state of af-
fairs which the governor points out?
That is a question it would be difficult
to answer. If there were one or more
state inspectors authorized to visit each
camp at least once month. with power
to correct abuses there would likely be
fewer instances of inhumanity and bru-
tality Clearly something must be done.
We cannot afford to have continuance
of the state of affairs to which the gov
ernor directs attention.