The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1921-01-28
MR.. COOKE MAY ABOLISH
OUR COUNTY CHAIN GANG
This Expensive Relic of Barbarism Costs Too
Much Money For the Work 1t Produces
the Commissioners Think

islative enactment at an ear1v
date and if it is abolished it will
be upon recommendations of
the County Commissioners. No
humanitarian motive actuates
those now interested in abolish
ing this utilitarian institution.
The motive is purely economic
which is mankind's usual mo-
tive for doing things. The chain
gang has ceased to pay divi-
dends. The Commissioners are
convinced that they can build
roads with free labor cheaper
than with convicts. The chain
gang of late has been operated
with anywhere from eleven to
eighteen prisoners and guarding
these prisoners at work costs the
county $5,51945 year. say
nothing of $4,000 for the Road
SUPERVISOR
1t cost the county last year $3, 523. IA
to feed these guards and convicts. 1t
cost S1,07S.93 to clothe the convicts
The larger part of the items of food and
clothing would be saved by abolishing
the chain gang, because the majority
OF the convict workers are sent here
from other counties. We take the
criminals from our neighbor counties
and feed them and clothe them for the
work We get out of them. And it costs
more to guard them than it does to
feed and clothe them.
1t is hard to tell from the books
without a careful audit just what the
chain gang does cost the county, but
it appears to be about $4,000 a year,
making each convict cost the county
$1,000 a year if the average number
of convicts is so high as 15. But
times the number has been less than
that and free labor has been employed
to make up the force. This free labor
cost the county $3,O47.59 last year.
Representative c. A. Cooke has not
indicated his attitude toward the chain
gang, but he is a man to be persuaded
by figures and with the County Com
nlissioners back of him he probably
will relegate the Pasquotank chain
gang to the scrap heap. No one will
weep except the few guards, who viii
lave TO put aside their beloved Win
chester rifles. That is to say, no one
will weep if the County Commissioners
will reOrganize their road work and
work the roads of the county with free
labor. employing enough labor to keep
the roads up as they should be kept.
The Camden Bridge Matter
No one is in a position to say what
viii become of the Johnson-Morrisette-
toOke bill to provide a free bridge
arross the Pasquotank river at or near
Elizabeth City. There is some secret
and hostile opposition to the measure,
As we'll as open hostility upon the part
nt some in Currituck, who are opposed
10 helping defray the cost of the pro-
iPct. This leaves Mr.. johnson luke
warm Different interests have differ
ent ideas where such a bridge should be
located and these conflicting interests
might succeed in killing a thoroughly
good measure. 1t is to be hoped every
selfish interest will keep hands off and
LET the legislators work the thing out
The people of these counties need that
bridge and sooner or later they are go
ing to get it.
Ticks and Stock Law
Bills calling for elections oH stock
law and tick eradication in this county
We're introduced in the General AS
sembly by Representative Cooke last
saturday. The full text of these bills
is given elsewhere in this newspaper
The bill to call an election on the tick
eradication work will be opposed by
the State and Federal department OF
agriculture by the N. G. Landowners
Association, the Elizabeth City Cham
her of Commerce and other influential
organizations It is also believed that
Senator E. J. Griffin, of this district IS
not in sympathy with the measure. DE-.
Griffin is opposed to any sort of reac-
'tionary legislation.
Other Legislation
4 joint session of the Appropriations
Committee of the House and Senate
voted by accIamation last week to rec
ommend no appropriations of the state
money in excess of the states income.
Last Friday Representative John
stone, of Pender, introduced bill
which would compel the commissioners
in the 81 counties of the tick infested
area to Immediately begin the work of
tckk eradication, by building watts to
dip the cattle and seeing that the cat
tie are dipped. Heavy penalties rang
hg from two 10 ten years 1mprlson-
'Aent are provided for any one hinder
ing the work
The Clarkson Road Bill providing for
a state system of roads built and main
tanned by the state and paid for by
lunds raised by annual issues of bonds
IN lots of not more than $5,OO0,OOO for
"a period of 20 years, and a small ad
Valorem tax not to exceed five cents on
Tho lUndrn5 5o1Ianc 1avia1 IN nav an