The Florida star., 1901-05-31
CONVICT QUESTION UP AGAIN.


Senate Is Disposed % Exclude Them From
Phosphate Mines.
Monday morning the state convict
question was taken up in the senate. The
house bill seeking to amend section $3.50
of the revised statutes, relating to con-
tracts for labor of state prisoners, exclud-
ing them from working in phosphate
mines, was taken up.
Senator Harris offered an amendment
that nothing in the bill shall interfere
with the bids now in the hands of the
board of commissioners of state institu-
tions for the hire of state convicts.
Senator Kirk opposed the amendment
on the ground that it would defeat the
object of the bill. He called attention
to the collapse of the phosphate indus
try on account Of convict labor, the price
having gone down from $lS TO s. per
ton.
Senator Harris, in speaking of his
amendment, said that there was con-
spiracy against the welfare of the state
on the part of certain men. He recited
the action of the phosphate men, first in
seeking to have bids opened, then for
legislative action. In his opinion the
passage of the bill would mean loss TO
the state of $75, 900 per annum, and that
in the face of appropriations Of nearly
half million.
Senator Miller spoke against the bill.
He said that he had examined the state
ments of the phosphate men, which he
c,,,H1 10 thasr inf nj Fhoaa ~
the state. He cited briefly the history of
the hire of the state convicts, which
went TO show that the operators had all
along had the best of the state.
Senator Adams, in advocacy of the bill,
read proposition from Capt. w. J. Hill
man, of Floral City, that he would take
all the convicts and pay for them $780,
600 per annum for four years, with
check inclosed for $4,000 as guarantee
of good faith. Senator Adams stated
further that he understood that the
board of state institutions had bid for
$3.50 per annum for all the convicts, not
To be worked In phosphate mines, and
that the bid would not he Withdrawn.
President Palmer opposed the amend
ment and favored the bill. He gave
history of the phosphate business in all
its phases, making it clear that the only
hope for saving the great industry was
the passage of such a measure as that
under discussion. He said that the talk
had been about $l50,000 per annum from
the hire of convicts He said that there
were about 800 convicts, which at $3.50
per annum was only Sl04, 900. Captain
Hillman's offer was for all the convicts,
and deducting the sick and aged, the
offer of Captain Hillman would prove
the most remunerative TO the state, as
under the law bidders for so much per
capita could not be compelled to take the
sick, the halt and the blind.
Replying TO a question from Senator
Adams, Mr.. Palmer said that the differ
ence in taxation was 20 per cent. greater
when the mines were in operation than
when they We're idle.
Senator Adams then summed up the
situation, picturing the condition years
ago when everything was prosperous,
and today when it has been ruined. The
only means of rescuing the industry was
To vote down the amendment and for the
passage Of the bill under consideration.
Senator Harris amendment was then
lost, by vote of 10 To Il.
Senator Williams then offered AN
amendment TO the section, that in award
ing bids, the state board of public insti-
tutiOns give preference to turpentine
men, provided all other considerations be
to the best interest Of the state.
1t was the opinion of the friends of the
bill that tie passage of the amendment
would kill the measure.
Before a vote was reached Senator Car
son offered an amendment 10 the amend
ment, adding the word industries which
the board should protect. This was ac
cepted.
Discussion on Senator Williams amend
ment brought out additional facts upon
the convict lease question, and the im-
preston seemed to obtain that it would
be to the best interests of the state, the
cOnvicts and the phosphate industry, To
keep the convIcts out of the phosphate
mines. The amendment was finally lost
by vote of l3 To l5. The bill was then
ordered engrossed for its third reading.