The Savannah morning news., 1902-10-29
BRUTAL AND CRUEL
FIELDER OF BIBB ATTACKS CON-
VICT LEASE SYSTEM IN HOUSE.
COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE
ING VOTE, WHILE SENATE
CONCURS.


Vote of IO6 to 39-Under Present
system, Author of the Resolution
Declares, Abuses Must and DO Ex-
ist-COmmittee VIII Investigate
and Report Its Findings-GenernK
Assembly on Jnunt to VaIdOsta-
New Bills Introduced.
Atlanta, Oct. 2S.-Mr. Fielder of Bibb
sprung something of a sensation in the
House this morning by making an at
| tack on the convict lease system OF
the state. He introduced a resolution
providing for the appointment of a
committee to investigate the convict
lease system and to report to the
| House the best and most humane
method of dealing with the labor of
the states convicts. The resolution
was adopted after a warm discussion.
| by a vote of LOG to 80.
There was considerable discussion
over Mr.. Felder's resolution. Mr.. Fell
der said as the convict question was
coming up at this session, the present
| commission having recommended the
re-enactment of the present law the
|
and the General Assembly Informed
as to what should be done for the best
! interests of the state and of the con-
| victs, who are its wards. Mr.. Fielder
declared that the present system was
| inhuman and brutal, and that acts of
| cruelty were bound to occur. and co
occur. under a plan by which the labor
! of the convlcts is sold to private par
| ties.
He was strongly opposed, he said.
| to selling the convicts for a gain, and
personally thought they should all be
employed on the public roads in the
counties where they are sentenced.
| However. that would be a matter. he
said, for the special committee to in
vestigate, it's duty being to report the
best and most humane method for DEAL
ing with these unfortunates.
Two Wars Ia learn Crime.
Mr. Fielder called attention to the
fact that recently in Early county it
was discovered that a convict had been
smothered to death two years ago, and
it took the Prison Commission that
length of time to find 1t out and deal
with the matter. He mentioned other
incidents of similar nature which he
declared ought not to exist.
Mr.. Wilson of Clay and Mr.. Howell
| of Meriwether strongly opposed the
resolution, urging that the convicts
were as well treated as they could be
under any other system and calling at
tention to the fact that the money re-
ceived from their hire goes into the
public school fund. Mr.. Flynt of Spald-
ing spoke in favor of the resolution.
on the call of the yeas and nays the
resolution was adopted by a vote Of
LOG to 80, and the special committee
will possibly be appointed tomorrow.
| The Senate concurred in this resolu-
| ton to-day.
Changes I'm the Rules.
Speaker Morris, as chairman of the
| Committee on Rules, made the report
of that committee to the House to-day.
| The report suggests few important
changes in the rules of the last House,
which otherwise are recommended to-
be adopted as they stand. 1t is recon-
mended that Rule 80 be amended by
adding a proviso to the effect that the
| general appropriations bill and the gem
eral tax bill shall, on the third read
| ing, be given the right-of-way over ev-
erything else in the House. The OBJ
| ject of this is to get these bills through
and get them to the Governor before
| the adjournment of the Legislature, so
that he may have the privilege of cx-
ercising his veto power without having
| to call an extra session in case he
should see fit to veto these measures.
/ Another change is the introduction OF
! rule which Will prevent the tabling
of a bill for the purpose of waiting
| for more favorable votes. when the call
| of a yea and nay vote has once begun.
| The committee also recommends that
| standing committees on 'the state uni
versity and its branches and on
amendments to the constitution" be
| created.
The committee reports adversely on
| the resolution of Mr.. Hall of
Bibb to consolidate the Commit
tees on Appropriations and on
Ways and Means into one committee
on finance.
Throw Down for Joe Hall.
The House by large vote this morn
ing refused to reconsider it's action in
passing the resolution by Mr.. Hall Of
BlDD providing tnar the appropriations
and general tax levy made at this ses-
sion shall be only for the one year,
1903. instead of for two years as here
tofore.
A number of new general bills were
introduced in the House, but none pro-
vide for legislation which has not been
discussed by the General Assembly for
several years past. Among the new
bills and resolutions introduced to-day
are the following:
BY Mr.. Walker of Pierce-To amend
section ga of the penal code of 1895 so
as to make the number of challenges
allowed the defendant in criminal cases
ten instead of twenty and the state six
instead of twelve.
BY Mr.. Blackburn Of Flilton--To
amend paragraph l of section OF
article IL of the constitution, by provid-
ing that county officers including sher-
lifts. clerks Of the Superior Courts, tax
collectors, tax receivers, county treas
urers, surveyors and coroners shall
hold their offices for terms of four
years.
BY MIR. Fielder Of Bibb-To provide
that no mortgage or conveyance to Sc
cure debt shall have any lien as against
subsequent creditors without actual
notice of those who extend credit prior
to the proper filing for record thereof,
unless the same be filed for record
within five days.
BY Mr.. Slaton Of Fulton-To provide
SContinued on Fifth PaReO