The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-30
GOVERNOR SMITH WANTS CONVICT LAW A Busy Special Session Is
 Expected CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS Georgia Corporations Are Afraid They Cannot Contribute to Fund Un-
 der Existing Laws-oPpo-
 stion to Woodward.
CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
BY LAUREN FOREMAN.


 or Smith has told members of the general assembly that he is going to have con- vsct bill which reasonably meets his views. or it will have to be passed by two-thirds vote.
 This has raised the question as to whether the governor would call another extra session in the event the legislature passed a bill that did not suit him and adjourned before he acted on 1t. If he considered there was sufficient rad teal difference between the measure and his views of what it ought to be there is little doubt that he would, but an emergency of this kind is scarcely an ticipated.
 The fact is. the main convict bill pro- yiding for disposition of the convicts after March 31. 1909. when the present contracts expire. will probably be the first measure passed by the extra ses- sion. That is the real piece of resist ance" and the legislature will, 1t IS thought, get through with that hrst All ter that it has plenty of subsidiary meas ures to keep 1t busy while the governor is considering and passing on the con- vict bill So 1t is likely the legislature will still be in session when the gov ernor has acted on this measure.
 Should he veto it and send it back, there is grave question as to whether t could be passed by two-thirds vote, be- cause the legislature is more evenly divid- ed than that. and there is a considerable element in both houses which favors hewing close to the line on the govern ors views.
 Governor Smith, therefore, will be pret- ty well able to hold the legislature toler- ably close to his views as to what dispo- sition should be made of the convicts. He Is reported to have said if the gen. eral assembly will make provision for distribution of the convicts among those counties which want them. will turn into the penitentiary fund all the money re- ceived between naw and the expiration of the present contracts, and will put tax oN near-beer for the support of the convicts, he will come pretty close 10 ending the lease system entirely on April l next, when the present leases will run out.
 It is the belief of those who have look ed into the matter that this would give the state a sufficient fund to follow out those provisions of the measure which relate to direct state supervision of the surplus convicts, on the public roads. In other words, there are indications that the counties and municipalities of the state would take large majority of the convicts off the states hands, leaving a comparatively small number to be cared for, and with sufficient funds the state could at once put these to work on the public roads in those counties which do not take their pro rata share of the con- victs
 It Is pretty well known, too, that the governor is looking to the future in the hope that the convlets will ultimately be used in building the extension of the Western and Atlantic railroad to the sea. And he does not want the convict system so hampered that they cannot be used for this purpose at such time as the leg islature may see fit, should it ever do so. to make the extension.
 The Holder bill, the measure which the House has passed and put up to the Sen ate, has been remodeled, it's friends say so as to meet many of the views of Gov ernor Smith. It is believed the Senate will also pass the measure. though there are differences between the two bodies which will have to be reconciled by con- ference committees.
 Final enactment of the bill however, is looked for about the middle of the week, when it will go direct to the gov ernor. It may now be stated positively that the legislature will not consent to the abolition of the prison commission, but will reorganiZe the penltentiary de- partment with that body at it's head as heretofore though a better system of inspection will be provided. the pay of wardens and guards will be increased and they will be prohibited from receiv- ing extra compensation from lessees or interested parties, and a more strict ad- herence to the rules and regulations gov erning convicts will be required.
 The proposed impeachment of the mem bers of the prison commission will come i- Gai1 fa ho Ia cal anyhow, and there are undoubtedly those who would like to see the mem. bers of the commission hauled up to the bar chiefly for political reasons But as a matter of fact they have not beer able to find evidence to warrant such ac tion. No single criminal act has beer imputed to any member of the commis sion and the most that can be said, ir the light of all the evidence adduced, i. that they were inattentive to their du ties in the matter of exercising as close supervision over the various camps a! they probably should have been. 9th erwise 1t is thought they would hav' discovered many of the abuses which thu committee unearthed. But that is no considered ground for impeachment, par ticularly in view of the fact that tn, commission believed it had a competen system of inspection and implicitly re lied upon it.
 When the legislature is done with tn, main convict bill it still has for con sideration measures proposing a consti tutional amendment prohibiting tn, leasing of any convicts either felony ol misdemeanor, after a certain date; to ta, the sale and manufacture of near bee for the support of the convict system; tt provide a parole system; to remodel tn, state reformatory and provide for it more effective service; to create juvenil, courts for the punishment and probation of youthful de1inquents, and other mat ters all relating to the penal system.
 Some of the members still think tn, extra session can conclude it's work b! next Saturday night, but this improbable Sn view of the fact that some of tn, foregoing measures will involve extensiv, discussion, and even at 5000 a day thu members must talk until they are talked out It is quite probable, therefore, tha the session will last at least a weel longer, which will carry it to Septembe l2. a total of 19 or 20 days
 Tn view of the extensive solicitation O campaign funds for the national democ racy, some inquiry has arisen as t, whether any corporation chartered unde tho laws of Georgia can, under the lav recently passed at the regular session O the general assembly, make a contribu tdon to the Bryan campaign.
 It is believed that the new Georgia lav would prohibit this on the part of evel q little 5000 corporation chartered b. the state as effectively as 1t would pre- .,~-< o railroad comnanv from copfrf1,