The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-25
SOLUTION or TWO PROBLEMS.
The ConVicts should Re Employed
in Building Good Roads.

IN butlulnk 1ODu NOhuHs
Editor Morning News: Your timely and
excellent editorial on "the convict prob
lem" in your issue OF che 18th is a COM
mon sense view of the questiou-sound
and logical-and in accord with the posi-
ton held by those interested in the good
roads movement for years.
In 1889. May 3D. the Georgia road con-
grcss was organized in Atlanta, Ga, with
Hon w. J. Northen as president. Il was
composed Of over 2iO of Georgla's best cit
liens That body unanimously resolved
that the agricultural, and all other inter-
ests demanded a change in the road
laws of the state, and a committee was
appointed to mcmorialize the legislature
suggesting such changes In the road laws
Of the state as they think will result in
giving better public roads, said memorial
to embrace these ideas;
l. That the convicts Of the state be util-
| lied as far as possible.
g. That the labor OF the state bear its
fair proportion of the burden.
3. That the property of the state shall
| bear its fair proportion OF an ad valo-
rem tax.
4. That a large discretion be left TO each
county as to the amount and character
| OF the work to be done.
5. That in any laws that shall be franz
| ed the interest OF the public shall bear
against and not with the person or per
sons I'm charge OF the road working.
That committee consisted Of Hon. w j.
Northen, Hon. w. f. jenkins, II. y.
Smart. o. A. Barry. j. Pope Brown, w.
T. Revil George W. AdaT w. A. Hun,
Halstead Smith, l.. n. O. Martin, J. w.
Robertson and Martin V. Calvin.
At the second session of the Georgia Road
Congress In Atlanta oct. 2S. 1891, the re-
port of the committee on business was
unanimously adopted:
at is the sense Of the congress that II
is TO the interests of the people OF the
state that the labor of her convicts should
be utilized upon her public roads, and
that no lease OF convicts should be maze
after the expiration OF the present leases.
We further hold that the present convict
force now used in working public roads
can be and should be greatly Increased
by lowering the penalties for certain
crimes.
1--WE further hold that labor and prop
erty should each bear their fair proper
ton of the burden Of road duty-the lat
ter by an ad valorem tax In just pro-
portion to the former: and that large
discretion should be left to each county
as to the amount and character OF the
work 10 be done. And further that all
road laws should be so framed as to
provide such penalties as will enforce "A
full measure OF duty to the public interest
from the person or persons I'm charge OF
road working. We hold that i'm all cases
the efficiency OF road working is greatly
increased by each county owning and
furnishing It's road hands with the proper
tools"
At the session Of the congress held in
Augusta, Ga, Nov. Is, 1898. a. gave II as
the sense OF the body that the convict
labor should be employed upon the public
roads.
The Southern Interstate Road Congress
was organized in Atlanta, Ga, oct. %,
1891, presided over by Hon. $. w. Null
Inns Of Mississippi That body adopted
the following without a dissenting vote:
ut II the sense OF this congress that
labor and property should each bear
their proportion Of the burden OF road du-
~ and that We recommend 90 the leds-
latures OF the different states represented
In this congress that sucn legislation be
enacted AZ Will best bring about the re-
suit. and that special attention be given 10
the convict laws that will utilize 10 hest
advantage said convict labor IN working
public roads"
Al the meeting OF the southern inter-
state road congress IN Memphis. Tenn,
Nov 10 ana n. 1899, the following was
adopted az the sense OF the congress:
THAT this body recommends the follow
ing plan Tor adoption throughout the
country as FAR az may be- possible.
TO provide thAt in each state the road
system shall be- constructed under the SUI
porvisiOn of "A competent state engineer,
and with the assistance OF engineers IN
each congressional district. That Ia those
states where convicis can be- used on tho
roads ~ shall be done under the general
policy OF delivering 10 each county the
penitentiary conylcts, under such rcstrc-
tions a. 10 number delivered 10 one coun-
~ al one time as shall give every county
IN tho state a fair chance 90 secure n
proporiionate number Of convicis they 20
be- worked in conjunction with the county
conyicts on the public highway
That % D. tho sense of this body that
labor and property should each bear its
proportion NJ the burden Of road duty.
and We recommend to the legislatures
~ The different states represented in this
congress that such legislation bo enacted
as viii best bring about the result and
whore practical special attention be- giy-
a. 20 che convict laws that will utilize 10
fhs best advantage rail convict labor in
working public roads"
This adherence io tho doctrine lald
down as thr nraf Georgia road conFrosr.
demonstrate fhr strength ana power az
o. ana Ha n IN essentially fhe bose OF the
good road movement throughout the union