The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-23
THE PROPOSED LEASE IS A CONFESSION
OF INCOMPETENCE.

For many years the convicts of Geor
gia have been leased to private parties
lust as Governor Russell wants his board
to do in North Carolina.
The result has been such that the Gov
mittee embracing a majority of the Gen
Ieral Assembly, and almost every newspa-
| per in the State are demanding that the
lease system be not renewed, and the
legislative committee is now in session
in Atlanta to prepare n bill to be sub
mitted to the next General Assembly
looking to utilizing the convcts along the
same lines that we are using them now
in North Carolina.
The present lease contract in Georgia
expires April LIST, 1899. 1t has been
disgrace to the Commonwealth, just as
has every other contract that made mer
chandise of the convicts in any State.
There isn't a man of any standing in
Georgia who advocates a renewal of the
lease, or continuation of a system that
State does not send men to the peniten-
tiary to become the chattels of speculat-
ors. The late Governor Brown and his
associates made a fortune out Of their
convict contract in Georgia, but the
State reaped the bad reputation which
their harsh management gave.
The gentlemen who make offers to
lease the North Carolina penitentiary do
not stand higher in this State than Gov
they want to make money out of the con-
tract. They would not make contracts OF
this kind except as money making ven
ture. They would not be guilty of cruelty
themselves, but the history of the SUBJ
letting of convict labor everywhere has
been that the convicts have not been well
cared for. Those who secure the lease,
either sell it to others or put men in
charge who drive the convicts to hard
the result. Even if the lessees were TO
employ no oyerseers except kind and hui
name men, the question of leasing a part
of the duty of the State is one that would
require much consideration, and it is our
conviction that it is better for the tax
payers to lose few dollars than to abdi-
cate in favor Of private syndicate.
1t will not be seriously denied that the
real reason actuating those who favor
leasing the penitentiary is that its present
management is inefficient, and it is only
a question of time when startling de-
felt will stare the people in the
face. In order to avert such a
condition there is desire ON
the part Of the Governor to get rid of
the men now in charge and turn the
whole institution over to capable business
men. 1t ought not TO be necessary to
lease to private syndicates to insure good
management, but the fact remains that
the leaders of the Republican party adj I
NIT that such is the case. The directors
Of the superintendent meth
DDS, and the friends of the Superintend-
ent say the directors force him to put in
capable men in positions where the best
men are required. And so it goes. The
people only know that as a result of
wranging, bad management and the
employment of the kin of the Governors,
the Superintendent, chairman of the
Board and others, there is a condition
from which the whole crowd is anxious
o get away. Their only hope now seems
o lease to responsible parties, thus turn
ng over an important branch of govern
nent to a syndicate. This is nothing more
Tor less than a confession of failure on
he part of those advocating a lease. Ii
they felt that they could manage the
successfully nothing could in
luce them to favor lease to any parties.
The Governors letter to the Board,
which he ought to be heartily ashamed.
1t contains statements which have no |
basis, and reflections upon the past man
agement Of the institution that are
groundless. The Governor tells the public |
that an experienced expert has been en-
ployed, and that when his investigation
is completed it will ''show that the loss
or shortage during that four years was
about one hundred and twenty-five thou |
sand dollars" That was q pretty good |
bluff for a bully to make to scare the
Board into making lease, but we I'M
dertake to say that if it can accomplish |
that purpose it can do nothing more. The |
under its former manage
r,apt wa 6 administered honestly and eco