The Savannah morning news., 1900-10-31
vlsoEMEANoR LABOR ELL.
rorXTrEs WOULD HAVE TO HIRE
THEIR OWN CoNvICTs.

rat,re control OF Misdemeanor Con-
,tct. Placed Under the Prison COM
,,i.sfon. hut cities Rnd Counties
ctv,n the option OF Employing a.
v,nv Convicts "a Desired Under
Two years Contract with the
rommi.sion-The BsII May suit the
ro.utry Counties. but would SerI-
on.ty Interfere with the Progress
Of chatham.
CODY Of the bill introduced in the
r.-i-ltture by Representative Toomer OF
Var. county placing the control OF all
-,,.lsucauor convicts OF the state in che
torBs OF the Prison Commission has been
,..sived IN savannah The bill f. appar-
.7ao in pursuance OF tho recommendation
mad. hy Gov. Gambler In his message to
re legislature and in accordance with
as IDEA OF putting an end to che many
abuses which have been complained OF
IN county and private convict camps
throughout the state by placing all con
,,rt. without regard TO che grade OF
,,-uc under the control OF the commits
s.on.
Apparently the biil. from the provisions
asrlvirg to cities and counties employing
,rs,r own convicts. will not work such
great hardship upon such cities and coun-
uss bat Il Is evident from a closer in
sp.cfi,u Of the bill that "a would depend
largely upon the manner IN which these
provisions should be carried out by the
prison commission and the additional rules
tFfrf.H nee
IN pursuance OF the authority already en-
loved by them which might SO hamper
thr counties using their convicts as 20
make tse services OF the latter almost
worthless
fair Interpretation and application Of
tie provisions OF the bill provides that
any county or municipality employing its
ulsdcmeauor convicts on public works
may nio with the prison commission writ
ten demand for such number as they may
desire Go employ. ana that IL shall be the
duty ~ the commission 60 furnish 20 sold
city or county authorities the number 50
demanded. the number TO be- supplied first
from the Convicts Of tho particular coun-
IS and from such other convicts else
where as may ba required 10 keep up the
number demanded This would enable
county to work more conviets than those
supplied by as own courts II 10 its in
1ftfri 20 40 So anu on the contrary IT
could turn over les surplus TO the state
and nave 10 further responsibility for
their care or keep.
The convict list IN Chatham has been
steadily growing for the last several wears.
and the probability Is that the cfnmis-
s.eners could very easily get sRs'<. with
Jess than the average number they have
been working. The trouble is that in
every large county like Chatham there Is
"a weak. vicious and degraded class. chief
as among The negroes. whose members
spend a large portion OF their lives 90
the chaiusaugs. The labor o. this class
is ~ comparatively little value. n tine
Prison Commission should SO exercise IT,
authority as to force the coun.y 20 keep
these undesirable convicts On is hands,
appiorriatius 20 the state the services e.
tle able bodied couvlcts. the result would
be- % place the county 40 "a .,Tedt cisad-
vantage. II Is the loug-terfn mis- lcmaauor
couvicts. those whose sentences run from
six Co twelve months. provided they are
ablc-bodicd. who make the valuable .ahor-
ers The women and children. the weak,
.unrm and cripples who make up
considerable proportion OF the chain
sang forces. are OF bat little value.
The nrst section Of the BIN referred 70
rrlkes out from section i,059 Of tho code
q 1895. providing Tor the punishment Of
mlsdcmcanor convicts. the words. As
the county authorities may employ the
thlincaur" and substitutes the words
"as the Prison Commission may employ
eouyIots sentenced under this section.
Otherwise the section remains the same
except that thc words county authori-
ties' are struck out wherever they oc-
cur
The second section gives the commits
sion complete control aud management
~ miaiemeanor convicts "as g now has
by the law over the felon couvicts. .n
regulating tho hours OF tabor. the man
uor and extent Of their puni -hment the
variety. quality and quantity OF the food
me kind and character Of their clothing
and in making such rules and regula-
tons as will insure their safe keeping aud
proper care, and Ia appointing aud re-
moving such officers. guards aud physi-
clans as may be necessary"
Tho third section makes 1t the duty OF
the clerks o. tho several courts Of the
state 90 notify the Prison Commission Of
40 m.sdcmcanor convictions To terms OF
hard labor under Section 1893 OF the Code,
and 20 send a copy of the sentence OF the
court with FUR Information and dcscrip-
ton u IS made the duty Of sherins and
Jailers TO turn over such convicts TO the
eemmiseon or its agents.
Section makes counties and cities en-
Tboy.ng disdem@auor cOnvicts liable for
costs OF such Couviats from their respec-
Five COUNTIES except IN those counties
where other legal provision has been made
for tho payment OF such costs. This sec
Ton also says. "and shall pay 10 tho com
mission hire for such couvicts as may be
agreed upon" II this means that the
counties must pay hire Tor the use Of
tnoIr own convict1 the hardship upon a
county ike Chatham would be extreme.
AF the county ls az heavy expense IN
maintaining the co1rta q would certainly
seem 20 bee entitled 10 the use 81 the La
hor Of the convi-ts from these courts IN
u king public improvements.
section provides that 30 county de-
handing and employing convicts shall
a. ontiuuc the use OF the same within
tNo wears from the beginning Of such en-
Payment and that dlscontiuulncc even
iAsn shall be only after ninety days writ
TN notice 10 the commission.
section 7 provides Tor the sale OF tho
ilnor Of all other mi~demean0r convicts
Tran those employed by cities and coun-
I.- 90 tho highest bidders. with the con
''.on that their control shall not De given
70 private persons and that they shall no.
employed ia any mechanical pursuits
"onld bring the products ~ their labor
H "ompetition with IN. products OF free
tN'r. No contract Ger fGch labor shall
Tor less than twenty-five convlcis or
f' H loss time than two years.
A1Eor Myers agrees with Chairman
t.r that the orleratfoua Of this llil would