The Ocala evening star., 1911-05-23

The bill to do away with the convict
lease system has passed the House and
will probably pass the Senate The
governor says he will veto it, but if it
passes the Senate by as large a major
ity as it passed the House, it will be-
come a law over his veto. In either
case the governor will come in for CON
siderable hostile criticism from the
sentimental
The governor has probably consider
ed the question more closely than any
of his critics, and come to the con-
clusion that ii is his duty to the con-
victs as we'll to the state to oppose
abolishing the lease system. He doesn't
seem to have any personal pecuniary
interest in the matter. and is in a much
better position to arrive at an un-
prejudiced conclusion than anyone else
in the state.
A majority of the newspap pers of the
state are in favor of abolishing the
lease system. Among the few which
desire its continuance is the Tampa
Times, which presents it's argument so
clearly that We cannot refrain from
quoting it:
We cannot avoid the opinion that
those who voted as to this bill have
been actuated more by sentimental
material and financial interests of the
state-yes, and for the physical and
moral welfare of the convicts them
selves This expression may be startling
TO those who know nothing of the facts
bearing upon this question but govern
their actions in this regard solely by
sentiment and theOry-a bad combina-
tion upon which TO base legislative ac-
ton.
o Down here in Hillsborough county
there are conditions, not theories, that
we remember and cur opinions are
formed upon experience. not conjecture.
1T may be said that the experience
OF single county cannot be consid-
cred conclusive as to an entire state.
We think ii can. Conditions are sim
liar everywhere in the state and the
same causes. operating in the same
way, always produce the same results
Our experience in working our coun-
ty convicts upon the public roads was
disastrous financially. The expense OF
maintaining the system was far great
er than the value of the roads result
ing. The balance was always on the
wrong side of the ledger, while the
lease system brought into the county
treasury handsome amount every
month.
Under the lease system the conyicts
were better cared for physically and
their comfort and sanitary condition
better looked after than when they
were worked upon our county roads ir
the past. and better, if we may credii
the assertions of the grand jury, thar
they are at present while being worket
on the public roads again.
This condition may be brought abou
sol fish DR. TOW,
the leSSeeS, ii may be the fruit of mer.
policy, of a desire to get as much labor
as possible for their money. Be tina
as ii may; the fact remains that it i.
brought about-how Is not material
LAS morals hold a close relation I,
physical health with the classes of tn,
population from which convicts ar.
taken, it necessarily follows that tn,
morals Of the convicts are more closel,
guarded under the regime of the lessee
than under the supervision of the coun
~ officers and their employees: for tn,
former are directly pecuniarily inter
ested in the results that follow, whil,
the latter are not.
There is another nsideratiOn tha
should be remembered in determinin:
the respective merits of the two sys