Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-08-11
veRY uNwIsE cLAMoR.


suppose we dDOAi1A C"A ft~oN'% ~
tenn Of leasing the State conylcts; what
shan we dog Set them free, put them
to work on the public roads, or build
peri,entiary and incarcerate them
therein? one OF these three things
win have to be done, if we abandon
The lease system
The first Is preposterous, while
either OF the other two will impose
upon the taxpayers burden OF al
most rpinous proportions.
We appeal 20 the good sense. TO the
sober second thought Of the news
papers which are clamoring for the
abolition Of the present lease system.
TO consider the consequences, II their
demands should have the intended ef.
feet upon the Legislature.
II the convIcts are put to work on
the public roads. we assert It with an
the emphasis I'M our power that they
win receive no better treatment than
they are now getting. for the State
VIM have to hire as guards and SUI
peryisors men OF identically the same
character as now guard, direct and
punish them. You cannot get preach
ers and editors and noted phiIanthro-
pists to guard conyicts.
II Is better treatment for the CON
yicts that these journalistic reformers
demand. They simply cannot get II,
and there should be an end Of the
cIamor.
There are 1900 conyicts. II the
State should put them to work on the
public roads. Il would cost fully $40
per month each to feed, cIofhe. camp.
guard and physic them That Is SIS.
900 per month or $4,000 a year
Where Is the money to come fromg
Nay. II Is 100000 a year that the tax
payers would lose BY this scheme Of
utilizing our criminals, for their hire
now brings into the State treasury
some s25O,O00 q year, which must be
added to the $4,000 that Il wouM
cost 70 guard and provide Tor them
while working the roads, And the
s250,00O that 10 now used In paying
various State expenses chiefly crlmi'
nal prosecutions. would have to be
made up from the pockets OF the tax
payers This would add 80 much to
the State tax rate as not only 70 deter
settlers from coming IN. but drive out
many citizens who feel even now over.
burdened.
A penitentIary would be equally as
expensive and subject to All the abus.
- charged against the present sys.
tenn. Any up-to-date penitentIary ca
pable Of accommodating properly the
i,S00 conyicts, would cost $4,000
and the expense Of maintenance would
be $4,000 year. in addition to the
loss Of the s25O,OoO annually now paid
by the lessees.
Now, these are plain business propo.
sltions as against sentiment that Is
NOT Justly founded and IL wholly mis-.
placed The Florida convlcts are not
80 cruelty aud inhumanly treated as
some o. the newspapers seem to
think They are under the most hu.
man sot Of officials that The State has
ever had. officials who seem 70 delight
~ dispensing pardons and doing
everything possible for the comfort
and happiness Of the conyicts. Four
Inspectors, we'll paid by The State. are
constantly on the 10. visiting and in.
spectlng the camps and reporting to
the Tallahassee officials on the treat.
mcnt OF the conylcts aud the condi.
tion OF the camps.
The lessoes arc men Of high char.
Actcr who have the intelligence 20
know THAI the convicta must be kept
m good condition 70 DO efficient work,
and al the moat reliable reports arc
TO the effect that the prisoners are
wen cared for IA every respect and the
open air work On which they are on,
gagged contributes 90 their health.
Az the same time. II must Ne borne
M mind that these criminal lahorers
neafueaa Cannoe IA Cured