Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1913-03-16
P~ENlTENTlARY BOND ISSUE

Agitation for better prison conditions in Texas
which has been continued for The past several years
has already borne notable fruit IN The shape Of I'M
p%royemen,, 10 the state penal Institutions and
more humane treatment Of criminals.
During the present legislature a measure has
been introduced providing for a bond issuance Of
three million dollars 10 discharge the debts Of the
prison system and put It on a firm business founda.
ton. IN order that additional progress might be
scored This proposal as might be expected, has
met with favor and opposition. and has occasion
ed varying comment from the press Of the state.
The Houston Post. a strong advocate Of the
bond issuc plan. says editonally:
II Is to be hoped that the legislature will unit
mately authorize the $1,000. 900 bond ISSUE for
the penitentiary It will require fully that sum to
discharge the debts Of the system and place 1t on
a solid foundation. II is purely a matter Of busi.
ness and It ough, to be dealt with in a business way.
10 reduce the bond ISSUE to 81. 900. 900 would
necessitate a large outlay from The State current
funds or il would leave the system hampcred and
embarrassed when it should be placed in order for
once and for all.
It IL much better 10 issue the bonds at a low
rate Of interest than 10 pay high rates for short
tune loans or to supply the system on, Of current
taxation The system. # properly financed and
equipped. can pay lts own way and pay It's own
debt, without beng a burden upon the taxpayers
he bond issue merely enables the system to do
what Is necessary 10 be done and to remove It from
the lsl Of cmbarrassments
We do not want the pcnlten,iary question dis
lutbing either the Legislature or our politics any
longer The groundwork for a humane and eff.
cicn, system has been laid but nothing can be done
toward carrying out the legislative intent until the
funds are available for Matchmaking the plans
which have been SO carefully wrought. and these
plans ought to be executed now and not be defer
ed and handed from ono legislature to another and
from ono administration to another.
The legislature can not meet the Just expecta
tons Of the public It in the consideration OF this
matter 1t permits fractional politics to
enter The plain duty is to make such provisions
as will enable the commissioner to complete at
the earliest moment possible all the plans for the
rehabilitation Of the system. 1t must be rememb-
cred that the Indebtedness which will absorb a
large proportion OF the proposed loan was un-
avoidable. 1t must be remembered that the sys-
has lost much through fire and crop losses,
that much Of the property is worn out and that the
must in many instances bc entirely re.
ncwed. The new construction to be undertaken
should be ]hreproof In fact, the plans call for
general rehabilitation and renewal
a business so large can not be conducted sue
c%cssiully except upon sound business principles.
Waste must be avoided. Destruction by fire must
be guarded against by %freproof construction. Ag.
ricultural operations must be conducted s%cienufi-
cally. The industries inside OF the walls must have
machinery and equipment