Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1912-11-14

wv ycdl uhuSl tlic new law W
convicts under what is known as
the ten cents per diem. This
small sum is paid to the con-
vict's dependent relatives, if he
has any. If he has no relatives
this sum is paid to him on his
discharge from prison. There
are some who would deny this
pittance to the convict's family
os to him, but there are very few
in the State who would care to
deal in such parsimon!ous way
with it's prisoners. A provision
for the forfeiture Of this sum for
misconduct, or violation of pris
on rules, has a salutary effect
upon the discipline. Provision
is also made for paying the pris
oners for overtime or for work
required in extreme necessities
on Sunday. Instead Of
cutting off this ten cents per
diem to well behaved prisoners,
l would keep the minimum
am cunt ten cents per day, and,
in the discretion Of the prison
officials, would stimulate those
who are more capable and who
do better work by Offering them
additional compensation for ex-
ira results. This policy works
well in all outside industries,
and should prove even more eff
cious in dealing with prisoners,
many of whom are keenly APP
preciative of even small favors.
There are some Of the provis-
ions of the act, though, that
serve no real purpose. Under
the law, when the family Of a
convict who dies in prison re-
quests it, the deceased prisoner
musl be embalmed and shipped
to any point in the state desired
by the relatives, the expense to
be borne by the State. Such
distinction is not conferred upon
others who die away from home
too poor to meet the expenses of
shipping their remains to other
points, and it is rather a maud
lin sentiment that tries to do
more for prisoners than others.
Another provision of the re-
quires the State to give the dis
charged convict transportation
to any point in Texas called for
by him, instead of the place
from which he was sentenced, as
under the old law. Prisoners
take advantage of this and call
for tickets to FL Paso, Amarillo
or Dalhart, cash their tickets at
Houston or some other nearby
point and-pocllet the difference.
This provision is a temptation
to the prisoner to start at once
upon dishonest ways, and is a
positive harm to him, besides
costing the State some So, 900 a
year, according to the prison
estimates.
There is one provision Of the
new law intended to guard the
rights of the convicts, which in
my opinion really works a hard
ship on the state. The law
should be founded upon the wis
dom and experience, as we'll as
upon the habits and customs of
the people, and no effort should
be made to treat convicts in any
other way better than others fol.
lowing similar pursuits are treat
ed. The ten hour law applies
all right to work within the pris
on walls, but it works TO the
States disadvantage in farming
operations. Every farmer in
Texas will tell you that he could
not successfully operate a farm
on a ten hour day throughout
the year. In the summer months
the farmers work more than ten
hours a day; they do well to get
in ten hours in the spring and
I fall; and IN the winter can hardly
work eight hours in daylight.
To make an invariable ten hour
rule throughout the year would
prove rulnous 10 farming, aud
therefore no farmer attempts IL.
Under the new law, conyicts on
I farms. as well as IN the peaiten
tiarleS, can not be worked more
than ten hours a day, except IN
cases of extreme and unavuid
able emergency, and FOR such
work they must bepaid ten cents
an hour This ten hours must
. include time spent in going Ia
and returning from work, and
. cCnv.ct~ must not Dee made I,
travel faster than "A walk in going
% and coming from the fields
I ] was told that under this las
4 the average working time is re
f. duced 20 about eight and "a quar-
e hours, and in the winter. when
! necessity requires that The ps.s
onpr Dee inside the bars bcfor,
dark. tle rmv fe SSH further
cut d1au last year iu tls
. midst uf thc harvesting season
. rain, kcrt the farm hands .n