The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-28
PAGES 9 TO 10.


tofore.
The states obligation. while inflctIng
punishment to treat with humanity and
reclaim 20 good citizenship those confined
In the count" chain-gangs, Is not dimin-
ished by reason Of the counties authori-
~ over them. The county is the creature
of the state and for any failure on its part
to 90 its duty by the convicts committed
10 its care, the state Is responsible.
Having received. In 1895, Information
that led me TO believe that the msde-
meanor convicts were not being held and
treated as the law and humanity required
l appointed Hon. r. f. Wright. of Ebert
county, former assistant keeper of the
peuitentlary, TO inspect the various camps
and make report thereon. that the gen.
eral assembly might be placed In possess
sion of information which would enable
II 10 take the proper action. He was not
able to complete this work before the con-
Vening of the general assembly, but be-
lieving that the Information already gath
cred was sufficient to show the necessity
for legislation and to induce the appli-
cation of the needed remedy 1 dscon-
tnued the inspection and placed before
the general assembly the report Of Mr.
Wright upon his work done up to that
time,
This very able report by Mr. Wright
will be placed before you and to It 1 in
wife your attention.
During this year I had reason to be.
lleve that abuses still existed In the man.
agement of this class of convicts, and that
the publicity given by the discussion OF
the Wright report, to the illegality of hir-
ing them to private parties had not corr
rected the evil. l employed Hon. p G.
Byrd Of Floyd county, to locate and in
spect oil camps where mlsdemeanor con-
victs were worked. and make report there
on. His clear and comprehensive report
has been printed, and will be placed be-
fore you.
The facts stated in these two reports
leave no room for doubt that legislation is
needed to properly regulate the care and
treatment of this class Of convicts, which
now number more than /, 800. After learn
ing from this report that 637 OF these
convicts We're held and worked by pr-
waite parties, who had secured them from
the county authorities in violation Of law,
/ communicated the facts to the judges
and solicitors, from whose courts they were
sentenced. Upon receipt of this Informal
ton, these officers acted with commenda-
BILE promptness. and took steps to have the
convicts worked I'm compliance with law
and the sentence of the court. This re.
form has already greatly increased the
forces at work on the public roads, and
viii be of lncalcuiable value in promoting
the Improvement of our highways.
It Is not enough, however, that these
men are remanded to the custody of those
who are authorized by law to control them.
The Wright and Byrd reports will clearly
show that this is not the only reform
needed. The end to be secured is uni
form and humane treatment This can
best be secured by state inspection and
enforcement of rules prescribed by the
penitentiary authorities. Under the exist
! Ing system, there Is probably no two
camps where the same treatment is given
or the same rules govern. Certain 1t Is
| Ara
months is worse than for twelve months
at Others
This inequality applies not to the prl-
waite camps only, about which so much has
been said, but to the county camps also.
The facts stated In the reports bearine
upon this question are so convincing ana
irresistible that 1 need only refer you to
them.
I earnestly recommend that the stats
provide for regular inspection of these
convicts by a state officer whose duty IL
shall be, while wholesome punishment Is
being inflicted, to see that their treat
ment Is humane and that the rules pro-
vided for their government, and of those
in charge of them, are enforced.
Subject to the supervision of the state.
all misdemeanor convicts should remain in
the care. custody and control Of the coun-
ty authorities, as under existing laws.
Now while we are providing for the
Is best that we also supply the legisla-
ton needed to properly regulate and d.
rect the management of county chain
gangs.
THE PENITENTIARY.
The general assembly at it's present ses-
sion. is confronted with the duty of pro-
viding for the disposition of the inmates
of our penitentiary after April 1, 1899, at
which time the existing lease Will expire
will no HI a IA
adjournment of the general assembly,
which will convene in October 1898. IL the
state Is to take charge Of It's own peni-
Tertiary, house, care for, control and fur
nish employment for its convicts, three
months will not give sufficient time to
make the necessary preparation. On the
other hand, If under any plan they are to
be housed In part, and only a part are to
be worked for others, this time would be
too short either to arrange for employment
or for quarters. Should action be delayed
until the session of 1898, we would find the
state utterly unable to make adequate ar
rangements to either hire or work it's con.
victs before the expiration of the lease
and II forced to have others employ them,
we would in their disposal, be entirely at
the mercy of the present lessees, who alone
would be prepared to house or give en-
ployment to them.
II Is, then, an imperative duty 70 meet
this question and solve It at your present
| session. -
Our prison population Is about AGO. of
which 2,2A are penitentiary convicts. The
| problem presented is the gravest which
| has confronted the state government for
many years. We are not only to direct
how the products of industries are to be
| affected by the direction given the energy
! of these workers, but protect taxpayers
| from a needless burden. and meet there
| quirements of humanity and Christianity
| by securing for the convicts merciful
| treatment, and throwing around them infiu-
| ences which will elevate and reform We
| cannot afford to inaugurate system
| which will make worse citizens of the in
mates of the penitentiary. Such an one
| will wrong the individual, increase crime
and multiply the dangers which threaten
| society.
Our civilization, the heart and intellf-
! gence of our people, must be exemplified
| In the law which contains a solution of
| this great question. The penal system of
a country should keep pace with the up
ward march of a people, and is generally
| accepted as evidence Of the character Of