Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-03-30

have been no disagreement in the selection
of a farm Neither the commission as an
official body, or the individual commits
sioners, have had a second choice in the
matter. They were unanimous in their
selection, and, in their opinion, no other
place offered possessed all of the essen
tails required by the law. The governor
was equally unanimous in his opinion that
several others possessed the necessary
qualifications, and the one selected did
not. The commission submitted only one
tract to the governor. He disapproved the
selection because, in his opinion, others
were preferable. efE
Difference of judgement
Thus far there was only difference
of judgment. Until the supreme court
decided the near-beer tax to be legal,
there were no funds with which to pur-
chase land. After that decision was
made, the commission lost no time in in
vestigating such of the many tracts Of
fered as were considered available, I'M
der the law, seeking to be just to all.
This investigation necessarily consumed
much time. The commission made it's
report to the governor on March 18th.
He finally disapproved the report on
March 18th, two weeks after 1t was
made, during which time he was out of
sion was ready to report to the governor
two weeks before March 18th, but, at
his request, other properties were in
spected which, on account Of the remote
location, had been eliminated as not
available. The governor agreed with the
commission that they were unavailable,
but suggested inspection as a matter of
policy. If this request had not been
made, the commission would have re-
-, IL.
earlier than March 18th. Had he then
disapproved the selection, another place
could have been selected without delay.
If he had disapproved the Wimberly place
Immediately or within a reasonable time
after it was reported, another place might
have been chosen. But, after four weeks
delay, on his account, it was impossible
to select another place, possessing the
necessary qualifications, in the opinion
of the commission, in time TO put the
white convicts on a farm, the time for
such other selection, and the necessary
preparations or their care thereon, be-
ing only six days.
White COnvicts on Road
Hence the white convicts will be put
upon the public roads, until a farm can
be selected, approved and prepared for
their proper care and maintenance, 1t
being the ultimate object of the commits
sion, vested in their discretion only,
however to thus care for this class of
convicts.
Nor will the law in letter or spirit be
thusv iolated, all convicts being made sub
ject to work upon the roads, except such
as in the discretion of the commission
should be worked elsewhere. Any county.
which elects to work it's pro rata of con-
victs upon the public roads, can be fore
ed to take white and black alike, the
only requirement of the law being that
the comission shall, If practicable, work
white and blacks separately.
Until a farm is purchased, no county
which is not prepared to work whites and
blacks separately will, however, be re-
quired to take any white convicts.
Counties which, however, are prepared
to work and care for the races separate
ly as the law provides, have not only
signif1ed their willingness. but are eager
to have this labor, and the white con-
victs will be assigned to them, until the
governor and the commission can agree
upon the purchase of a farm.