The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-09-21
Governor HOke Smith Signs The
New State Law
GOVERNOR is WELL PLEASED
Under the New Law No conVicts VIII
Be Leased to individuals, But VIII
Be Used to Work Roads
and City Streets.

Atlanta. September 20.-Just at midnight
last night Gov. Hoke Smith signed the
convict lease bill which hereafter pro-
hibits the leasing Of felons except by the
consent OF the governor and prison COM
mission The bill was passed by the leg
islature yesterday after $4,000 had been
spent in an extra session, and nearly a
month used in discussing the legislation.
With the signature of Governor Smith
on the bill as engrossed Georgia has done
away with a system which has been in
existence ever since 1866.
1t was to settle this convict lease ques-
ton that Governor Smith called a special
session of the legislature. He desired that
the lease system be absolutely abolished,
and the bill as passed provides that there
will be no leasing of convicts to any con-
tractor for private gain. 1t is said these
contractors have made thousands of dol
lars out of convict labor in Georgia in
the last 30 years, the men being leased
to them at s100 apiece, with the simple
proviso of board and sleeping quarters
In the investigation which led to the pres
ent legislation there was considerable tes-
timony to the effect that negro convicts
had been whipped by overseers, that in
several cases the abuse had resulted in
the death of men under the control Of the
lessee
When the Georgia Legislature assembled
a month ago to consider the question Of
convict labor, Governor Smith announced
that he desired all traces or the lease sys-
TEN to be eradieated. House and senate
disagreed as to how this should be ac-
complished. The senate insisted that
there should be no leasing after March
81 next. The house wanted the lease sys-
tenn extended to 1911. Finally, however,
house and senate compromised on a meas
ure which permits the use by the state Of
any convicts not used on state roads, nor
by municipalities, nor IN state institu-
lions.
These men may be used as the prison
commission and governor sees fit, but as
a close friend of Governor Smith said
tonight, when it was suggested that this
provision might prove a ''joker'
Governor Smith, you may be sure, is
totally opposed to leasing convicts to
private individuals, and will never consent
to any lease of this kind. The lease sys-
tenn is dead
Governor Smith gave out the following
interview today:
1.-THE extra session has accomplished all
that l expected. The people of the state
were entitled to the full benefit of the re-
sort of the legislative committee appoint
ed to make an investigation into the con-
Wet lease system.
1.-The juvenile court bill and the parole
Dill mark new era in the effort to pre-
vent crime in Georgia. The creation of
a commission to investigate the extension
of the Western and Atlantic railroad to
the sea and the employment or convicts
on this work is also an important and
valuable measure.
THE convict bill furnishes an opportun-
ity to each county in the state to take
its pro rata share of convcts and work
part of them on a farm and part on the
public roads. I expect that under this
bill every convict will be disposed of with
out leaving one to be leased
1.-THE Wise bill taxing imitation beer
should pay into the state treasury 100000
within the next u months. have no fear
of its constitutionality. The expense Of
the extra session is a small item com
pared to the benefits which will come
from the Legislation which has been
passed"