The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-08-20
TREATMENT OF FLORIDA PRISONERS
Address Of Governor Gchrst Before the National Prison
Congress Rate Ranks With Lowest.


Governor Gilchrist of Florida spoke
as follows today to the National Pris-
on Congress, now in session in this
city:
Mr.. President, and Members of the
National Prison Association OF the
United States:
As governor, and chairman of the
board of state institutions of the state
Of Florida, which board has full su-
pervision Of the prison affairs of the
state, and as chairman of the board
Of pardons, it becomes my privilege
and pleasure to address you in refer
ence to the prison conditions of our
state.
As many Of you know, Florida con-
tinues what is known as the lease
system" Our prisoners are now leas-
ed to strong company, owning many
hundred thousand acres of timber
lands, operating sawmills and turpen-
tine farms. While using most of the
prisoners, they sub-lease' some Of
them, to be employed in phosphate
mines and on turpentine farms, and in
sawmills. This company owns pine
lands, sawmills, and turpentine farms
throughout the state. Should it be-
come advisable, their own business is
Of suficient proportions to employ all
the convicts leased by them. They
win, however, probably suitcase some
of them. l can give you no more au-
thoritative idea of the restrictions
imposed upon the lessee, and of the
lease system itself than by quoting
from the contract made with the les
sees. This contract provides that the
prisoners shall not "be worked or
made to LABOR before sunrise or after
sunset, nor more than ten hours on
any one day. or be made to work on
the Sabbath day.
mo prisoner shall be permitted TO
leave the stockade before sunrise and
must be returned by SHUTDOWN; pro-
Vided, that the prisoner, if he so de-
sires, may make satisfactory terms
between himself and the lessee, and
work overtime, the prisoner to re-
ceive compensation therefor, and the
conditions to be approved by the COM
missioner of agriculture"
As a matter of fact, the prisoners
are usually given certain tasks, some
OF whom finish them easily by Friday
of each week, in such cases having
Saturday either to work for pay, or
60 rest; in most cases they all COM
pIete their work in time to have Sat
urday afternoon.
The contract provides that the les
see shall furnish each and every
such prisoner comfortable quarters
and lodging, good and comfortable
clothing, including bedding and blan-
kets, wholesome food, and when any
of them shall be sick or disabled, ne
cessary medicine and medical attend
ance and proper personal care; their
allowance of food and clothing, in
Guiding bedding and blankets, 10 be
prescribed by the board of commits
sioners Of state institutions of said
state, from time to time" This board
consists of the governor and every
member of the cabinet.
These prisoners shall be furnished
with separate iron cot bedsteads of
certain prescribed dimensions Each
bed shall have a good, clean mattress
and pillow. also three pillow cases,
four sheets and two pairs of blaR-
kets. There shall be kept in stock
At each prison camp at all times, for
the use of the prisoners, not less than
three suits OF stripes, three suits of
underclothing, including socks, two
pairs of shoes, one hat, two night
shirts for each and every prisoner To-
Gated at every prison or camp
The lessees provide for each prison
camp a physician to examine. treat
and care for and watch over all and
each Of such prisoners received and
Kept Dy tnem, and VIII secure MS
regular attention, examination, treat,
ment and care Of them in such man
ner and Of such frequency and fidelity
rs may be satisfactory to or prescrib.
ed by the board of commissioners"
The lessees are required to pro.
vide a central hospital, or hospitals, -
the lOcafiOn IN he DESIGNATED nv Tbe
commissioner Of agriculture, the hos
pital to be fully equipped" with beds
having comfortable springs" 70 be
thoroughly equipped with a dispen.
sary. operating room and all the ne
cessary drugs, surgical implements
and other equipment and supplies in
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