The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-06-15

law, and in most cases the leSSeeS are
priding themselves on keeping a mod
ell camp, and leave nothing undone for
the welfare of the men, in keeping, Of
course with strict discipline and safe
tv. going on the correct hypothesis
that If the men are we'll cared for,
well fed, clothed and housed, they will
do more and better work and prove
better investment to their lessees,
aside from the humanitarian stand
mint and some reports to the con-
trary. notwithstanding, these lessees
and their men in charge Of the camp
are human and humane men, and are
ready. willing and anxious, at any ana
all times, to correct evils that may
creep in.
do you hear much Of the terrible
cases of abuse and mistreatment that
some of the papers have circulated?
was asked.
"These matters are always magnln-
ed and added to, many fold, said the
doctor. Some trouble arises now and
then, and will in systems OF this KIND
as long as they exist, but these trou-
bles are quickly remedied and the Of
tenders severely reprimanded, If 1t be
an officials fault, or the offending con-
dition removed if it be from other
causes. Right here let me say" and
DR.. Lamar waxed most earnest, THE
present lessees of the convicts through
their president, Mr.. S. A. Rawls, gave
DR.. Bitch, myself and both Of the in
spectors full authority and earnest re-
quests to at once remedy any evil that
was found or might be found, and II
it was a matter of monetary expense,
TO incur that expense, send in the bills
and he would see that they were paid,
no matter what the cost, time or trou-
BILE. And these requests were made
to the state officials, employed by the
state to look after the states, and not
the Iessees interests, and were made
mandatory on the part of the hospital
physician, on whom Mr.. Rawls fire.
quently impresses the fact that he
must do everything necessary for the
welfare of his patients. regardless Of
expenses"
One might think that the state,
having leased the convicts would then
rest its case and derive as much rev.
enue as possible from the transaction.
Not so; the state employ the state
prison physician, DR.. Lamar, one
among the brightest minds and best
physicians and surgeons in the state,
we'll as the two inspectors to look
after the welfare Of its unfortunate
wards.
Hon. Newton A. Bitch is one of the
inspectors and Hon. G. D. Clark Of
Blountstown is the other. These gen
tlemen divide the state in two Sec
tions of eighteen camps each and one
of them visits each camp at least ev-
cry forty days and with the physi-
clans visits coming between gives
every camp a visit from one of the
states officials at least once a month,
and in the meantime, whenever a re-
port that anything is going wrong at a
camp is received, be that report from
whatever source it may, cOnyicts, not
excepted, an inspector or the physi-
clan Immediately goes to that camp
and Sits the matter to the bottom.
Then, again, comes the interest Of
the lessees Of the conVicts, MessTs. S.
A. Rawls & Co., in their welfare. and
this company, at its own expense, and
in addition to the services OF DR.. La
mar, supplied by the state, have en-
ployed DR.. S. H. Bitch to take charge
of the prison hospital at Ocala, and
give the INDECENT prisoners sent there
the benefit Of the services of one Of
the kindest, most humane and best sur
geons and physicians that the state
possesses. The lessees pay for and
the doctor stocks and maintains a
completely equipped pharmacy right
in the hospital.
A word Of the head and moving
spirit Of the state prison system; Hon.
B. E. McLin, commissioner of agricul-
aure, who is the head of the system,
insomuch as the convicts are under his
immediate supervision. although con-
trOlled by the state board of instItu-
tons, /. e., the cabinet, has the interest
and welfare Of the convicts at heart,
as much 50 as any other man in
the state, and he takes a deep and
continuous interest in the 1udicious
management of his unfortunate
charges. Mr.. McEn has done many
things and inaugurated many innova-
tions for the improvement of the sys-
TEN, and is by no means satisfied with
MS achievements and is continually
doing more to better the system in
every way, and every man connected
with the state prison system, either in
the employ OF the state or the lessees,
likes and respects the commissioner
! OF agriculture, and heartily co7operates
with him in his good work.