The Green Forest tribune., 1901-02-09
LEGISLATURE DOINGS.
Regular Weekly Letter from Our Special Correspondents.

Our Special Correspondents.
 So far the legislature has ac- complished but little, either for good or for evil. The senate has passed the reform school bill as introduced by senator McNemer, and killed the fellow servant bill by tie vote. That they will be given another hitch at the latter before the session closes is a sure thing, but for the present the em- ployes are in state of demoral- ization. Some legislation is need ed along this line, and we hope to see some reasonable bill be- come law. The only trouble will be in the senate. The house we believe stands ready at any time to pass the "fellow servant bill, and will undoubtedly do so before long.
 The joint committee which is supposed to be Investigating the penitentiary scandals, are hold ing star chamber sessions, even newspaper representatives and members being excluded. That the management of the institution will receive a thorough coat of whitewash is a positive certainty, in spite of the fact that it is known to be the most loosely, ex- travagently and dishonestly con- ducted institution in the state. Affairs of the pen and ''peniten- tiary contracts are a disgrace to civilization. The reports which are due from the institution are not made, and it is impossible to dissect the affairs of the concern until the reports are made. We presume they will make same when they get around to it.
 In connection with the peniten- tiary, proposition will shortly be made to the state to purchase the s.Sunnyside plantation in Chi cot county for a convict farm, From the agent of the owners, Judge Haley, we have gathered ,asome facts concerning this great Ghd'm which may prove of interest I.b the readers of THE TRIBUNE. The farm, as it is proposed to sell it to the state, contains Il ,628 acres, 4 400 acres of which are in high state of cultivation. The Sunnyside farm proper contains 1O,O28 acres, with $500 acres of open land. This great farm lies in the bend of Chicot lake, and is probably the finest body of land in the South.
 Six hundred acres have been added to the cleared land during the past two or three years. The farm has a sawmill-one of the best in the state; has 10 miles of narrow-gage railroad, with two engines and ten cars. The houses and other buildings are away above the average.
 Across the lake lies the "Luna Plantation,'' containing 1,6OO acres, 800 of which are under cultivation. This is also splen- did property, and if the state should conclude to buy, would be just the place for the juvenile offenders of whom we hear so much. It would be an ideal place for our new reform school. Two hundred and fifty mules, a complete lot of farming imple- ments, wagons, etc., would be in- cluded in this sale. The price of sthe property is S55O,0OO, and while the figures look rather big, it should be remembered that the deal is a big one and the property probably is the best of it's kind in the Union. It will do no harm to think of it anyway in connec- ton with the present rotten management of our convicts. Of course Little Rock will kick. Occasional appropriations would have to be made for the institu- tions and they would not be able to hog all of it. And right here we want to give you some figures from the auditors report just re- ceived, and it does not cause pa sralysis among your readers, they are safe from any disease and will live forever.