The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-11

that were under Investigation to-day and
which will be under fire again tomorrow.
In his formal answer TO the charges Mr..
Brown gave the case a spicy turn by init
mating very pointedly that the legislators
went to the camps as politicians and not
with desire to subserve the interests or
the state
He said: Sometimes the manner in
which these reports are made up is as fol-
lows; A committee Of the Georgia legisla-
ture goes up to the convict camps and anX-
ious to make political capital and get the
sympathy of the families and friends OF
the cOnvicts make One-sided inVestiga-
ton, all of which is for political effect.
They take a printed list of the ConVictS
which is ordinarily found in the principal
keepers reports and going to the camps,
single out the convicts who are from their
own county, take them off quietly and hear
their complaints. No single opportunity IS
given the guards and officials to be heard.
The committee in the seclusion of their
committee rooms make uD their reports
upon the eX-parte evidence of convicted
criminals and the same is reported to the
legislature either upon the last or next to
last day of the session and no opportunity
is given those having Convicts to be heard.
The officials and the lessees of the state
are not even given the same chance to
defend themselves against charges made
by criminals as the criminals themselves
have before conviction"
ON the point OF acknowledgement, Mr..
Browns answer declared that the convicts
of his company were not worked hard
enough. They do not average more than
tality among them is less than that in the
great cities of this country; while the
cost of the company to feed and clothe is
80 cents day, as against 10 cents day
paid by Fulton county to keep her con-
victs.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Browns an
swer Senator Sanford, chairman of the
Senate committee, was introduced as the
first witness. He produced the original re-
ports of the subcommittee that visited
the camps and explained that the final
no ~ fyHa nh ~ written
himself, not upon personal Information,
but based upon the subcommittee reports.
The report In this condition, however, he
said, had been adopted by the regular
committee unanimously, which made II
the voice of that body.
Senator Monroe of the subcommittee
that visited the Cole City camp was next
introduced. His testimony related princi-
pally to the "ducking" method of pun
ishment which no did not see, but which
he said Supt. Cox of the camp told him
was sometimes used on the most ungoV-
ernable, because IL was more humane than
whipping and more effective in its re-
Senator Monroe thought that the con-
victs we're well-fed and wen-clothed and
generally well-treated. He did not, how
ever see whether the conVicts wore socks
or not. His only criticism was that the
sleeping quarters were dirty. He ate some
of the bread that was complained of and
said that it was good.
Senator Brown, another member of the
committee, that went to Cole city,
said that he saw two men very poorly
clad, although he did not see any of them
wearing socks. All the men were given
about a half-pound of bacon with Vege-
tables daily, with bread for rations. Some
times 1t was beef. The bread, he said,
or some of it. at least was cooked with
out the meal having been sifted.
Senator Tatum said that he lived seven
miles from Cole City. but had never heard
of the "ducking" punishment there. He
was on the committee that visited the
Rising Fawn camp, and it was in excel
lent condition, as was also the camp at
Crawford Springs. The men were well
cared for, and he saw nothing to criti-
else.
Senator Ryals testified about the condi-
ton of the Cole City camp in about the
same terms as the other witnesses. All
he knew about the "ducking" was what
superintendent Cox told him, that being
that II was more humane than whipping.
Representative Farmer of Coweta coun-
ty was introduced and gave testimony sus-
tanning the report of the House commit
tee as to the camp in Wilcox county.
The building there, he said, did not fur
nish sufficient protection against the
weather. and it's sanitary condition was
badly neglected.
The examination of witnesses will prob
ably consume several days more.