The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-25
THE NEW CONVICT system.

| THE NEW NONNACT 81 STEM. b.
Chairman Turner of the Prison Com
mission does not think the new con-
vict system, especially that part OF it
which permits the working of certain
will be productive of the good results
predicted for it by those who framed
the law. He thinks the old system
was better that it was improving all
the time and that eventually 1t would
have clearly demonstrated its superior
ity over all other systems. Judge Tur-
ner objects to the term lease system"
He prefers to call it the selling Of the
labor of convicts, and draws attention
to the fact that Ohio, Indiana and
other states sell the labor of their con-
victs, and in a more Objectionable
manner than was the case in Georgia
under the old system, in that in Ohio
and Indiana the convict labor comes
into competition with free, skilled la
Dor. which was not the case in Geor-
gia.
There is no question concerning the
desire and efforts of the members of
the Prison Commission to conduct the
lease system, or labor-selling system,
in the best manner possible; neverthe-
less the fact remains that under that
system there were abuses that aroused
the resentment of the people and made
them determine that there should be
a change. The new law is a step in
the right direction, though it falls
short of what was, and is still, desired
by those who wish to put the states
penal system upon a basis of fairness
to the taxpayers and humane justice
to the convicts. 1t was not fair to
the taxpayers that lessees and sub
lessees should grow rich from the hired
labor of the states convicts; it was not
just to the convicts to place them in a
position where, powerless to help them
selves, they could be subjected to cruel
treatment. The system not only per-
mitted but authorized the logging of
conVicts to enforce discipline. That
this authority has on various occasions
been exercised in brutal manner is
too well known to need more than men
ton. 1t was the flogging of a white
woman by a prison boss that started
the wave of Indignation against the
system that recently swept over the
state. 1t should be borne in mind that
this Indignation was not against Judge
Turner or any other member of the
Prison Board, but against the system
under which such things could hap
pen. 1t is true that logging has not
been abolished, but it has at least been
restricted.
Speaking with especial reference to
Putnam county, Judge Turner gave in
his speech at Eatonton an explanation
of how, in his opinion. the working of
felony convicts on the public roads
would he found to operate Putnam is
entitled under, the new law to work
eleven felony convicts on her roads, If
she chooses to do so. According to
Judge Turner's figures. these convicts
would cost the county 1903 each per
year, in loss to the school fund and
for care of the convcts. This, he
says, lis more than twice the cost of
free labor for such work" Assuming 4
that the figures are correct, and that
they viii apply approximately to other
small counties, such counties will
probably hesitate to make application
for convicts to work on their roads.
However, local conditions will have a
great deal to do with determining
whether county will work it's short
term felony convicts.