Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-25
Abolish the Prison
Commission
By Mrs. w. H. FELTON,

Long before l was told that Governor
smith favored abollshing the prison COM
mission OF Georgia I could plainly see
that. conditions having changed and the
convict lease system OF Georgia having
been abolished. there was absoiuteS no
use Cor a prison commission in the state
at this time.
The eonvfcts are given over 10 the Diff
ferent counties TO work on the roads,
and their treatment has become serious
matter TO be handled by the counties I'M
der existing circumstances. and these
county authorities are the people VINO
must be held responsible hereafter, not
the prison commission (sitting in Atlanta)'
who were certainly unable. BY their own
confession. TO make this old lease system
even fairly tolerable TO the taxpayers OF
the state
Last years investigations before the
legislature emphasized the imperative
need OF relieving the state Of the lessees,
and there was not a witness examined,
nor a defect exposed. which did not prove
the lack OF capacity In the prison COM
missioners.
Their ignorance Of the condition Of the
camps. or OF the graft OF their underhngs
and appointees. made a mournful chapter
IN the volume OF humiliations and disap-
brought 20 light, and which were proven.
Granting the willingness of the commits
sion 70 DO as a charitable conclusion OF
their friends who wished them well In
these positions Il was proved beyond dis
pute that they were mere ngure-heaoa
in the entire lease business-unable IN
anyway 20 compete with their suo-lieu-
tenants anywhere or at any time in the
control or conduct OF the states inter-
est IN the unhappy convicts.
II Is possible that the whole thing was
carried on in an irrevocable maze or tan
Ele-but Il seemed they had but one an
swer 20 make under oath and three words
covered the answer. namely; i don't
know"
In IN safe to say that compassion for
this unfortunate ignorance postponed the
removal OF the prison commission, until
the lease went out. in April. The reouke
would have been singing TO these gen
tIemen-FiRht on the heels OF that terri
bic exposure OF greed and graft. carried
or under their very noses by shrewder,
sncker men OF minor degree. and OF less
respect, IN the eyes Of the people; but
they have missed great opportunity
when they failed TO resign-and thus have
strained the patience OF a long-sufferine
publicity continuance In o1ice-up &c
date.
me time has come to give back to the
executive the duty OF caring for the
states interest In these convtcts- A
superintendent TO visit each county odee
q year and to verify the county reports
and an auditor tn review the vouchers
and keep the money part In shape, are
all that the present system requires. as II
now appears.
As before said. the useless prison COM
mission should disappear with the demise
of the lease system The new superinten-
dent should make a monthly report to
the governor. and the auditor should
make his monthly report also. to this
same head in governments.
The different counties have grand Juries
and our courts sufficient Jurisdiction "a
punish lapses from duty or authenticated
cases OF cruelty. Let the expensive and
useless prison commission disappear.