Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-08-13
VERY uNwlsE cLAMoR.


- KEAAANhAAAat oAA AA~Ar N~ANt NNA~AA
therein One Of these three things
viii have to be done, If we abandon
the lease system.
The first Is preposterous, while
either OF the other two viii impose
upon the taxpayers a burden OF al
most ruinous proportions.
We appeal to the good sense. to the
sober second-thought Of the news
papers which are clamoring for the
abolition Of the present lease system.
70 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 1t with all
the emphasis in our power that they
will receive no better treatment than
they are now getting. for the State
win have to hire as guards and SUI
pervisors men OF identically the same
character as now guard, direct and
punish them. You cannot get preach.
ers and editors and noted philanfhro.
pists TO guard conyicts.
It is better treatment for the con
victs that these journalistic reformers
demand. They simply cannot get IT..
and there should be an end OF the
clamor.
There are 1900 convicts. II the
State should put them TO work on the
public roads, II would cost fully $40
per month each 10 feed, clothe, camp.
guard and physic them. That is $751;
900 per month or $4,000 q year.
Where Is the money to come FROM
Nay, II is 100000 a year that the tax
payers would lose by this scheme OF
utilizing our criminals, for their nIre
now brings into the State treasury
some $250.OOO a year, which must be
added to the $4,000 that II would
cost TO guard and provide for them
while working the roads. And the
s25O,0OO that ia now used In paying
various State expenses, chiefly crimi-
nal prosecutions. would have 70 be
made up from the pockets OF the tax.
payers This would add 80 much to
the state tax rate as not only 10 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-
Is charged against the present sys-
tenn. Any uptodate penitentlary ca.
pable OF accommodating properly the
1890 convicts. would cost s250,O00
ana the expense Of maintenance would
be $4,000 a year. In addition 20 the
loss OF the s25O,OOO annually now paid
by the lessees.
Now, these are plain business propo
sitions as against sentiment that Ii
not Justly founded and Is wholly mas
placed The Florida oonyicts are not
70 cruelty and inhumanly treated as
some OF the newspapers seem e
think. They are under the most hu
man set Of officials that the State has
ever had, officials who seem 20 delight
In dispensing pardons and doinl
everything possible for the comfort
and happiness OF the convicts. -Four
inspectors, well paid by the State. ar,
constantly on the go. visiting aud IN
apeotlng the camps aud reporting :,
the Tallahassee officials on the treat
ment Of the oonvicts aud the condi
ton OF the camps
The leasees are men Of high char
acter who have the intelligence &
know that the oonvlets must be KEEP
In good condition 10 do efficient work
and all the most reliable reports ar'
TO the effect that tho prisoners ar,
/ well cared Tor In every respect and tn
open air work In which they are en-
gagged contributes TO their health.
AZ the same time, Il must be horns
Ia mind that these criminal labcreri
are mostly rascals. "toughs" VI IN,
toughest Kind. who must b. hard d
deal with and control and that thci
: are not a. docilc a. school children o.
/ "a gen,lc, amiable and industrious a
the Kind hearted editors who az,
weeping over their imaginary wrongs
; These convicts DO not deserve ~
. sympathy aud che editorials THAI ar,
= wasted upon them. nor have they am
{ appreciation % the journalistic Il
|. forts made IN their behalf rhcy hayr
r snoWingly. Intentionally Wilfally ami
out ragannalN MrnnanA nlhnr nlnnr.