Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-02-18
REFORM IN LEASING
OF STATE PRISONERS
WOMEN AND INFIRM MEN NOT TO
Sc HIRED OUT.
state Farm IL Suggested for Such,
But Revenue from Leasing Con-
viets VIII Not BE Decreased.

TALLAHASSEE. Feb. 17.-In his
inaugural address last month Cover.
nor Gilchrist gave strong approval 60
the suggestion made by Commission
er OF Agriculture that those cOnvicts
who are women and infirm men should
not be leased out 20 contractors. but
should be detained on a farm OF at
some other employment owned and
operated by the State, and expressed
the hope that this suggestion would
be enacted into law.
This movement Is making progress.
The schedule Of requirements adopted
by the Board OF Commissioners OF
state Institutions-whi Is composed
OF the Governor and his entire eabi-
net-with which the contractor for
the lease Of all State convicts for the
four years beginning January 1, 1910.
must comply. contains the following
provision:
Anyone presenting a bid for the
hire OF State prisoners Is required 20
name therein the per capita per an
mum price he or they agree to pay
the State Of Florida for all state pris-
oners subject to all Of the above cOndi-
tons. with the express understanding
and agreement that the Board OF Com
missiOners OF State Institutions shall,
II authorized BY law. have the right.
az any time they may desire. to with
draw from said lease all women and
invalid male prisoners. and from the
time Of the Withdrawal Of said women
and invalid male prisoners. the lessee
shall pay fifteen per cent additional
on the per capita amount Of sa.d bid.
as made under the terms and specifi-
cations herein set forth.
The Commissioner Of Agriculture
aud the Board Of Commissioners Of
State Institutions will increase the
per capita price per annum by fifteen
per cent on all prisoners not so with
drawn from said lease.
The Commissioner Of Agriculture
and Board Of Commissioners Of State
Institutions reserve the right to mOdl-
fy any contract for the hire OF State
prisoners. 20 the extent OF leasing
only those capable OF performing rea-
sOnable service az manual labor"
The proposal 10 detail women and
lnflrm male prisoners Of a State
farm, thus forming a nucleus for a
State penitentiary proper, now awaits
only the necessary authority OF legis-
Iatlye action. which Il IL believed viii
be given az the approaching session.
The reasons favoring the proposed
change need no argument Common
decency and every other element Of
humanity demand that women and In
arm male prisoners be not subjected
10 the hardships OF the contract con
wet camps. Manifestly. these classes
of prisoners are not physically able TO
NNAAAAAA ANN A9aNn "a AWAA-AaAANA ~
borers Yet. under the existing ar
rangement. the contractors are re-
Quired 90 pay the same per capita
price for all prisoners, and Il is hu-
man nature that these contractors viii
try 10 get fun return IN labor for their
money from an prisoners VAom they
lease. be they women. men or inyalids.
The proposal 20 detain the weaker
classes of prisoners ON a State farm
should be- as acceptable 90 prospective
lesseeg. for business reasons. as Il Is
% rightthinking citizens for humani-
tartan reasons. Lessees would then
secure only able-bOdied male prison
ers. who would be- much more val
liable 20 them. and for whose labor
they would naturally be- willing 10 pay
a larger per capita price than Is now
paid per capita for the whole body
OF prisoners. men and women, weak
and strong The revenues OF the State
would thus be fully protected and a
great reform In prison management
instituted