The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1908-10-08
BOARD
WANTS ADVICE
On THE NEW LAW
MANY POINTS IN THE NEW STATE
CONVICT LAW REQUIRE
ELUClDATiON.
The Prison Board Gives Attorney Gen
eraI Hart Number of Cues
tions to AnsWer-Few
Counties Apply

ATLANTA, Oct. THE prison com
mission began its regular monthly
meeting here yesterday, the first since
the special session of the Legislature,
at which a new convict bill was pass
ed, closed. Today the commission
will begin first steps towards putting
the new law into effect. The attor-
ney general has been asked to con-
strue several obscure or ambiguous
parts of the bill, and definite actioA,
with regard to carrying it into effect,
will await his opinion, which is being
prepared
We are going to do cur best to
carry out the terms OF the law" said
Judge Joseph S. Turner, this morning
Many of its parts are not clear, and
until they are made so we do not feel
justified in doing anything. The sit
uation will be presented to the vari-
GUS county authorities and all the en-
enlargement within our power will be
given them i'll taking prisoners and
placing them on the public roads"
The questions which the attorney
general has be Il asked to answer are
as follows:
'First-After March 81, 1909, who
has charge Of the felony and misde-
meanor conye:s worked upon the
roads or other public works of the
several counties, the county authori-
ties or the prison commission? Under
the acts If 1897 and 1902, you ruled
that the l,pigA, ,ft-us
charge and control.
"Second-Who appoints wardens.
physicians and guards in charge OF
such convicts? Who fixes the amount
of the salaries OF such employees, and
who pays the same, the county au-
thorities or the prison commission?
Under your previous ruling the power
of appointment was vested in the plfs-
on commission. Has this been chan
ed by the act of 1908?
"Third-Who maintains convicts
worked by counties on their public
roads?
"Fourth-When is the prison com
mission authorized to employ the su-
peryisors provided for in section 20
of the act, now, or after March 81
1903? Does this section limit the pow
er of the commission as conferred
by the previous acts to employ as NAV
be deemed necessary, or does it mere
ly limit the number of the particular
officers named in the section?
'Fifth-When does section II of the
act become operate, Immediately,
or after March 81. 1909? (Section u
relates to the disposition of misde
meanOr conyicts)
Is the duty cf the commission I'M
der the section to prosecute persons
or corporations, who, since the pass
age Of this act, continue to work mis-
demeanor conyicts hired to them by
persons or cfIicers prior to the pass
age Of this act?
"SiXth-lf the commission should
be notified, as provided in section ~.
by county authorities having misde-
meanor convicts undispcsed Of etc,
that they have such convicts. what
then, becomes the duty of the ccm-
mission in regard thereto? How should
they be disposed Of so as to return
the net funds arising from the same
10 county authorities to be used for
road purposes only, as provided in this
section?
Seyenth-When do the provisions
OF this act, requiring superintendent
wardens, physicians, and other en-
ployes to take oath and give bonds.
go into effect, now or after March 81.
1902"
No more than half dozen coun-
ties have signifed their intention of
taking conyicts and no more than two
Or three seem inclined to take the
overs" However, the question will
be taken up in many ways after the
prison commission is able to present
the situation to them clearly.