The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-03-08


Utilize the Proceeds OF the Convict
Lease in Providing Good Roads.
The able summary of the report of
the commissioner of agriculture. intro
duced as a preface to the very COM
plete and detailed report of the opera
tons of the department for the year
1906 and 1906, should be read by all
those citizens interested in these very
important public questions. The sum-
mary is condensed and TO the point,
with references to the detailed reports
following
The report is complete in every de-
tail, and fully explains the working of
the many important interests of the
state that are entrusted to the care
and direction of the commissioner of
agriculture. No department of 1.-THE
state has more varied and important
duties to be performed than has the
Office of commissioner of agriculture
Few of our citizens realize the varied
responsibility of the commissioners of
agriculture, nor the various duties re-
quired of this department, embracing
as it does the state lands, school, semi
nary, swamp, internal improvement
and all other lands of the state immi-
grafton, the state convicts, statistics,
agriculture, feeds and fertilizers. The
commissioner of agriculture is the eX-
ecutive head of these and other divis-
ions of the state government
We are able to quote but a small por-
ton of Mr. McLp's admirable sum
mary, as follows.
CONVICT SYSTEM.
II find there is a great diversity of
opinion in Florida, as in all other states,
as to how best we can provide labor
conditions. Which field is the best or
proper field for prisoners. l'.s-..-----'''-'
is not my province to either adj
vocate or condemn our present lease
system. We have the law calling for
the lease system upon our statute
books, and the board of commissioners
of state Institutions, through the com
mission of agriculture as its medium,
are simply applying the law as handed
US by the legislative branch Of the
government.
II shall simply discuss conditions
as they exist, suggest improvements of
the system we are working under, and
leave it to the law-making body-the
legislature-to suggest a better system.
if they can, to displace what we have.
Admitting that it is best for pris-
oners to be engaged in some kind of
labor, | do not think anyone that has
given the prison system sufficient study
to be capable of advancing a practical
suggestion will think of advocating a
plan that would confine prisoners with
in high walls and brick barracks, in
this extreme southern climate, to work.
SOME or THE REQUIREMENTS
From time to time experience has
shown Us improvements that could be-
made in the construction of stockades
and their furnishings and equipment to
render them more sanitary and COM
Portable Without any sudden revolu-
tiOn we have been able 10 materially
change and improve the conveniences
of the camps and to add 20 the comfort
Of the inmates At each stock ade there
is a well equipped kitchen which is re.
quired 70 be kept clean and sanitary
The dining rooms are joined 20, but
separate from the sleeping apartment,
with tables and seats 10 meet the de-
mands. At these stockades an abund-
ance of food is served for breakfast
and supper, the noon meal being eaten
in the woods, as a rule on account of
the work being remote from the bar
- q. Once a week at least all are re-
sjcsed to take an all-over hath. The
q ,S5eping halls are now all equipped with
Separate iron cot bedsteads, with a
spring of the United States regulation
|plan, this is supplied with cOmforta-
bic mattress, pillow, pillow cases,
sheets and blankets 10 meet the
conditions of the weather. This hall is
well Ventilated. with iron barred win
dows, furnished with window light
shutters, 10 furnish light when closed
on account Of cool weather. For each
prisoner there is a night shirt furn
ished TO replace his work clothes,
which he is required TO hang up to air
during the night. IL is not optional
with the prisoner to change his cloth
ing for the night shirt. He is required
to do so.
There is no long night cham, passing
the length of the hall, to- which each
prisoner il locked, thereby les sening
the nights rest. regret 10 state
that this cannot be said, Of county
prison camps that are under the super
vision Of the county authorities.
II regard the prisoners being chained
at night as inhnman, hence DO not
think Of tolerating Il in the state prison
camps. Out Of the 2,lOO prisoners
handled during the two years there has
not been twenty prisoners shackIed 81
one time By ahaekles ! mean light