New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-27
PENAL ABB SES N GEORGIi.

Public attention has been called anew TO the
abuses Of the leased convict labor system in
vogue in Georgia through some revolving dis
closures recently made by a special commissions
er appointed to visit the sO-calcd misdemeanor
convict camps Of that State. 1t has been the
practice of the criminal authorities in Georgia
for some years past to lease out to private con-
tractors the services of shCrt-crm prisoners con-
victed of minor Offences while retaining within
the State camps or prisons the supposedly more
intractablc and desperate coLvicts sentenced for
felonics. The original purpose Of this dscrim-
inaton may have been 10 ease the lot Of minor
offenders. while shifting the burden OF their
support from the States shoulders to those Of
the contracting lcssces. But if such were the
ease. the purpose has shockingly mscarried for
whatever may be said of the hardshps of prison
life in Georgia within the walls of State insti-
tutiOns and under the strict rod Of the official
taskmaster, they cannot but shrink into insig-
nfcance when compared with the unspeakable
mscries OF life in the leased convict camps. as
now laid bare by the investigations Of Governor
Atkinson's special commissioner.
This functionary, Colonel Philip G. Byrd, has
lust handed in to the Governor report which,
according to the frank admission of The AT
"of affairs as modern civilization has ever wit
messed" Colonel Byrd accuses the private con
tractors into whose hands the unfortunate mis-
demeanor convics have fallen of unrelicved
brutality and cruelty toward their helpless vic
Tins The lcssoes their agents are charged
with forcing convcls to work from fourteen 10
twenty-four hours Il day. with failing 10 pro-
vide them properly with clothes. shoes or beds
with allowing them no heat in winter, feeding
them on putrid provisions and utterly neglcctng
them when sick. In one camp siXty-Onc men
were found herdcd in a room eighteen feet
square with no window or other visible means
of ventilation In other camps the cOnvicts were
forced TO sleep out of doors in all weahers. II
IS no wonder. therefore, that now and then the
death rate rose 10 one in four, Willie the year
round for all the camps ii stood at one in seven.
Many cases are cited by the commissioner Of
brutal assaults on prisoners by camp guards.
more than one Of them resulting in the victims
death Other disclosures are made of the re-
voting conditions of life in the leased camps
which can scarcely be discussed in the public
prints "The Constitution which has been
quick to call for a special session Of the State
Legislature 10 remedy the hOrrifyng abuses dis
covered in the present system OF penal admins
traton. emphasizes. indeed. the unspeaEable
character of many OF Colonel ByrdS revelations.
and summarizes It's comment on them as fol
lows: 1T almost passes belief that in this age
"Of civilization, refinement and humanity such
"a condition Of affairs as Colonel Byrd has IN
covered could exist. Georgia is not Russia
but right here, under the caves Of our churches
"t seems that the prison hes Of Siberia are
"outdone in cruelty and wantonncss."
1t is to be hoped that quickened public
sentiment will demand and secure the immedi-
ate abolition in Georgia Of The contract system
and all its enornities The State admlnlstra-
ton has already drawn a plan for submission
to the Legislature. by which the method OF pr
vate lease may be shorn Of many Of its present
abuses. II is proposed, for instance. that the
State shall hereafter retain absolute supervision
and care Of the misdemeanOr couvic;s. and over
see their work, all Of which. functions are now
delegated - the losscos and their irresponsible
agents. Such change would undoubtedly OF
crate - lessen The misrr.eS o. contract camp
life.
But what is really wanted in Georgia is the
complete abandonment Of the system Of con