The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1896-01-20

measure that will he abandoned as soon
as the legislature provides for the pur-
chase of sufficient lands upon which the
whole prison population may be placed.
It's Practicability Fully Demonstrated.
Already II will be seen that one-third or
the convicts have been placed on lands
owned by the state And the practcabilty
and success OF this plan has been fully
demonstrated.
IN every respect the convcts on the lands
owned and rented by the state have been
properly treated, while there has been
some Irregularities in one instance where
the convicts are worked under the con-
tract plan. which is in many respects
Objectionable and unsatisfactory.
Let me make some further observations
based upon my knowledge in respect 10
convict leasing.
AS a member Of the board of control
of Mississippi, I was I'm a position to OBJ
serve with accuracy the practical work.
ing of the leasing system during the years
1898 and 1921. There is not a member or
the board who would tolerate the mistreat-
ment Of convict. and the warden or
the prison is thoroughly efficient and faith
full. Every possible effort has been made
by those officials TO secure the proper
treatment Of the convicts. and yet many
and frequent instances of the cruel treat
ment Of the prisoners occurred during
tho years 1898 and 1894. There were in
stances where the prisoners were cruelty
punished. not properly fed, overworked
and insufliciently clothed. and not prop
erly housed. As for proper discipline or
any effort toward retaining a convict.
these are reiinements that can have no
place i'm any convict leasing system.
Without oyerstatement | can candidly
declare as my firm conviction and after
q long ana careful observation of the sys-
tenn of leasing convicts, that il is inherent
urFs.s t4-. a Il fol-
principle and it violates the moral obli-
cation ana duty of the state to retain the
entire and complete custody. discipline
aud control of the prisoners in its own
hands.
upon this subject, the Mississippi board
Of control. in its latest report. says:
During the year 1S1i notwithstanding
the vigilance of the members Of the board
ard the warden. who made frequent in
snectjons Of the lcsSces' camps, there were
many cases Of improper treatment of the
coavicts. In some instances they were
oVcrworiIed. in others improperly fed and
insuiiicirn-ly clothed. and in several in
stances were unjustlv ana cruelty punished
h~ tho lsssees. Scrgeauts and guards
were dismissed by the board whenever and
wherever IL IVES possible to fix the respon-
sIbli ty for these WronE-Goings. ana one
IF THE contracts Of leasing was Cancelled
by tue hoard on account OF the bad treat
mcut of the conViCtS.
'''rhe board aNail- itself OF this oppor-
turitv To again declare its firm conviction,
based upon a hnoWlrGG" OF the pr&ct.c.l
workings of tur system known IN TINS
state ass convict leasing, that notwith-
/ standing the utmost vigilance ANA the
sir.ctest practicable supervision, the op-
portunities aad temptations Tor the mn
proper treatment OF the convict were Sc
great l1t 81 WAS an Impossible task toi
the board 10 prevent many OF the eNils
th.t' ire inscuarahle from Tire system
The Evolution in Mississippi.
ln4 under