The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-10

i
| dered against the people who had prose
cuted them, Judge witnesses and jurics
He cited case in his county of negro
who had threatened TO kill his prosecu-
tors when he got out.
Mr.. White of Halifax. who introduced
| The BILL said his people in Halifax were
sorely afflicted by these convicts. They
rob the stores and go to stealing gener-
ally. He said that the penitentiary au-
thorities had told him that practically
all OF the convicts had money when they
/ were released, saved from their commu-
| tation money. The State has gone TO the
expense of sending them to the farms,
and if the State has profited by them it
| should certainly be willing to provide for
| sending them back home. especially when
in most cases it would not cost the State
| anything at all.
| Mr.. Britain, of Randolph, said he had
always been strong for the personal rights
| of free men,
| Mr., White: The bill provides that they
| shall be put on the train a day prior to
the time of discharge, and consequently
| the men are not free.
Mr. Britain claimed that as soon as
the money was given them they were free
men,
If man is worth anything he is going
to take his money and go to some other
place. and not to his old home. where
/ he would always be under suspicion. |
am against the bill, because | don't think
the State ought to have the expense put
upon it, and also because / am opposed
to restricting the rights of free men
Mr. Curtis, of Buncombe. thought the
State had no right TO send the convicts
away without guard with them before
they were free. and that after they were
released the State had no right to say
where they should 60
Mr Watts. of Iredell | don't think
it right to dunn all the criminals into
few counties. Why, the State pays the
way OF pauPers from one county to an
other The communication money belongs
TO the State, and not to the prisoners
II some localities object TO one or two
or these convicts returning how about
those places that have several hundred
put upon them?
Mr.. Mclean, of Scotland, thought ii a
great injustice that the State should take
money away from the good prisoners, who
had communication money, and pay the way
OF those bad ones that had given the
State great deal of trouble
Mr.. Smith, of Gates, said he thought
the bill a just one and was much sur
prised al the opposition to it, The State
has no right to change the domicile of
any people. AS to the personal rights
sfoken of by the gentleman from Ran
dolph, prisoner confined in the peni-
tertiary has no personal rights 1t is no
discrimination between the good and the
bad convicts, because every cent OF the
money comes out of the State Treasury.
| think this bill ought to pass. 1t has an
element of justice and right that no
member should ignore
Mr.. MacKethan, of Cumberland. said he
favored the bin because he thought il
wrong to congregate ex-convicts in a few
localities. But there is discrimination
; in the bill between the convicts who
have by their good behavior earned com
mutation money and those who has been
troublesome IN prison. and that does not
seem Just. He would favor the bill, if
sent back 70 the committee and this dis
elimination corrected. He moved to
amend by striking out all in the bill re-
lating TO payment of passage out of COM
mutation money, and further moved to
recommit the whole matter
Mr. Simms. of Wake. said that there
-
ground of restricting free men. For this
Legislature, the same sovereign power
that fixed the limits of Imprisonment
can say that he shall be put on the train
one day previous to the time of his dis
charge The money is not paid the
convict directly, but Indirectly for COM
mutation. Almost every convict has
enough to carr, him to any point in the
State.
Mr. Pountree: Is it not a discrimina-
ZION between the good and the bad con-
vict?
Mr. Simms: That money is something
the State has given him besides the time
he has gained. The State has been good
enough TO him.
The people of my county do not want to
have those convicts quartered upon them
They are willing to have their fair share
but they are not willing to have any man
come here with his heart so shrivelled up
that he don't want even to take back
into his town the one of two convicts
that may have come from there. AS to
the plea for personal rights made by the
gentleman from Randolph will say that
| have seen good deal of these convicts
in the penitentiary here, and while have
as much sympathy as any one for the
men behind bars. still l don't think we
ought to be so much concerned about the
personal rights of men who by their con-
duct have forfeited their freedom
Mr. Simms went on in a brief but alo-
quent s9eech to advocate legislation for
the majority of the people. He offered
the following amendment:
That the act shall not apply to any
Communication money heretofore accrued to
any prisoner"
MIR. MacKethan withdrew his amend
ment, and PRESSED his motion to recon-
nit, which was put and lost.
Mr.. Simms' amendment was then lost
by vote of % to 81.
Mr.. Britain, of Randolph, offered an
amendment, providing that the State
shall send home such convicts as have
Communication money. and not those that
have not This was Loaf.
The question on the passage of the bill
on its second reading was then put to
the House Jand the bill failed to pass by
vote Of 81 to 50. The ayes were:
Messrs. Allen. of Columbus, Allen. of
Wayne, Audrey Barco, Beasley Bedding
field, Carr, Carraway Collins, Daniels of
Vance; Dees, Graham, Harris, Hayes.