The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-20
Messenger Bureau,
Raleigh, N. c., January Is.


Raleigh, ~. c., January Is.
Much of the talk today was about
the penitentiary and the exposure OF
the fact that it owes somewhere be-
tween $40. ZOO and 500. 900. Your COR
respondent had another talk with SUI
perintendent Day. NThe latter vas
asked what was in his opinion the best
method for the future conduct Of the
pe%nitentiary. He replied: In my
sible persons, on the best terms pos
sible, the state retaining all control OF
the Management and discipline of the
convicts, in order TO protect them from
harsh treatment. / believe such an
offer will be made in the near future
In response to the question:: Can
not some arrangements De made by
which the convicts could build
roads?" Captain Day replied: 1T is
impossible, because the people Of the
state will not submit to the tax. There
are ninety-sfx counties and each would
insist on the working Of its roads first,
and each, if it could not get this done,
would oppose legislation along this
line"
Captain Day went on to say: But
We must face the conditions, as they
exist now in regard to the plan OF
farming. AS they exist il is folly 10
talk of making the penitentiary self
supporting. First, because under in
f1uences which ii is needless to dis
cuss here the ~penitentiary has rented
eight farms, averaging 1000 acres each.
These farms are scattered over an area
Of 200 miles. There are, utilizing avail
able men, certainly not over 700 con
victs who can do farm work There are
not nearly enough TO cultivate so great
an rea of land.
The immediate cause of the i'm
mense deficit is bad management and
1ncompetency. l am not prepared to
say y here a been any dishonesty.
On each farm each supervisor, ii seems,
has been authorized to buy ad libitum.
n he bought. At the central prison
there has been absolutely NJ head, no
one person in charge Of h purchas-
ing department., and so they have
bought there too, from bell boy to
superintendent.
In reply to a question as to whether
or not the entire body of convicts could
not be employed at manufacturing in
the p~enitentiary, Captain Day said:
mo. The people of this state are not
yet educated up to UGH a thing. Then,
besides, the prison is not large enough.
There could be started in the peniten-
tiary certain manufactures in which
we could utilize the United States
prisoners, who cannot be employed
without the walls, as, for instance,
shirt making (Which is now done),
mattresses and possibly shoes. AS to
these United States prisoners l am not
prepared to say that the state has not
made a bad bargain. 1t gets % cents
a day for them. 1t costs that to feed
clothe and guard them. We have on
hand 200 of them. Among this class
idleness means ~viciousness and trouble
of all kinds. The counterfeiter and the
safe-breaker are the aristocrats among
criminals, n are the thinkers also.
The real trouble with the North
Carolina penitentiary has been the
| way it has been made a dumping
ground for politicians to unload a
clamorous and idle clientage. When a
fellow could not be fitted TO anything
else they made the penitentiary
fit him."
Today Sheriff Page began the build
ing of the gallows upon which day
| after tomorrow Jim Booker, the negro
murderer, will be hanged. Today there
was a murder trial; tomorrow there
will be another, and Thursday a third,
Truly, it is ~'murderers' week" here.
The battle flag of the Second North
Carolina regiment, G. S. A, was
today received at the adjutant
l SS.stLdl > OllCS. "A massachusetts OHl-
Ger returns it. 1t is perfectly preserv-
ed. 1t is of bunting and bears the
names of the following battles: Me-
chanicsville. Cold Harbor, B~oonsboro
Malvern Hill, Sharpsburg, Fredericks.
burg. 1t ought to be placed in the
state library. AS yet it is not settled
what will be lone with it.
There are certainly many applicant.
for offices-commissioner OF agricul'
ture, insurance commissioner, railway
commissioners, labor commissioner
etc.
1t is not impossible that a Code com
missioner will be elected. The present
Code is literally torn to pieces by tn
legislatures.
Judge Purnell appoints Patrick Mas
sey, of Smithfield. Johnston county,
United States commissioner.
Governor Russell is at last invite'
to attend the of the republi
can members of h legislature. A re
publican makes the statement that u
to this time only -four republican mem
bers have called on the governor.
There is a queer little story which !
told by a republican. 1t is that the re
publican chief clerk of the lower hous
of the last legislature, who organize
the present house, had arranged Wit
the republicans TO nave the openinl
prayer made by Representativ
L IL 81 oS ~ h|F@@ - 49,
Jesse H. Page, whom the democrat
had selected to perform that duty. Blu
at the last moment, as the democrat
led Mr.. Page TO h desk, the clerl
weakened, and Mr.. Page, whom the re
publicans say they hate, offered tn
prayer.
There is also another queer story
from a republican source. This is tina
about ten days before the last electiol
Governor Russell called at republical
headquarters and informed State Chair
man Holton hat he proposed TO com
vene the legislature at once IN specia
session. Holton was nearly paralyzed
He used all his powers OF argument {
induce the governor not to take thi
step. saying it would ruin everything
Finally he persuaded the governor I
abandon the idea.
The matter Of the future plan o
conducting the penitentiary is bein
pressed upon the democrats for eau
Gus consideration. This is propo
also TO embrace perhaps the purchas
Of a farm. The caucus can settle tn
! whole matter.