The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-12
WILL SECURE GOOD ROADS.
GOV. ATKINSON TALKS ON THE
CONVICT QUESTION.

xTe Is please to See How Readily His
instructions Are Carried Out by
the Courts and SheriRs and How
Gracefully the Lcssees of COnvicts
Surrender Their Charges - The
Matter of CIaims-Work on the
Public Roads.
Atlanta. Ga, Sept. 11.-Gov. Atkinson
gave out an interesting interview this
Afternoon on the situation of the private
misdemeauor convict camp. and the work
now going on toward the abolishing of
these. He says he is much grau6ed 10y the
promptness with which the judges Of
courts and other officials have responded
10 his suggestions relative 10 the cancel
lation Of the convict lease contract, not a
single one raising the question Of good or
bad treatment. but only considering the
letter of the law in the method OF their
punishment. The Iessees too, he says, have
displayed a ready willingness to surrender
the eonvcts though some Of these think
they should have a little time in which to
Substitute free labor. BY Oct. TO- the gov
ernor saws he expects to see the last one of
the rnisdemeanor convicts now in the GUS
tody of contractors, taken charge of by
the county officers.
"Of course, the lessees are more or less
wronged." says the governor, about the
money which they have paid in advance
for the hire of the convicts, but 1 do not
anticipate they will have any trouble in
adjusting their differences with the county
authorities on a basis that's satisfactory"
Coy. Atkinson declares that he is ready
10 commute the sentence of all convlcts,
Who are taken charge of, If the authori-
ties of the counties are not disposed to give
them credit for the time they
have already served in the private camps,
so they will be required to serve only the
original sentence imposed.
AS to the methods adopted by the judges
TO take charge of the convicts in the
private camps, the governor says their
correspondence with him shows that they
have veey properly gone about it by or
dering the sheriffs to resume custody OF
them and see that the law is carried out
in the execution of their sentences. The
Judges have the same authority to order
the sheriffs to do this as if in the case OF
an escape.
The governor quotes an opinion of the
attorney general to the effect that the
rnisdemeanor convicts may be worked in
the ehain-gang of the county where con-
Victed; upon the gang of any incorporat-
ed town or city of the county; upon the
chain-gang of any other county of this
state after contract between the two
counties, or upon any work, except me
chanic pursuits, where their labor
would come in contact with
free labor. Under the latter,
county authorities may work them on
private farm, cutting timber for sawmilis,
private persons, etc. All that is required
is that the contract be not relinquished to
private parties.
Gov. Atkinson especially recommends
that the convicts be put to work on the
public roads, but where this is not prae-
teal he thinks there need be no fear by
any county of sustaining loss when pri-
vate parties can pay $50 to $1O0 per year
for each convict and make a profit on his
labor
In conclusion he says he expects to see
the breaking up of the private INSIDE
meanor convicts give a great impetus to
the good roads movement in the state.