The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-29

cufFeu Dys any and all connected with
the management of the farms and the
keeping of carriage and saddle horses
at the States expense, a fruitful source
of loss was found to be the attempt at
some of the farms to till twice as much
land as could be properly titled with
the force Of convicts at the disposal of
the supervisors.
1t is probable that the committee may
lind it necessary to advise the appoint
ment Of a commission to take superyi-
sion of the claims presented against the
penitentiary. No books having been
kept there is no means Of verifying bills
presented. and holders of claims can
mulch the State at will unless great
care is exercised. To prevent this it will
doubtless he required that all claims
must be proved before they will be
paid. For the State to undertake to DO
this would be too expensive and the
holders viii be required TO do it.
To meet the Indebtedness and to sup-
ply the means TO keep things running
until the whole business can be put on
its feet is going to take pile of money.
If the State is not prepared to count it
out in cold cash, then the only alterna-
tive will be TO issue bonds and borrow
1t.
10 sum up some recommendations that
will probably be made:
Issue bonds for the debt.
Buy farms not too widely scattered
whore the convicts can be concentrated.
Instead of sending convicts to the CEN
trail prison for distribution, send them
direct to the farms.
Take the penitentiary out of politics.
The penitentiary will be under the con-
troll of the directors to he chosen by this
General Assembly on the tenth of Feb
ruary.
The bill guaranteeing that good con
diton has passed both houses of the
Legislature. received the signature of
the President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the House. 1t now only re-
mains for the Legislature to elect twelve
directors and for the new body to meet
and organize. 1t has been suggested
that it would be wise to select two or
three members of the old board.
There is no doubt that the new board
will be in control. For weeks the friends
of Capt. Day have assured the Demo
cratic legislators that he would bow to
the will of the caucus and interpose
no barriers to executing that will. If he
shall decide to enter upon a fight. the
best lawyers believe that the legislation
enacted will make opposition futile.
Under the new act, the board will con-
troll the penitentiory, and if Capt. Day
desires to remain in office he has as
much right to be a candidate as anybody
else. II a majority of the Democratic di-
rectors should select him, he will be sup
ported by the party. If they select other
agents, it is his duty to accept the result
without legal resistance.
The full text OF the law is as fol
lows:
The General Assembly of North Car
DINA do enact.
Section /. That the States Prison of
North Carolina, located near the city
of Raleigh. be and the same stall remain
corporation under that name. The
said corporation shall be invested with
all of the property. real and personal.
chooses IN action, rights in acton and
other rights now owned, held or enjoyed
by the North Carolina penitentiary or
States Prison, and shall be liable for
all of the debts and other liabilities for
which the said Penitentiary or States
Prison is now liable.
Section 3 The said States Prison of
North Carolina is hereby empowered TO
buy. acquire lease and hold all property.
real personal or mixed which may be
necessary for conducting its operation
as may be provided by law.
Section g. That in addition TO the per-
sons who are at present directors Of
the States Prison or Penitentiary there
shall be appointed by this General As
sembly twelve directors. whose terms
shall begin on the date of their appoint
ment and continue two years and until
their successors shall be appointed by
the General Assembly of North Carolina
All laws or clauses of laws comforting
upon the Governor the power to appoint
or nominate directors for the Peniten-
tiary or States Prison are hereby re-
pealed and this General Assembly shall
appoint persons to fill all vacancies now
existing III the present board OF direc-
tors.
Section 4. That the compensation of all
directors OF the States Prison Of North
Carolina shall be four dollars per day
each and five cents per mile each way
of travel while in the discharge of their
official duties, which compensation shall
be paid upon Il duly itemized statement
filed with the State Auditor and ap-
proved by him.
Section B. The board of directors may