The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-03-12
GOV. eILeHRIsr AND THE
ING OF ooNvIcrs

mas written to
Hoi'or Carter Of the jacksonville Ne.
tropolis the following letter IN ,,o
subject OF the leasing of the convicts.
Executive Mansion.
Tallahassee. Fla. March G 1910
". X Carter, Editor of the Metrono-
is. Jacksonville. Fla:
Dear Sir am pleased to learn
that you are taking an interest in the
convict question and expressing tb.+
Interest IN the columns of your ma
pr.
The prison system is one of the
most important OF our institutions
and In it's proper administration Tho
officers charged with the duty OF su.
perFising the prisons are deserving
&C our best thought and co-oneration
90 b. derived from intelligent pubIic
sentiment on the subject The news
papers can render valuable assistance
hy publishing accurate information
and building up sound public opinion
relative 90 this matter.
Under the law. the board of com
missiouers of state institutions. com
posed OF the governor and all Of the
cabinet. have supervision over the
state prison system.
J am herewith enclosing you a CODY
of the reasons which governed this
board In making a lease Of the state
couvicts prior 10 the assembling of
the legislature. The reasons given
seemed sound 10 the entire board.
Feeling such 10 have been the case.
decided that IL would have been
lack OF good faith TO have referred. the
matter 90 the legislature, as any 9th.
80 action than that which has been
taken by the board would have un,
doubtedly resulted in a veto message
Financial Needs
Owing TO financial conditions. it is
quite evident that the state convicts
should be- leased. that being the only
practical disposition TO make of them
for the present The question then
was ar 90 whether they should be
leased In a body CT in groups or sec
tons The latter plan was tried in
Georgia. and resulted in much scan
dal
I invite your careful examination
of the conditions 10 be followed by
III contractors who lease the state
prisoners. and would suggest that you
compare these with the terms upon
which county COnvicts are leased 10y
your board OF county commissioners
According 10 the Information which
q have received. the darkest spot upon
our convict system lies in the i'm
proper care given this matter by
county commissioners. There is rea
son 90 believe that if these boards
would treat county convicts with the
same consideration that the state
board treats state cOnvicts, there
would Doe no convict scandal in Flor
ida.
Why Leasing System is Best
M my inaugural address | pointed
out that the death rate among the
convicts In the state convict camps
vas 1926 per thousand. and that il
the registration area Of New England
New York. New Jersey. Delaware, tbs
INstrict OF Columbia, etc, the dealt
rate was Us per thousand. This il
a convincing argument that the man
ner On which FlOrida's cOnvicts are
employed is conducive TO theI
healthfulness. Another thing: It L
obvious that il would be impractical
he 90 handle long term convicts il
the temporary camps which would b'
necessary In connection with ioa'
working
n NAV De suggested that if th'
state rs DESTROYS of securing Eoo'
roads through the agency OF the con
vict system that a law might be pass
"a bv which the proceeds from tbs
leasing of con,lcts should be applied
to the construction of good roads.
q hope that you viii bring your can
mons. loaded with the shot and shell
or prIufer.s iuk to bear upon YOU
count, commissioners. and get JEeh
ro understand that convicts have Ger
faIn rights
Very truly yours.
ALBERT ". GlLCHRlS l.
Governor.