The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-20

tinue to draw this proportionate part.
According to estimates made by
prison officials in Atlanta, Chatham
county is entitled to sixty-four of
these convicts.
The net hire for the convicts of the
state is $4,000 per annum, and Chat
ham oountys population is 80 per
cent. of the population of the state
From these figures it will be seen that
Chatham derives from the net hire of
convicts, as a part of the state school
fund 3.2 per cent. of the $4,000, which
amounts to $685. This is the amount
which Chatham county would have to
relinquish to the state if it sees fit to
accept its proportionate part of the
felony convicts under the new law.
The business proposition which pre-
sents itself to the County Commission
ers is which is worth more to Chat
ham, the labor of sixty-four convicts,
less the amount necessary to take care
of them, or the $2,656?
In taking these convicts the net
usefulness cannot be reckoned at a.
Allowances will have to be made
for age, infirmities and women. The
expenses of the establishment of a
new camp will also have to be taken
into consideration, and it is doubtful
what the net results would be in work
ing them.
Supt. AshmOre's Views.
In speaking of the effects of the law
on Chatham's schools Supt. Ashmore
said yesterday that no matter what
is done the schools will go on just as
they have been going on, and if the
part of the fund derived from the net
hire of the state convicts is taken
away the commissioners will make up
for it in their Appropriation.
Hon. Charles S. Reed, chairman of
the Ways and Means Committee of the
House of Representatives, was in the
city for a few hours yesterday, the
guest of Hon. r. M. Hitch. When
seen by q representative of the Morn
ing News and asked concerning the
reception which had been given the
bill throughout the state, Mr.. Reed
said:
II have not been through the entire
state since the passage of the Dill,
having visited but a few of the coun-
ties. AS far as 1 have gone. how
ever, and from what 1 have been able
to learn from county officials with
whom 1 have come in contact, I be-
lieve that the bill has been given
hearty reception. and that a majority
of the counties, at least. will keep their
convicts and forego their share of the
school fund.
Counties Working for COnVicts.
Though it has been a short time
since the bill became a law two coun-
ties, Troup and Fulton have sent in
their applications for the use of their
allotted number of convicts. 1 have
also heard that within a very short
time Bibb county is to follow the ex-
ample of the two mentioned. These
fcats seem to indicate clearly that the
law will be tried in several of the
counties and from what 1 have been
able to gather from conversations with
officials with whom l have come in
contact, the law will be thoroughly
tested and has met with the favor
Of the majority of the people
LAS for your own county l am given
to understand that you will not ask for
your share of the convicts. preferring
TO take the usual allowance from the
school fund. In conversation with a
prominent resident of this city to-day
] was told that this county already
has enough convicts of its own and
would not need any from the state.
all the needs in that line being easily
cared for by the misdemeanor convicts
why the BiII Was Opposed.
The principal reason why the bill
Continued on Seventh Page.