The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-20
PROBLEM is COMPLICATED.
SUBSTITUTE FOR FIELDER BILL
DEMANDS MUCH THOUGHT.

Question of the Disposition of the
state COnVicts Upon n Sort of
Communication Basis-Its Provisions.
Variety of Measures offered, and
the House Has Chance TO Select
the One That Pleases It-SessiOn
Is Half Over.
Atlanta, July 19-The House of Rep
resentativcs is confronted by a more
complicated problem in the question
of the disposition of the states felony
convicts than the members ever
thought of, and the prospects are that
several more days will be devoted to
II before any conclusion is reached.
After a day and a half had been de-
voted to debate on the Fielder bill, it
was realized there were certain fea-
lures of this measure which would
have to be eliminated, even in case it
is decided to make the proposed radi-
cal change in the present plan of deal
ing with the convicts. 1t was then
that another proposition was placed
before the house by Mr.. Holder of
Jackson, and Mr.. Shackelford of
Clarke, which led to a postponement Of
morning. .ts.
The plan which the House has be-
fore it under this substitute is on
sort of Communication basis. 1t provides
that each county may work so many
convicts on the public roads in accord
ance with the population, or one con-
Wet for about 1900 inhabitants, or may
take a pro rata share of the proceeds
from such convicts as are leased, to
h. cd RI c
said there will be some opposition to
this plan from the larger counties be-
cause it Will give them considerably
less than they contribute. For instance
If Chatham county wanted to work
convicts on the roads, she would be APP
portioned a squad of about sixty,
whereas there are now about $50 con-
victs from Chatham in the state peni-
tertiary. Fulton county has in the
neighbOrhood of 300 convicts in the pen
ltenpiary, hut would receive only about
100 under this plan.
Should this measure fail of passage
in the House, the next plan that will
be brought forward for consideration
is found in the Steed bill, or rather
the bill approved by the House Peni-
tertiary Committee, of which Mr..
Steed of Taylor is chairman. This bill
provides for a renewal of the present
lease system for a period of five years,
and from the proceeds 100000 Is to be
set apart each year for the purpose of
aocumulating a fund of $780, 900 to be
used at the end of that period in pro-
yiding other employment for the con-
Victs, such as road work or whatever
else may be desired.
Then, if the House should not like
this plan, there is still left the Glenn
ents DILL which has already passed
the Senate, and which provides sim
,.1,r -
tract system for another period of five
years without material change. AS
a material increase is looked for in
The price to be paid for the convict
labor under new contracts, 1t is ar
gued by the advocates of this plan
chat the result will be a material in
crease in the public school fund. The
present revenue to the public school
fund from convicts is about $4,000 an
nually, while it is estimated the In
crease will carry the total from this
source to considerably more than $780,
Geo.
Notwithstanding this the agitation of
the good roads question has caught
the attention of many members of the
House, and they are giving it much
serious thought.
Uniform Text Books.
Following the disposition of the con-
self in the midst of another interest
ing discussion involving the common
school system.
The Senate has already acted on the
matter of a uniform system of text
books for the public schools, and put
the matter up to the House, just as
1t did in the case of the conVicts. The
Sel.ate, it will be remembered, passed
the Dodd bill several days ago, pro-
viding for a state school book com
mission, and a plan for selecting and
putting into use in the common schools
uniform series of text books.
The House Committee on Education
did not adopt the Senate. bill. In
stead it has reported substitute bill
Tor several measures which were in
troduced in the House, and recon-
mended it's passage. This substitute
bears the names of Messrs. West of
Lowndes, Mitchell of Thomas and
Whitley of Douglas. The difference
between this bill and the Dodd bill,
Which the Senate passed, is one of de-
tail, the general system provided for
is the same
Neither measure, however, will affect
in any way the local school systems
IN the large cities. Fear on this point
mas been expressed in some quarters,
but it may be set at rest because it
is we'll understood that no effort will
De made to apply the proposed system
10 any but the common schools of the
state, while the cities and towns which
nave their own systems will not be
affected
There is going to be considerable OPP
position to the uniformity system in
any shape in which it may be offered.
1.S opponents are claiming that the
SoInmittee on Education took snap
Judgment on the matter without giving
tnem opportunity to be heard, and
mere are several prominent members
VINO Will be outspoken against it on
she 1oor Of the House. Some of these
Ieel that investigation should first be
nndue of the varied systems in other
states before action is taken, while
liners are out and out against the
tulHormity plan. 1t is plain, therefore,
endt the measure is not going to have
"Hogether easy sailing in the House.
Session Just Half over.
saturday was the twenty-fifth day
VI me session, and just half of it had
eApired at midnight last night Not
outstanding this little business of i'm
portance has been completed. No i'm
tpoTant general bill has yet gone 10
tHe Governor. There was one such
n-IL the measure limiting the tax rate
~ HVe mills. which reached the Gov
LInGr hands, but IL had to be sent
:, 0Jh TOT correction. Then 1t was found
nad TO be passed again. and while
s,T, senate has finished with it, it is
M pending in the House.
ne prlnCipa1 NUorl Of the T.epfS1a-