The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-03-02
the. supervision. of the county authori

prisoners nanQte0 QuIiHS inv |
wears there has not been 20 prison
ers shackled at one time. By snacAies
7 mean light chain shackie, lnae
does not materially retard the prisoh-
er's walking freely, but would answer
as check on him in the event ne
made an attempt to run This light
chain is used occasionally as pun
ishment TO an unruly, stubborn prls-
oner who shows a disposition to leave
the squad or is a disturbing element
in camp.
"Tbe Iessees are required to keep
a corps of guards on duty equal ID |
one for each five men in the camps,
one mounted man to each twenty-five
prisoners and two trained olooo-
hounds. For holding the prisoners at
night an armed guard occupies room
mr. cell in full view of tine hall but
removed from approach OF prisoners.
The hall is lighted to give him full
view of the inmates. In large camps
an unarmed foor-walker is locked IN
with the prisoners
supervisors.
RECOGNIZING the importance or hav-
ing a most thorough inspection OF the
prison camps, the Board OF Commis-
sioners of State Institutions recon-
mended the appointment OF three
| superyisors of state prisoners. Inc
increase in the number of prisoners
and their distance from each otner
and from public thoroughfares rem
dered II impossible for one supervisor
| to visit the camps as often as the CON
ditions demanded. The last leglsia-
ture authorized the governor to ap-
noint two additional SUPERVISORS
| There are now three supervisors, N
Bitch (since elected to the RAN
}. road Commission, whose place mas
been filed by Mr.. j. T. Lewis.) c. u.
Clarke and G. w. Lamar They are
paid each SIPS per month and actual
. travelling expenses.
, Mr.. McLin pays Senator Bitch the
high compliment of saying ne was
, one of the best equipped men for the
place of supervisor of any one L can
, name. His fort was to instruct. ad-
/ wise, suggest, yes to educate SUD-
, lessees as to their duties and the prls-
oners as to their responsibilities. HIS
work was to improve conditions and
E not simply be able to report to the
: commissioner all the defects posi-
!. bile. He worked to aid me in giving
!. the system higher standing on the
t merits of its advancement Inc sys
D tenn will miss him, the two supervls
I ors will miss him and the person who
e Lmay be appointed to take his place
S will have to do some hard work anc
{ careful study to measure up 10 hls
e standard. To make good supervis
!, or a man must have good judgment
/ be a good judge of human nature, o.
o patient. and above all things, he mus
5. he discreet and absolutely honest II
Y h,a work With thnca-nI1aiife att1-,'
!, When we find diseased limb or
good tree we do not cut down the
tree, but pTune out the diseased
branches the report continues. I'll
the hand is badly diseased and threat
ems the life of the individual, we do
not kill the patient, but remove the
affected part and improve the condi-
ton ofythe patient. So / regard our
present prison system with the lights
thus far thrown on the subject.
The law directs that all prisoners
must be delivered to the commits
sioner of agriculture at point he may
direct. The commissioner is required
by law to take charge OF them and to
control, direct and police them while
In the custody of the state Has the
fact ever dawned upon our law-mak-
ers or the citizenship of our proud
state, that the state does not own an
acre Of ground nor even shed where
the commissioner could carry out the
provisions of the statutes placed upon
him? Not many of our people are
aware that Florida is the only state
IN the union which has not made ade-
quate provision for carrying out the
statutory requirements pertaining TO
their prison system 1t is not wise
to take immediate steps on this sub. |
Ject while our prisoners are bringing |
large sums of money by their labor,
as result of the unusually prosper. /
Gus conditions in the lines of work
that the prison population can be en-.
gagged?
In Case of Panic.
In the event of money panic thar
would paralyze the turpentine, lum-
Der and phosphate business, along i
with all other industries, to the extent l
that sublessees could not carry OUT
their contracts with the original II
lessees and they were 10 elect to for.
felt their bonds in preference to fac
ing absolute ruin, what provision has
the state made for taking the prison
ers and locating the even temporari-
ly? No lessee has stockade that
could care for one-sixth of them. even
if they were inclined to oblige the
state II
Would not the state be absolutely !
at the mercy of those who might de-
sire to secure the prisoners for a NOM
nal sum? Should the state be de- *
pendent upon any person or company II
20 shelter, maintain or supervise her
prisoners? From a business stand