The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-11
CASH NEEDED FOR CoNVCTS.
NEW FEATURE OF THE TAX PROB
LEM BROUGHT FORWARD.

Gov. Atkinson Calls Attention TO the
Money That VIII BE Needed to
Take Care of the Prisoners on the
Expiration ~ the Lease Contract
in 1899 - establishments of a State
Convict Farm Would Cali for an
Expenditure of 81 100000.
Atlanta, Ga, Aug 1O.-Whne Controller
General Wright and Attorney General
Terrell are considering question Of law
in the construction of the tax act, Gov.
Atkinson has called attention to prac-
teal matter which seems likely to put a
reduction of the tax rate for this year out
of the question.
The penitentiary lease viii expire in
April. 1899, and 2,4O0 convicts VIII be on
the states hands If the plan now in
view and likely to be recommended by the
governor for separating the juveniles, the
women and the decrepit convicts and plac-
ing them in a central pententiary is car
ried out, the state viii have to spend not
less than 100000 in 1898 to be ready for the
emergency Of April, 1899.
Gov. Atkinson and Judge Turner, prin-
GlDdl Keeper Oh tiE Aitlllt1lAtAll WIZ 'i'''
been making a thorough study of the
problem. are agreed that whatever may be
done with the ablebodied male convicts,
the state ought to take charge of the juve-
niles, the women and the inirm or disabled
and separate them from the other prison
ers. For this purpose it will be necessa-
nv to construct a central penitentiary.
which it is estimated will cost not less
than 800. O0O As to the other convicts, 1t
is estimated that if the state buys farms
and works them on crops the first years
expense will be 100000. On the roads it
would be over $4,000 the first year.
According to the governors figures to
work 2.4O0 convicts on farms will take at
least thirty acres to each, allowing for
waste land That takes 72000 acres, which
will cost SO an acre. That makes $4,000
20 start with To maintain them until
they cali make a crop, say one year, %
cents a day, $50 a year each, or $4,000 In
addition there must be buildings, tools,
mules, wagons, water supply, feed for the
mules etc. This, with the two items above,
will make over Sl,000,O0O.
To work the convicts on roads will take
s2l6 600 for their maintenance, and the
money to purchase mules, wagons, road
machinery and stockades, which would
probably exceed $1,000
Controller General Wright and the gov
ernor, upon whom the duty devolves ac-
cording TO law, have decided to postpone
the fixing of the tax rate until the counties
have sent in their returns. The question
as to whether the rate shall be 6.2l or
517 mills is undecided, but Attorney Cen
eral Terrell is disposed to take Controller
General Wright's view, which is that the
rate should not provide for the 100000
school appropriation, and should there
fore be 517 mills. He viii not give his
opinion, however. until he has conferred
with Chairman Little and other members
of the House finance committee, who drew
the tax act passed last fan.
Gov Atkinson is inclined to take the
other view He thinks that whateYef may
be the legal technicalities, the legislature
clearly intended to levy the same tax for
1897 as for 1888 and ought TO have done so
to meet the appropriations they made.