New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-28

convict camps and the contract-convict system Of
our Southern States. Can The Tribune furnish
system still in use and something as to the con-
dtlons under which 1t exists? A. NJ j.
Clifton, N. j. May p, 1899
Most Of the Southern States have the convict
lease system. some Of them not having had II In
use very long. The more important fields for the
study Of penology IN these States are those. per-
haps Of Mississippi and South Carolina. where the
black population preponderates but where the white
people have absolute control Of politics and govern
ment From sources entitled to respect the fol-
lowing facts are obtained regarding not only these
but other Southern States:
Alabama and Mlssissippi-In the former the con-
victs are leased to contractors, who work them
either in manufactures mines. chiefly the latter
There is object to make them selfsustaining'
but sometimes they earn their support. An Ala
bamian OF prominence, who supported Mckinley
and sound money I'm 1895. although always thereto
fore a Democrat, says that the law and custom IN
that State exact humane treatment. The difficulty
In Alabama and other States. he thinks is due TO
the working Of convicts-frequently on the public
roads-by the county governments. and the lack OF
attention they receive owing to two or three facts
The terms are short. and there Is not so much
scrutiny by the authorities. The system Is not so
entirely effective I'm the county camps as 1t Is in the
State camps leased camps to contractors. In
Mississippi the convicts are leased to work on
farms. There is not a great deal Of complaint OF
bad treatment-at any rate. rot great deal that
seems justified.
Georga-A few years ago there was terrific
scandal connected with the condition Of the peni-
Tertiary inmates In this State. allegations having
been made Of cruelty bad food. unsaniary condi-
ton of quarters and improper mode OF lease Leases
were made Cor instance, at slO5 head Per year to
enc party who afterward released the convicts to
another rarity at a gain Of 80 per year a head. In
NJ q was
passed. which has given more satisfaction. The
Georgia convicts employed either In FARMING OF
rock-quarrying operations.
! Texas-This large State has only one penientiary.
The lease problem cuts no great figure there
Tennessee-The Same system in Alabama Is
its main features. TIE convicts are worked In the
mines Great trouble was caused few years ago
| and the militia had TO be called out 10 check the
! other miners who resisted the States system IN
doubtedly there greater hardships to those VINO
spend large portion Of their sentence In coal ana
Iron mines than to those who live on farms and do
farm labor But 1t is stated that those are hard-
| ships to which all miners submit OF necessity
North and South Carclina-The management oil
the State pen in the former State has been sharply
criticised In former years the convlcts were leased
railway companies TO build roadbeds bridges. etc
| OF late they have been employed mainly on the
State farm near Weldon. or on private farms. II
! is hard TO say since politics has entered more oil
|
| the case are. Until recently there have been M
charges of severity or other misconduct formulated
on any respectable authority against the directors
and overseers OF the penitsnary The presen
superintendent is Democrat, appointed by Re
publican Governor, apparently with the view o
siencng any Democratic criticism OF his admins
IatlOn In this regard
South Carolina has not tried the leasing system
| long, and great complaints are made in general
The public roads worked In the counties by tn
inmates OF the workhouse who are known as tn
| chain gang"
The leasing system appears to have some abuses
But II is hard TO prove that they necessarily inner
to the system wei and humanely conducted IL
brief, Il may be stated that the southern penn
| Tertiary system has grown up SINCE the Clvil war
Before that time there were only prisons. the mel
dents in the life In which were hard diet and Ger
tain kinds OF work, not great In quantity MURDER ,
ers We're always closely guarded. The general ide'
has been to punish and thus deter from crime e
rather than to utilize the labor In the support Q
The criminal; but the ease or contract system
shows that Il has always been desired 10 delray d
| least a part OF the expenses OF keeping. ~, ~,
! These Southern States have laws permitting TN
parole OF prisoners. Independent OF the power o
! pardon: Alabama and Missouri. In ADDITION VII
! ginIn and West Virginia have system OF cohul
| tonal pardon The Mary.a and law permits the IRA
court to parole any convict Tor any except cnplta
crimes without sentence, subject TO recall Tor sen
| tence at anv time. The Governor OK North Caroni
| has expressed himself as favoring the enactment
! a parole statute.