The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-03
CARRIED BY THE MINORITY.
HALLS BILL. WITH MANY
CHANGES, AGREED UPON.

win Make n RepOrt-A Strange
state of Affairs Is RepOrted-The
VIII of the Minority Carries the
Committee. and the Majority win
Make a Minority RcpOrt-OppOsi-
ton Is to the Proposed SaInricd
Commissioned Draft of the Plan
Agreed Upon.
Atlanta. Ga, oct. 1.-The sub-commit-
tee Of The peuitentiary committees of the
Senate and House practically completed
its labors this afternoon and took re-
cess until next Friday, when a short ses-
sion will be held to finally revise the bill,
which was accepted to-day.
The bill which The committee has agreed
to report to the whole committee is mod
eles after the bill of Hon. Hewlett Hall,
and embodies the plans of Gov. Atkinson
and Principal Keeper Turner in the main,
though in its details there are many
changes. While it is this bin that will
be recommended by the subcommittee,
the. recommendation will be rather an
anomalous one, as five of the nine men,
bers of the committee are opposed to 1t.
In fact, the bill has but three real advo-
Gates, and upon a vote to-day it was de-
feated, these three-Nessrs. Hall. Dun
woody and Boynton-beng the only votes
in its favor. Later Senator Alex AtI1ln-
son voted for it, and thus gave it four
out of the seven members present and
voting. Senator Phil Cook was present,
and the eighth member of the committee,
but being in the chair, he could not vote.
He is opposed to the bill, however. Mr..
Fielder of Fulton. another of the opponents,
was absent. Senator Atkinson was only
induced to cast a vote for the bill by
promises of changes to meet his personal
views
The majority of the committee will sub
NIT minority report, the central idea of
which win be opposition to the peniten-
tiary commission, which is proposed to be
appointed with plenary power TO adopt
some plan for the disposition
for convicts. The Hail bill. as it now
stands, does not propose any plan, but
leaves the whole thing practically in the
hands Of the three commissioners who
are to be appointed by the governor.
While the other members of the sub
committee are divided as to the plans, they
are all opposed to this feature of the Hall
bill, it was their inability to agree upon
anything that made it possible for the
Han bill. to be given the committees rec
ommendation. For few minutes when
the vote was taken it looked as If the com
mittee would dissolve without trying to
recommend anything at all.
At the announcement that his bill had
received only three votes Mr.. Hall took
UP his hat and was about to leave when
fob Z he
tor Atkinson and his vote secured for it.
To-day's action of the committee con-
firms the reports in these columns through
out, which have stated that the members
are all at sea, as to plans for the peniten-
tiary system, and some of them are more
than wiling to leave the solution of it in
the hands of a commission appointed by
the governor instead of having the legisla-
ture settle it. This division is the founda-
ton of the hopes of the element that is in
favor of a repetition of the old lease sys-
TEN. These people are watching the work
closely and doing what they can them
selves on the quiet to keep the apple Of
discord in the midst of the committee
After taking action upon the bill the
task of preparing a report to be printed
and sent out to the various members of
the joint committee was delegated to Sem
ators Dunwoody and Shropshire, and Rep
resentative Hail. They will do this cary
next week and have it ready for the sub
committee to revise on Friday.
The perfected bill, adopted by the com
mittee, is in eighteen sections and con-
tains about 5000 words The sections are
In substance as follows:
Section l provides for the appointment
by the governor of a penitentiary COM
mission, composed of three Intelligent,
upright business men," from different sec
tons of the state
D
commissioners at two, three and four
years, Successors to be appointed for four
years as terms expire. In case of death.
appointment will be for the unexpired
term.
Section requires the oath Of office and
a $4,000 Joint and several bond from each
commissioner before entering on the du-
ties of his office.
Section 4 fixes the salaries of commits
sioners at 5000 each. with travelling ex-
penses While they are on public business.
section gives the commission an Office
at the capitol, with a $1,000 clerk
Section gives the commission complete
management and control of the state con
vets with power to regulate hours of
labor, punishment, food, clothing and TO
make rules for the safe keeping and prop
er care of convicts. The commission has
general supervision of the misdeameanor
conYicts, and with county authorities NAV
make regulations. If they fail to agree
with county authorities, the governor
snail make rules, and in the event of VIC
lation he shall remove misdemeanor con-
vets, and the commission shall work
them as they think best, if no other coun-
Ties VIII take the prisoners.
section provides that commissioners. as
soon as practicable, may advertise in three
daly and several weekly papers in Geor-
ga Tor twelve weeks, for 5000 to 7ODO
acres OF land in one or in several bodies
accessible TO by railroad. Offers of land
must be accompanied by abstract of title
ana to photographed map. The commits
sion may reject all offers or. after care
lul inspection, accept the one by which
they ma land the cheapest all things con
sidered They may purchase one or more
tracts or lease other tracts. if they think
pest, upon reasonable terms. Before clos
ing the trade the commissioners are en-
powered TO make contracts with railroads
Tor transportation facilities and freight
rates, not to exceed the reasonable tariff
rate of railroads.
Section 8 gives the commissioners option
TO purchase or lease an island or part of
one, If they think best and establish
thereon a penal colony for all the con-
vets except those worked on public roads
ana public works. The purchase or lease
OF an island may be made in conjunction
9