Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-05-05
SCOTT FLAYS
SYSTEM PLAN
Prison Board Member Says
Capitalization On Pre-
y sent Site Is Unwise

TEMPLE. Tex. May z.-P-Dr
a. g. Scott. member OF the state
prison board and former president
u the Texas Medical association. is
sued r followrs5 signed statement
tonight:
Judging from the apparent en-
tnusiasm of the Texas legislators
over the bill that has been worked
out and passed by the house as a
substitute for the Rolbrock bin.
which was designed To both remove
end c~entralize the prison system OF
Texas, one cannot fail to suspect
that the attempt to effect a com
plete reform or the Texas prison
system may be doomed to failure.
Unquestionabiy much economy
and greater efficiency car be ac-
ccErplished by Capitalization in a
proper location. but II there IS left
no alternative other than to build
an expensive centralized prison upon
any OF the lands now owned by the
prison system. not more than half
or the purposes originally designed
70 reform the prison system can be
accomplished.
If the politicians OF Texas choose
to retain the Texas prison system IS
q political football they need only %
continue their dilatory tactics and
obstructive legislation 10 accomplish
this end.
It must be admitted by any fair
minded man that the farms which
several prominent politicians insist
shall now be fixed by the legislature
as a permanent location have been
of great commercial interest to
Houston and especially 70 a large
commercial concern near Houston.
with which the system has done a
very large business for many years.
But these interests should be con-
sidered OF too small moment 10 the
great state OF Texas to warrant the
state in placing its wards. number
ing four or five thousand helpless
convicts. under living conditions
which would not be tolerated at
home by one well-informed citizen
IN q thousand.
III the voters OF Texas could see
for themselves what 7 have seen
along the banks OF Oyster Greek,
with its hundreds OF pools Of stag
mont water covered with green scum.
and inhabited by snakes. frogs and
mosquitoes, or y they could see
those proposed ideal farm loca-
tions, submerged so deep with the
waters of the EraZoS that mules and
hogs have TO be driven up an in
cline to the second story OF a big
barn. where they must remain for
many days for safety while the
largest river in Texas slowly finds
is way TO the Gulf. no amount Of
smooth talk" would ever satisfy
them that such proposals were
sound or for the best interests Of
the prison system.
In almost every county in Texas
one can find n or more locations
which would be more suitable from
a health standpoint than the loca-
ton on the bottom farms now owned
by the stats and insisted upon IS
the proper place for a permanent
prison.
The prison system urgently needs
concentration for many reasons
such as efficiency. economy Of oper-
alton and security from escape OF
prisoners. but one 90 the chief con-
Siderations is to make II possible 10
give the prisoners uniformly safe
and sane medical attention.
a hospital building properly
planned for future expansion when
needed. and - tipped 70 afford eff
ftcisnt diagnosis and treatment,
viii II made fire-proof. cost at least
$500 CO. IL should be in close prox-
unity to the prisons greatest activ-
titles. but II would be foolhardy to
spend money for any permanent
buildings uDcn the sites SO earnest
Nv advocated bv the legislatures
self-appointed experts il prison
matters.
I am In hearty accord with other
members Of the prison beard who
would welcome some provision In
the Holbrook bill which would re-
flieve them OF the responsibility Of
selling the farms no woWned by the
state. While much good has un-
doEbtedlv been accomplished during
the past two wears. II appears to me
from some OF the amendments Of
fered to this bill. which are evil
Gently UFSlkleu W hni ih ~ Al1nI ~
unwcrkable. that members Of the
legislature arc not sufficiently IN
earnest In their desire 10 effect a
genuine reform in our prison system
III this impression Is verified az this
session Of the legislature a. true OF
a majority of the members. I can
see but little justification for a
croup Of nine active business and
professional men continuing 70 sac
r<fice their time and personal inter-
ests in efforts To serve the state IN
such q hopeless. Gnrerlunerative
ard thankiess task.
The state Of Texas should either
cenfralize its prison system upon
some location more suitable than
any prison property now owned by
the state from the standpoint OF
health. economical operation. and
accessibility. and then give it proper
moral and financial support. or the
neople should surrender the whole
thing 10 those deeply interested in
the Brazos bottoms and quit talk
inc about IL.