The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-24

EdtOulOiis Nd k9GpNs tAheN - 10 pm
S. Turner, chairman of the Prison Com
mission, at the request of the commits
sioners of roads and revenues, the
county board of education and the trus-
tees of the public schools of Eatonton,
spoke to-day during recess of the Su-
perior Court, on the subject Of convict
legislation as It pertains to education
and good roads in the county of Put
nam.
While to a large extent he dealt with
the question locally, he discussed the
convict question generally, giving
history of the penal institutions of
Georgia, establishing that the present
system while but four years old, was
by far the best the state had ever en-
joyed, the equal in every respect of the
best in the United States, and superior
to many which enjoyed a better repu-
tation.
Though constantly referred to r by
the press, and even by members of the
Legislature, who ought to be better
informed. as the infamous lease sys-
tenn "a blot and a disgrace upon the
fair name of the state he showed
that, so far as the felony convicts are
concerned, there is no lease system
in Georgia. Ohio. Indinana, Pennsyl-
vania. Massachusetts,, Maryland, Cali
fornia and others, sell the labor OF
their convicts to private individuals
and have no different or better sys-
tenn than Georgia. In those states the
convicts are worked within walls Tor
priVate individuals, or skilled labor
in which the competition is sharp,
while in this state they are worked
in the open air, or mines, or unskll!eo
labor, where the demand for such Ia
Dor at all times exceeds the supply.
In both, the state is in absolute control
of the convict and no authority OF
control or punishment is delegated to
any individual.
Not only is -Georgia's system IN THESE
RESPECTS equal to others, but in an
., other respect it is superior. in that 1t
maintains separate institutions Tor
females, aged and infirm, and Juveniles,
where these classes are worked strict
" on state account, with every oppor-
tunity for repentance ana re1orhli-
ton.
While far from perfect, having only
been in operation for four years, it was
being Improved every year, and II
would soon reach a state OF excellence
which no other system could excel, If
the work of evolution was allowed
TO continue. without the interference
of sensational newspapers, and petty
politicians.
So popular has become the ignorant
denunciation of this, among other
Southern institutions. by the Northern
press, that some of the newspapers of
this state have without investigation,
accepted the Northern estimate of
these Institutions as true and denoun-
oed them in unm sured terms when
as a matter Of fact they excel SINH
lar institutions at the North. TO de-
nounce which would be heresy.
The only relic of the lease system in
Georgia is attributable to a miscon-
struction of the law governing misde-
mesnor convicts. which allows them to
be hired to private individuals. with
limited state and county supervision,
which is Intellectual to prevent many
abuses and inhumanities prevalent
therein. Under this system thirty-two
private chaingangs. containing 965 mis-
demcanor convicts. are now in opera
ton, controlled entirely by private in
dividuals, TO whom is delegated the
power 10 punish ana control the con-
victs therein, confined.
The commission. since its creation
has persistently denounced this system
and for this reason opposed the placing
OF felony convicts upon the public
roads until the demand for such labor
on public highways exceeded the num-
Der of misdemeanor convicts so leased
believing that the felony system was
far superior from every standpoint. Il
that part OF the misdernea nor system
and that humanity demanded that tht
latter should be improved before IN,
former was torn down. and that III,
supply Of misoemeanor convicts far ex
cecded the demand for such labor OF
the public roads.
II the felony cOnvlcts are 10 be usef
upon the public highways, and IN,
present ulsdemeanOr lease system II
- BE- continued. ~ one Of the com
missioner. he unhefitatinRly approve,
the compromise senate bin passed b.
the last General Assembly. lu prefer
ence ~ the original bin introduces
Do ibe House on this subject IN
lafffr HaE fair ~ every county. an
even section ~ the state. ln that
provide for distribution ~ ihs labo
~ ne fpntiria. of abe NET hire ANON
800 counties afeof1lnH t0 population
"fffffff SIZE state confrm NJ felou
.Ylll''f Hn1 eEffndf fhf c9UnlaaipH'
htilplif over ulsGemeanor oonueii
~"A' 80 f9fnff nouiQ hH9e give