El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-01
.URGESPURCHASE
Of PRISON FARM
Legislative Committee Re
ports on Blueridge
Inquiry.


Austin, Tex, june Ia spectre
recommendation that the state pro-
coed to exercise the option 10 buy the
Blueridge prison farm is contained in
the report of the joint legislative COM
mittee which conducted an investiga-
ton OF an attempt to secure the re-
lease of the option, submitted TO the
legislature Monday.
The report. after digesting evidence
heard during the investigation. con-
tinues;
s.FrOm facts presented in this
Investigation we conclude that the
prison commission should eOnsti-
tute board of directors and that
the entire system should be put
under the management of prac-
teal business manager, who
should he held responsible for all
transactions connected Herewith.
We believe, If the change herein
suggested is enacted into law. It VIII
prevent continuation Of management
at the suggestion of private parties
who have greatly proflted from their
deals with this system
Land Value Increased.
In passing upon the evidence the
committee says that the land Wnicn
the state has an option 10 buy for $50
an acre is worth 500 an acre regard
less OF oil prospects, and that OIL de-
velopment has increased the value OF
the land
ported release (of the optiOnl was
signed, a well on said land had
reached such stage that parties drill
ing the same and those interested
therein, had good reason to believe
that said well would be a producing
WELL" said the report
After stating that the evidence
shows that Walter Crawford. cam
paign manager for the governor,
worked to change the -IeaseS in n
material way detrimental TO the
Sfare.- the report says no evidence
Of payment OF money to any party
for anything done in connection
Herewith, except the $4,000 fee
paid TO Mr.. Crawford by B1ssetr
BlakeIy was found.
This fee was designated TO be "out
of proportion to the amount OF Work
done except such as might have been
thought TO have been exercised, ana
such act deserves condemnation
AEainst Further Leases.
che report reviews the evidence in
PRODUCED concerning other farms I'M
der lease by the prison commission
and recommends that no more lease
contracts be entered into
1t recommends that the Iegisla-
fure make necessary changes IN
the present law TO allow the en-
foreement of the option to buy the
Biueridge farm and denies that
this option has been waived
It also recommends a revision Of the
parole law and says that the prisoner
commission failed 10 do its duty by
not exercising the options 10 pay
money rent instead OF portion OF
crops when this would have been mos'
profitable to the state
The committee recommends that the
legislature fndorse the governors pol
icy of gettinz the state out OF part
nershfp with individuals by the work
ing of convicts of leased lands oui
that this policy should be put into
effect without releasing any CONTRACT
now held by the state.
dominates House for President
state senator B. H Greathouse. OF
Arkansas, delivered a brief address
before the state senate in which ne
nominated Col. Z. NJ House for presi-
dent to succeed president wilson
The United States senate was urged
TO ratify the peace treaty IN a resOlu-
ton offered in the house by represen-
tative John Davis OF Dallas The res
olutson which was signed Dy 80 men,
bers. was adopted
President Wilson was invited TO ad-
dress the Texas legislature in advo-
cacy Of the league Of nations in SEN
ate concurrent resolution adopted II
the house.
The house also adopted a senate
concurrent resolution urging congress
to Increase the allotments OF dis
charged soldiers under the war risk
insurance act on the grounds that
the present allotment is not suffi-
cieut-
A resolution by representative kel-
lis OF Sterling was adopted, urging
upon the Texas delegation in congress
to use their efforts 10 bring about a
reimbursement TO the wool growers
OF Texas
Inauguration Of a civil service sys-
TEN for Texas is urged by the COVER
nor in a message transmitted TO the
legislature. The governor proposes
that a law shall be passed placing al
employees Of the state upon a basis
Of competency and individual merit.
AUTO DAMAGED IN COLLISION.