Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-12
To SHIFT
CONVICTS OFF
ROAD WORK ON
Legislator Would Establish Gen.
trail Prison and Give Part of
Mems Earnings to Families.
BY JAMES 8, NEViN.

IEElSidlOls although II llcS liONF NNA
been worked out in its details. look
ing TO the establishment of a central
Denitentiary for convicts, where they
may be employed in other occupa-
lions than road construction, when
desirable.
The member of the House is an
experienced law maker, and long has
made the study of convict conditions
something of a specially
He believes that it will be necessa-
nv soon for the State to provide other
work than road construction for the
convicts, and particularly so in that
fine forthcoming extension of Federal
aid to good roads cannot be given to
Georgia, save in so far as it applies
10 contract road work, done by free
labor.
This member, moreover. viii seek
10 have incorporated in mis- proposed
law a clause providing that certain
rortion of whatever profit arises from
the work of a convict in the peniten-
tfary shall be given over to his fam
ily and dependent ones. in order to
help them along during the period of
his incarceration.
Under the system proposed, the
such roads as seemed desirable-for
there will be many roads that cannot
hope 20 participate in the Federal
qid-but that work likely win not be
sufficient to keep the total number
If convicts steadily employed.
There is no earthly chance that
Georgia ever will go back TO its old
and wisely abandoned convict lease
system. of course, but that some eN-
tension and amplihcations Of the
present convict law is desirable Is
very generally agreed.
The idea of giving the convict's
family a portion of his earnings in
the penitentiary is an innovation in
Georgia, but il undoubtedly will nave
strong support i'm the Legislature.
If the Georgia Legislature will hur-
~. il may save Senator Bacon the
Embarrassment Of having his term
in the Senate interrupted as other
wise it surely will be, by reason OF
the adoption of the popular election
of Senators amendment TO the Fed
eill constitution.
The Legislature will be in session
fifty DAYS. If it provides the ma
rninery for an immediate election Of
81 Senator to succeed Mr.. Bacon.
there will he time in which to mold
the election and get the returns back
tp the Legislature for canvasslnS be
fore it adjoUrns
If this is Done, the Senator Will hold
his service in the Senate unbroken.
otherwise there will he lapse IN
the senatorial term, and. for the time
being. Georgia will have only one
senator.
ID is likely that SO soon as the
members of the Legislature realize
the situation. they will proceed TO its
remedying with the necessary speed.
Going ON record as in favor of a
state Institution for the care OF way
ward girls was the most prominent
feature of the April meeting Of the
Board of Directors Of the savannah
associated Charities.
State Senator j. Randolph Ander-
ION. President of the Association
read before the meeting the substance
~ bill TO be presented TO the Leg
stature in June having ito do with
the establishment of such home.
The Association prefers that the IN
~.Itution be i'm the nature of a home,
and all of the representatives nom
Chatham County win be asked 10 IA
1or the bill
n Alexander A. Lawrence. of Chat
ham. persists i'm his disinclination TO
come back to the House, after Rep
ra-entative- eIect StovaH has been
named by President Wilson as Minis
tor to Switzerland, he will be per
sisting despite the protests of hun
dreds of GeOrgians who believe ne
should agree to accept the commits
sion he Enthusiastically may have for
the mere asking-Or the mere ac-
ceptanCe. rather.
He long has been one Of the most
valuable members of the State Leg
stature, and friends by the score all
over Georgia have written MIN OF
late urging that he come back.
The Covington News has Scant re
Suact for those freak" Legislators
Who are reported headed for Atlanta
next summer.
The News SAYS: 1t is reported
that at the next session Of the Leg
stature a bill viii be introduced
against the hobble-skiTt and also an
auti-turkey- bill OF all the freak
legislation ever proposed in Georgia
This beats the bunch The hobble-
skirt and the turkey trot are botn
-.most divine compared with the in
-eHect of rattle brains who attempt
TO take up the time of the Legisla-
'lre in such "A manner
Harrison Fisher is a real artist.
SAYS the New York sun.
n the Sun means Harry Fisher
~ Georgia. the patriotic and liberty
owing people of this State viii under
stand what it means-and agree {"
IT,
Some members Of the Georgia Leg
stature cannot read. and half of
those who are able to read cannot
Understand it," said r. T. Persons,
President of the Farmers Bank. of
Forsyth. at the bankers conYeu ion
iu Macon.
Nhew. If the honorable Leslsia-
lure were in session. il would pass
some "~inging" resolution anent that
r-mark,
Governor and Mrs. John NJ. Slaton.
VINO have been spending few days
u NeW York, are expected nome TO-
morrow.
iae Governor does not anticipate
-Hcr vacation before his term
chief Magistrate begins
=" NUMEROUS were requests lHl cop
H- Governor Browns recent
..... Tn. Ss4rrsvarsarfHg of fTf LAW.