The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-31

handling convicts- I am convinced
however, OF the operations of the
present bill Under the Laws already
enacted, the crippled, infirm and the
women will be placed on farm. Pro-
vision for the maintenance Of the same
was made in the present lease, execu-
ted under the present administration.
This lease provides for an additional
compensation of Is per cent for those
not withdrawn from the lease. This
is per cent, with the amount derived
from their labor, will maintain those
withdrawn. AS shown by the report
Of the comptroller for 1910, there was
received from the hire and lease of
state conviots, S366,134.61. OF this
amount Of money, 2S,672.o8 was dis
bwsed on appropriations for the main
tenance Of the state reform school and
other specific appropriations made by
the legislature, and $292,462.73 was for
distribution to the counties on the
basis Of their relative assessed valua-
lions, leaving in the state treasury
$50, 10000 for application to the state
prison farm, provided for by Chapter
5941, Acts Of 1909.
t The Moneys Received.
It win thus appear that there was
received from the, lease Of state pris-
oners. during 1910, for distribution to
the counties, the sum Of $292,462.73.
The total assessed valuation for 1910
Of all real and personal property, in
Guiding railroad and telegraph lines in
the state, as shown by the comptroll-
er's report, was $177, To, 69100. am
informed by the comptroller that after
making allowance for insofvenc4es, un-
paid taxes, and expenses of collection,
ETC., that a one mill tax upon a valua-
ton of SIT, DOT, 10000 will produce
about 100000. The revenue which
the counties derive from the present
convict lease is therefore the equtva-
lent Of the proceeds of a direct tax
levy of practically two mills. Should
the plan contemplated IN this bill the
working of convicts on the road, be
adopted. provision would of course
have to be made for maintaining, dt-
recting and guarding the prisoners
while 80 at work. Amy one can guess
at the extra nniIlage that would be re-
quired as well as can. In this con-
nection it should be observed that even
if the legislature of 1918 should levy
a tax for the purpose of maintaining
the prisoners while at work on the
roads, the proceeds Of such tax would
not be available until well along in
the year 1914
Under the recommendations of the
present administration, the legislature
has already taken inittatory steps to-
WarQS the adjustment Oh the present
lease system by providing for the es-
tabhshment of a certain prison farm.
After this system has been established
and is in good working order, 1t may
be well to provide for the employment
of certain of the short term, able
bodied men on the public roads.
In conclusion, regardless OF the real
merits OF the bin, the same should be
returned. without my approval, on &C
count of the defective and misleading
title and on account of the vital de-
feet in not providing that the prison
ers, which 1t requires shall be en-
ployed in the maintenance and con-
struction of state highways" shall be
considered in law to be in the state
prison" AS previously stated, such a
defect might lead. If this bill became
a law, to the discharge on habeas cor
pus of all the prisoners sentenced by
the courts.
It is needless to invite your atten-
ton to the fact that, while there are
many county roads, there is not a
state highway in all Florida.
Very respectfully,
ALBERT W. GILCHRIST,
..:. .- Governor.