Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-26
CHAINGANGS
ABOLISHED
BY BILL IN
SENATE
Measure Introduced by Foster
Provides Sweeping Changes
in Prison System,

Sweeping changes in the prison sys-
tenn of the State of Georgia are pro-
vided by a bill introduced in the Sen
ate Thursday morning by Senator A.
H. Foster, of the Twenty seventh Dis
trict.
Senator Fosters bill. which he de-
clares meets with the approval of
Senate leaders, contains the following
important provisions:
To provide for the inspection Of
all county jaiIs.
To abolish the county chain
gang.
To provide an indeterminats
sentence in both felony and mis-
demeanor cases.
To arrange for the parole and
after care Of prisoners.
To define the meaning of and
disposition of habitua criminals.
To provide for a system of
grades, classifieations and credits
of conviets while in the peniten-
tiary.
To provide for the appointment
and compensation Of wardsns
and guards for the penitontiary.
Endorsed by Reformers.
Senator Foster srared shortly after
introducing his bill that in addition
to having the support of influential
members of the Senate, the measure
has the backing of the Georgia Pris-
on Reform Association. The bill, SEN
ator Foster stated embodies the re-
suits of the Investigations Of the as
ISOLATION and Philip Weltner, and in
addition contains some ideas of his
own.
Senator Foster declared that while
he expected that some amendments
would be made in the bill before 1t Is
passed. he would concentrate his eff
forts to retaining the wording Of the
original bill in the section relating to
indeterminatei sentences. This, he de-
clared, was the most. needed reform
in Georgia prison methods.
The phrase ito abolish the county
chaingaug," in the caption of the bill,
is confusing, inasmuch as slight ref
erence is made to it in the body OF
the measure.
Senator Foster stated that his idea
was not so much to totally abolish
the changing system as to make 1t
impossible to work negroes and
whites together. He hopes, he says,
to abolish the mixed chaingangs and
segregate the races.
The sections OF the bill set forth
that the policy of the State shall here
after be to so deal with convicts that
their punishment may serve to disci-
pline them to right conceptions of
citizenship
Board Members inspectors.
The burden of the inspection of
prisons and jails is placed upon the
State Prison Commission, which, de-
clares the bill, shall provide for quar-
terly visitation of all county jails
and aid in their Just, humane and
economic administration" The Com
mission shall make a report Of each
visit to the Governor.
Instead of the fixed sentence, SEN
ator Fosters bill declares that when
any prisoner is convicted of a felony
or nisdemeanor the court shall pro-
nounce an indeterminate sentence.
The bill also impresses upon the
segregating the youthful prisoners
from the old and hardened offenders.
One of the strong and unusual
features of the bill is q section pro-
viding that all moneys earned by the
convict shall be paid to his family or
others dependent upon him. The pay
ment is placed in the hands of the
Prison Commission.
All prisoners save lifers on charge
of treason, arson or criminal assault
are granted the privilege of applying
to the Governor and the Prison Com
mission for parole three months be-
fore the expiration of the minimum
time which they may be required to
serve
A resolution authorizing the ap-
pointment Of a legislative committee
Of eight to investigate the States
Continued on Page 2, Column I.