The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-01-24
DOINGS OF THE
GENERAL, ASSEMBLY
IMPORTANT MEASURES DEBAr ED


found interesting
HIRING CONVICTS TO COUNTIES
Mr.. Laban Maudin's bill to proht- |
bit convicts from being leased for
work on private farms created long |
discussion.
MIR, Mauldiu claimed that the pres.
ent law puts convict labor in com
petition with honest and free labor. !
He cited instances where men employ |
Ing cOLviCts were TAX ling contracts tor |
grading streets and makiug brick with |
convict labor, while honest IL bcrcrs !
were out OF employment, Had the |
coi- sGts not been let to private farm !
crs they could not have been avail
able for this contract work. He was
opposed to convcts being hired for
any purpose. Our roads need improve
mcnt. We have thousands OF nn.r rs OF
swamp lands which may ne rCUIaim-
&c. There are numbers Of ways in
which COnviCts can Oe employed with
out coming into competition with free
labor
DR.. Woods defended the bill along
the same lines as Mr.. MauldiD.
Mr.. jeremiah Smith asked II this
would not be discrimination against
farmers, rs railroads and othCr enter
prtses could employ convicts, not being
excluded in the GILL;
Mr.. g.. f., Robinson stated that he
proposed to offer An amcpdm Mt TO rem
edy that discrimination.
Mr.. Prince asked If it were discrimi.
nation for the State to have her own
farms.
MIR. MaulGin replied that it was, but
he couldn't incor porate that in his bill
as the State has this property and can
not easily get rid uf 1T at once.
Mr.. Prince continued that he favored
measure giving preference to those
counties which propose to utilize con-
v!Ct labor Gu public roads but ho does
not think it would be wise to contine
the directors to such lessces, as all OF
the convicts might not be contracted
for, and the others would be in the
penltentlary at an expense. He
favored leasing convicts to private
parties to relieve the penitentiary OF a
congestion OF population, as this has
been source OF revenue to the State.
Contracts now in force cannot be in
terfered with under the constitution.
Mr.. q. E. Robinson said that q meas
ure would be introduced to work con-
victs on the publ highways. The
author of the bill w, uld accept an
amendment to provide that no con-
tracts now in force be interfered with.
The house by vote of 3S to 64 re-
fused to strike out the enacting words.
MIR. Nj. B. Woodward offered an
amendment ttat convicts could be EN-.
ployed by counties at the rate OF Is
cents each per day for the purpose OF
building roads and highways.
Mr.. Sawyer offered an amend
ment designed to prevent the hiring
OF Convlcts to any private concerns
whatever.
Mr.. Woodward stated that he was
in favor OF leasing cOnv,cts TO farmers
as we'll as to any other person or cor
poratlon, but he thought it wise to
hire the cUnyicts to counties for the
public roads. The need of good roads
is a pressing one, and the counties
should be given an opportunity to hire
cOavicts from the State yenitentiary
to work the roads.
Mr.. Stevenson, chairman of the late
penitentiary investigating com m ittee,
said that he had been through the af-
fairs OF the penitentiary pretty thor
ough!y, and he was quite sure that if
the hiring uf convicts to private
parties were prohibited there would be
deficit in the State treasury. If the
counties are allowed to take the con
victs without competition they can
dictate the price, but if counties must
compete with private parties in ac
Quiring convict labor, then there will
be revenue coming into the State. The
State now nets 500 annually over and
ABOVE the expense upon each convict
L.
ward on the price to be paid for con-
vict labor.
Mr.. j. w. Ragsdale commended the
present penltenJiary administration
and thought that while the corvicts
should be worked on the highways, it
would be ineXpedicnt to change the
method now in operation.
DR.. Wyche agreed with Mr.. Wood.
ward. County roads first and then
surplus conyicts to be hired to private
parties.
Mr.. Hydrick favored legislation
which would send convicts back to the
counties to work the roads and i'm.
prove the health and upbuild the pro-
sperltp OF the community. He wanted
the bill to provide for convicts TO clean
out streams and lowlands
The presentation OF so many amend
ments began to get the measure con.
fused, and Mr. Prince moved to re.
commit The bill in order that the bill
be gotten unto tangible and Ineligible
shape.
This was opposed by Mr.. Woodward
and the house refused to recommit by
tie vote.
MIR. Hydrick' amendment to provide
that counties hiring convicts might
use them Tor cleaning out streams was
killed, as well as his amendment to
apportion the number equitably among
the counties.
Mr.. Stevanson's substitute was then
taken up for discussion.
Mr.. Woodward opposed it as not fix.
Ing definite price for the hire OF con.
victs by counties.
Mr. Stevenson showed that the State,
Ia now getting $56 a year for each con.
Wet, much in excess OF what the re-
venue would be at Is cents day, or
S46.9O year. Better not have q fixed
price If it would entail a depreciation
in revenue.
Mr.. Woodward claimed that the
counties deserved to hire convicts
cheaper than individuals The public
roads are great ciyilizers, and the
State can afford to hire convicts to
counties at reduced price for this
great work.
Mr.. Prince wanted to ad journ debate
to another day, as the matter was 80
= confused but the house refused to do
80.
DR.. Wyche agreed with Mr.. Wood
ward that the counties are d pact Of
the Stste and good roads deserve
much consideration at the hands Of the
State.
Mr.. CAN'T opposed Mr.. Stevcnson's
substitute as defeating the original ob
jects of,Mr. Mauldin's bill.