Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-22


| can not promise. a. Mr.. Ferguson
has. Ia appoint three farmers a. com
missioncrS 10 run the pcnitcntiaric~. ~
there are now three commissioners In ~.
flee appointed ~ Governor Colquitt. aud
III confirmed two ~ them will lH "a.
titled to hold over and only appoint.
ment can he made. Besides. | would not
20 into office pledged o. appoint three
commissioners from any class of our PEG
pie. hut would appoint men believed ~
me- Ia he best qualified a. discharge their
duties. regardless of their occupation.
Nor do ! expect 10 have the time. n
Mr. Ferguson thinks h. would have. e.
20 down and size up the mules or So
how the cane and cotton and corn j. be-
ing planted and cultivated. although |
am a pretty good Judge ~ \ mule and
followed the pillow and know how To farm,
Until the constitution can hc changed
IL will he my purpose 10 improve ron
ditionS by cooperation with the officials
charged with pcnitcntiary management
under the present law. pass such amend
mcntS 10 the law n may 10 necessary o.
make the prisons self sustaining. see
that prisoners are humanelv treated. ser
.cantS and guards charged only with the
custody Of the prisoners a. and from
work. and practical farmers placed IN
charge " the actual work % making
crops grUnn upon State farms for State
account
Among other things that I shall urge
will be liberal communication OF time e.
ronvi = for good behavior. 80 that they
can thereby cHt down their sentences Nv
good nduct at least nnr-ihiri and know
that for every days violation OF di>cip
line they will have To- stay IN prison ten
DAYS longer. | would also open the door
I hope "a life prisoners ~ a reward tor
clear record.
I~ncorri.ibir prisoners should Ice ~apa-
rated from fist offenders and c%onvict~
ayidcncing a willingness a. reform ~
that the influences Of hardened criminals
will not defeat he object II the law IN
reform a. well " punish
I believe that any great business
should have an executive head and du
not believe that three men with equal
authority can successfully run any hu>i-
ness. aud the pcnitcntiary system j. one
II the greatest and most diversified
business propositions IN the State.
IN my Judgment the constitution
should bc amended a. provide for n
board Of penitcntiary directors of not
less than five members. elected or az
pointed from different sections III the
Stat. With t.rpn- ", .V.trfp,Y fbuf n.f
less than two-thirGs would have expert.
cnrc and acquaintance with pcnitcntiary
affairs. This board should select I'm exc.
cutivc head ~ general manager If the
pcnitentiarieS. AZ = salary 60 H. paid oui
Of the earnings. sufficient a. command
the services of one competent Ia manage
a large and complicated business. and
this executive head should bc selected
without dirtation from the Governor.
The board of directors and general
manager should appoint all necessary Of
~iicerS, heads Of departments and Subor,I
mates. without any right upon the part
0f the Governor a. have a voice IN such
appointments.
There will be me- difficulty in securing
the services of able and eoohi citizens IN
this state 10 serve upon such a board %
p%cnitcntiary directors. for a nominal
consideration. and give the character oi
service that boards uf directors do a
other great business interests every
where We were able i'm the past To rom
mand the services of such men az Scna.
tor Clemens. Walter Tips. General OPP
pcnhcimcr. Mr.. Hicks. Judges Gill aud
Ramsey and other able men, "a fill these
places. and there can be- found among
the best business men. farmers or law.
verS IN this State \ thousand men will
lng AZ all Times 10 periodically serve the
State a. members of such board. a. an
their time would nOt BE- required for
such service.