The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-17
COUNTY AFFAIRS CONSIDERED.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS HOLD A
CONGRESS-.

The Convict system Is Discussed in
Connection With County Roads.
same Suggestions to BE Made to
she T.erfsIature-A Prominent Or
.ranfsation ERcctcd-Its Usefulness
Pointed DAT.
Atlanta. Ca, Sept N-COunty commits
sioners representing a large majority Of
the counties of the state met mere today
ana perfected a permanent organization,
the purpose of which is to further the
good roads movement and to take hand
In the disposition Of the convict question
There were a number of ordinaries from
counties where there IS no board Of com
rnissioners in attendance and they were
admitted to seats in the hail
The convention was worked up by the
Fulton county board Of commissioners and
Chairman Adair of that body called it TO
order In doing so MT. Adair made a
short talk in which he told what were the
ideas behind the organization Of the COM
missioners.
He said: "The Office OF county commits
sioner is a most important one, and the
duties varied and arduous. To care for
ana control the misdemeanor convicts in
their work maintain paupers, purchase
supDlies. look after educational, and other
interests, provide funds to meet these and
the other requirements of the courts by
making a tax levy that must at the same
time he adequate to all
demands and satisfactory to the people
require no small amount of thought and
attention. The unprecedented growth OF
our state during recent years has made it
necessary for eighty-three counties in
Georgia to relieve the ordinary of these
duties and entrust them to county com
missloners.
I'VE want to talk with you as 10 the
best method as TO providing for the benefit
of the country districts, good and sufti-
cent police protection The many other
duties Of the sheriff make il practicable
for him to fully render this service, ana
how to best provide this much needed pro-
lection is an issue that admits OF no
further delay. The plan under when our
district road commissioners operate IS one
with many objections, and some effective
remedy would be hailed with pleasure.
How to provide sewerage drains ana prop
er sanitary regulations without resortlng
10 the slow process of appealing 10 the
courts is another question the discussion
of which may profit us much. AT TINS
time when the early expiration OF the
state convict lease system makes Il nee
essary for our present legislature TO pro-
vide for the disposition of the felony con-
victs, the people of Georgia
can obtain many valuable sugges-
lions from officials coming from
every section of the state who had direct
charge of the only class of convicts tnat
have been engaged in public road work.
The question is an all-absorbing one,
and is now engaging the attention not
only of the officials and the press, but of
all good citizens who desire to protect the
fair name of our state from further such
diseraces as have been disclosed by the
numerous officials Investigations of pri-
waite convict camps. Wherever conVlcts
are worked for private gain abuses are
found The greed for gain and desire to
squeeze the last penny from every ,oppor-
tunity gives rise to the many wrongs that
have caused public scandal and disgraced
our state However, where convicts have
been worked by the various governing au-
thorities in each county as public charge
without the expectation of private profit
no such shocking abuses occur and no
complaint is made.
In the face Of these facts, will ii not be
well for us to ask the Legislature to enact
such laws as will vest the judges with the
power to turn over to the county author
tiles in addition to the misdemeanor con-
yicts, the felony convicts whose sentences
do not exceed five years, to be worked on
the public roads, thereby removing a
large number of convicts from competition
with free labor, the mechanic, artisan and
farm hand and at the same time serve
the double purpose of building good
roads
Capt. c. W. Featherston of Floyd was
made permanent president of the associa-
ton, and A. L. Kontz, clerk Of
the Fulton county board, secretary,
with the following executive COM
mittee, composed Of one member from
each congressional district: Third. j. r.
johnson Of Lee; Fourth, J. H. Gown of
Troup; Fifth, Forrest Adair of Fulton;
sixth. s. NJ Davis Of Bib; Seventh, N. c.
Napier Of Walker; Eighth. J. II. Hunter of
Morgan; Ninth, E, e. Dixon of Hall;
Tenth. W. f. Eve Of Richmond.
There was a general interchange of
ideas. the leasing Of mlsdemeanor convicts
40 private parties being condemned unani-
mously. and the following resolution, Of
fered by Mr.. Spading of Fulton, was
adopted:
Resolved l. That county chain-gangs and
the working of all convicts not sentenced
10 the peultent7ary should remain perma-
county authorities where situated.
q That provision should be made
b. a general law regulating and prescrib-
ing the management, working, feeding,
clothing. treatment and keeping of con-
vlcts in county chain-gangs, and the ordi-
Isaries and county commissioners of the
several counties should be empowered and
directed 10 carry out the same
g. In addition to the inspection now re-
quired to he made by the grand jurors,
the governor should have the right at
pleasure to cause an inspection to be
made of any and all county chain-gang
camps or other places where convicts may
be confined, to ascertain If the law Is be-
ing complied with That wherever the
governor finds the law Is being violated in
any county he should have authority to
require the ordinary or county commits
sioners of such county, upon notice TO
forthwith comply with the law and upon
their failure or refusal after such notice
80 20 do, 10 report the same to the proper
officers Of said county.
T. In addition to misdemean-
or convicts all felony convicts,
whose terms do not exceed five years,
should. in the discretion of the presiding
Judge, be sentenced to serve in the county
Changing.
s. That all convicts in the county chain
gangs should only be put upon works as