The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-15
The Work House System.

be made.
The Work House System.
During this running discussion
something had been said incidental
" about the work house system, and
the hiring out of the convicts TO the
phosphate miners, or to others who
might want them, and Squire Church
introduced a resolution to that effect.
Mr.. Shofner, of Mt Pleasant. thought
this plan very impracticable one. It
would cost the county, he said, more
to hire hands to work their highways
than they could get for the hire of the
convicts. He thought the work be-
ing done by the county hands, under
Supt Akin, was fine work, and cheap
er than the county could hire men to
do 1t. The road they had built from
the Giles county line to Mt. Pleasant,
was splendid road, and was a great
convenience to large portion Of the
county, and had enhanced the value of
great many farms along the way.
Senator Greenlaw asked him II he
knew anything about the work house
management and it's prisoners. He
said he had seen them frequently, and
had taken one or two meals with the
guards out there, and the prisoners
seemed to be well housed and well
fed and we'll treated.
This answer brought DR.. J. L. voor-
HES, County Health Officer, to his
feet. He said the prisoners were
crowded into the shacks there like
stock. That one very hot Sunday af-
ernoon year or so ago he had count
ID 10 men in one shack or room about
15x15. That the building was made
If iron, and was located right out in
he broiling sun, and that the heat and ,
tench was insufferable; that he
ould not stand 1t, and had the patient
rcught to him some distance away !,
rom the shack. That there were a >.
lillion lice there and that 1t was in
uman to treat prisoners that way; ;,
ley needed more room, better venti-
ltion and hygiene; they should be pro. =
ided with better quarters and larger
larters.
Squire Churc, also spoke on this
cious and inhuman treatment as
} termed it, and said 1T would be
erciful to hire these prisoners out
private parties who would make
EN- more comfortable while they
ere working out their sentences. He d,
Id the county could get. $50 per al
y for them. and save all the expense ie
guarding and keeping and feeding "
EN-. Hu be
The point of order was made that
; road question and not the work
use question was under consider T
on, and it was suggested that the II
cussion of the management of the
rk house be discontinued.
fr. f. D. Lander objected to shut
: off debate, now that the question IN
been raised. He said If the facts
e as DR.. VOORHEES, had represented =
m, the people of Maury county utd
uld know It and the present work ~ht
Sc system should be abolished; ~,
L. -.
IL the iacts were not as 81 ated' Mo
1 Mr.. Akin was entitled to hear 49,,
to defend himself
idge Holding thought that matter for
hit be referred to the grand jury. den
r. ]. T. Akin, Superintendent of is [
Work House, was recognized. He this
that he always gave the prisoners mel
best possible treatment he could. eros
t he fed them we'll. and made them We!
comfortable as he could. That he sup
fred and saw to IL that they bath mul
once every week, and prfc
lged their clothes. That he had has
shack cleaned out often and white pi
ned inside; and that IL did not to 5
1 as bad or have any more body
in 1t than the county Jail had rNr
DR. VOORHEES, was County Health kN
er, and If the conditions were so
at the shack why did he not take
9 steps to have them corrected?
why did he not also VISIT the Bl
ty Jail and have the lice cleaned TO
there? Mr. Akin admitted that
stimes some of the prisoners did KinC
body lice on them. He said they Ca
g there from the jail. and brought New
lice with them. That they came Nor
g as hobos, and with lice on ceiv,
!; and that he made them wash
clean themselves as best he