The Greenville times., 1897-07-24
A GIFT OF THE GREEKS.

The pententlary board of control is
endeavoring to collect pay for the WORK
of the convicts on the levees during the
overflow, and rsks for $4,000. 1t was
the general impression that the services
of the cOnyiCts were given without
charge to the levee districts, as the
State had great farming interests to be
protected and could not work the con-
victs TO advantage while the overflow
lasted. Co, Times.
on account Of the illness of the Secre-
tsry and Treasurer OF the Levee Board
the Treasurer's report has not yet been
Published. The feature of the meeting
most interesting TO the people OF the
district was the presentation of bill
for about $4,000 by the Board OF Con-
troll for the use of conyicts during the
high water This bill was presented TO
the Board at its first meeting after the
water subsidized, but was not allowed at
that meeting, and was presented again
and again at each meeting of the Board
until the last, when ii was allowed on
the basis of SI.0O per day for labor, and
$3.50 for sergeants, the number of days
worked to be ascertained by the engi-
neer OF the Leyee Board.
TO the people generally, this demand
by the Board OF Control was codsid-
cradle surprise. An idea prevailed that
the work done by the convicts was
gratutous, and many encomiums we're
heaped upon the Governor of the State
for the promptness and generosity with
which he came to the aid of the district
in our time of peril. 1t was not to be
expected, of course, that the Governors
action was entirely diSinterested, nor
did those best informed ever suppose it
to be so. AT the beginning of the Sc
we're strain upon the leyees, a small
force of convicts was placed upon them,
with no understanding as to the charge
for their use. Mr.. Jayne telegraphed
TO the Governor for some definite under.
standing, and was told in reply that it
was no time to make contracts. The /
large force of convicts then in the dis
trict was then offered by the State, but .
Major Starting would not accept them
unless some understanding as to the .
cost was entered into. On May 3lst /
Mr. W. G, Yerger sent the following .
telegram to Governor McLaurln;
situation here no longer critical,
Danger not entirely passed. Levee
Board will retain convicts here if they
can be had by feeding only. Can this
arrangement be made Answer quick
The reply to that despatch was as
follows;
Yes, until further orders,
A. j. MCLAURIN.n
A few days afterwards the cOnyicrs
were removed to points in the upper
district. 1t is true that the time was
not proper for making contracts or
haggling over prices, The State was
more interested in protection than any
individual plantes in the whole district,
lrs c0PyscJ5 were a useless expense to
II unless pat 10 work on the levees for
the protection of its own property as
well as that of Others, and it was not
unnatural that the idea should prevail
that the Governor was acting for the
public good and not for revenue wrung
from such a necessity of the district. II
1t appears as il the Board was the vic J
-im Of over-contidence. The Board ,
used the convicts, it is true; but they
were only accepted by Major Starting
upon receipt of the Governors tele-
graphic assurance that they should cost
10 more than their keep. No further !
of any kind was had. 8
The understanding has come at last, T
IN the eloquent language Of the Bolivar :
county Democrat, "The Governors
rtsit to ths Delta, when, like King
Janute, he commanded the waters to
'ome so far and no farther, is thorough Il
y understood and will be long remem- a
'ered with as much gratitude as it de-
erYes. The impatient snort of the loc-
motive, as his special train rushed out
old the trembling sWampers that
nightly man Of Israel was safe from the -.
lsblng waters; and they were only y
DO glad to speed the parting guest" =,
In connection with this demand upon - -
le LeYee Board by the Governor it :.
ay not be incongruOus or insignificant =,
call attention to the veto by him of -
le bill which passed both houses Of the y
legislature unanimously, subiecting ~
ate cotton raised in the Delta to levee n,
xes. The Governor vetoed the bill
the ground of uneonstitutionalitv. ~
the score or more Of lawyers. as
cd, at least. as himself it is strange O.
at the Governor alone detected this 20 20
W. q"
The Lord deliver the State, or at least -
e Delta, from another constitutional 49,
Tyer for Governor. ~
r,--, an,
The Sunday School Worker pays the in
lrnalistic profession the following We,