The State Ledger from Jackson, Mississippi • Page 1

fni' fW TP Ay VOL. 17-NO. 43. JACKSON. MISSISSIPPI, SATUBDAY, JANUARY 22, 1887.

SI 50 PER YEAR. I VISIT TO PEARLINGTON. AMONG OUR EXCHANGES. ives 5.,. ve, Jn, 9op.5 a n.

STATE PENITENTIARY. plan for Restoring Convicts to the Custody of the State. pay, to place them at agricultural labor under its own management? The State might not get the amount of work out of the convicts that they are made to yield under the leasing system, but there would be no cause for regret in this. A proper and just amount of labor trom these prisoners could be readily utilized into a suppo-t for the institution, if not a surplus over all expenses. Thus, by the plan suggested and outlined, can be solved the two most important items of cost, food and clothing.

THE LOCATION. The permanent system to be provided for should contemplate and include the demolition of the prison now located in the heart of the city of Jackson, and its location in close proximity to the Farm Section. The sale of the lots occupied by the prison, embracing four choice squares, would yield a large sum to the State. The twosectionsof the penitentiary should be located at a point near a railroad, not in a town. And in the selection of a location all the conditions of convenience, transportation, sanitation and soil should be carefully and intelligently considered.

Some point in the vicinity of Jackson would probably be least expensive. too large, and is kept too large by our criminal laws and the long sentences imposed. The grade of grand larceny is too low. It is now $10. It should be raised to $25 or 30 Before the war it was $25; and it is difficult to perceive a single good reason why it should have been reduced to its present grade, The'stock-stealing law should be repealed outright.

The terms of sentences are often too long, and this is due in part to the force of the law, and it may be in part to the severity of the courts. The idea of a term at hard labor in this prison, or at the outside work of a lessee, for a theft of $10, cannot invite the approval of any just mind. And a term of five years for the larceny of a pig not worth a dollar, is simply inhuman. Without the tedium of enumeration, I will say, many of the termg affixed to the various offenses should be shortened. The present criminal laws, the infallible certainty of catching and convicting comparavively small offenders, the rarity or impossibility of bringing influential homicides to justice, are swelling the prison population.

Thus, in 1884, there were 771 convicts, and. notwithstanding 168 deaths, 161 escapes, 315 discharges and 88 pardons in two years, the prison population was 812 in the year 1886. Second A commission or committee on pardons should be created, to advise with the Governor and share with him the responsibility, with a view of granting pardons forthwith to the following classes of convicts: Hopeless invalids, permanently disabled men, and the aged and infirm who are harmless. Convicts of good conduct, 6 PHI unci traiij tal Stock at 0E8, tc the ex-v deter-Western ices. ONS, IS, MO.

price. ler. nnin-alty, IE! LED. TO D'r. i4 0 HISS 5-tC )-ly 9 ri.

K. leri MIRROR OF THE STATE. A Record of Current Events Carefully Condensed. News, Notes and Opinions Culled From All Parts ot Mississippi What Our Friends are Saying: and Doing. The young ladies of Crystal Springs, have organized a "Fan Company." Sweet potatoes are said to be selling at fifteen cents per bushel in Lee county.

The Messenger says that Kosciusko is destined to be the Atlanta of Mississippi. The Mississippi Horticultural Society will meet at Crystal Springs on the 27th instant. Eighteen applications have been made for employment as letter carriers in Vicks-burg. Mr. S.

S. Cook, of Batesville, a member of the last Legislature, is a candidate fcr District Attorney. Oscar Mitchell, for many years keeper of the light house on Chandelieui Island, died on the Uth instant. An unsuccessful attempt was made on the 13th instant, to wreck a train on the alley road, near Auquilla. A negro who was acting as labor agent, was found dead near Gloster, with four gun shot wounds on his body.

Seven insane persons are confined in the ail at Vicksburg, who are unable to obtain admission into the asylums. A. A. K. Burnett, merchants at Port Gibson, failed last week, for $52,868.

Short crops is said to be the cause. Mrs. Lucy E. Bracev, wife of Win. Bra cey, died at Terry on the 15th instant.

iShe was a daughter of A. li. Green, Esq. Work was entirely suspended for severa days, in the car shops at Water Valley, last week, for want of material to work "With. Bill Arp, the celebrated humorist, is lec turing in this State for the benefit of the Confederate Monument, to be erected at this place.

The Ellisville Eagle of the 13th instant, says that tnree hundred negroes lelt os burg on one train, oound for the Mississippi bottoms. The Reporter says that the failure Fulton to get the Railroad has not taken the life from the town, but that it is stil booming. At a recent meeting ot the Uoard ot Mayor and Aldermen of Crystal Springs the offices of Mayor aud Marshal were con solidated. Mr. Wr.

M. Norsworthy, of Meridian wss killed on the 17th instant, at Wilson Station on the L. IS. O. T.

Railroad, by being run over by the cars. Au attempt to assassinate Mr. Lem Smitl was made last week, at Blanton, but the assassins were driven off after wounding the gentleman slightly. The Neshoba Democrat says that if Philadelphia can only get the Natchez, Jackson and Columbus Railroad that she will be 6ure to get two other roads. A meeting of the bar of Meridian was held on the 15th instant, and adopted resolutions relating to the establishment of a United States Court in that city.

Sam Loeb, who left Meridian on the 15th instant, after obtaining large sums of money under false pretenses, is supposed to have been either drowned or murdered. The Times says that a number of negroes from Winona and vicinity have emigrated to Missouri and Arkansas. Tt predicts that those who escape death will return. A difficulty occured at Tupelo, last week, between T. J.

Jordan and W. D. in which the latter was seriously wounded with a pistol shot, in the abdomen. Gen. Isaac W.

Randall, an ex-member of the Legislature, died at his home near Muldon, on the 14th instant. Sudden death was produced by an overdo-e of morphine. The Meteor says that. Mr. Pamell, of Alabama, a brother of the celebrated Irish leader, has been prospecting at Crystal Springs, with a view to establishing a fruit farm there.

The Messenger says that the Warehouse Company at Kosciusko, after receiving enough inouey to operate the warehouse until next season, declared a dividen of fif teen per cent. The county prisoners of Carroll, were leased by the Board of Supervisors to Charles Chaffe, of New Orleans, on cons dition that he is to pay the fees and tines and give a bond of $500. The Building and Loan Association of Vicksburg, has made $10,331.17, for the pp.st six months, on a capital of $90,000. This is about 23 percent, profit per annum. Few investments pay such handsome divi- dens.

A voting man named Johnson was killed near Laurel, while out hunting, on the 7th instant, by the fall of a magnolia tree which was bourn down by a tree which hadd been cut lor a raccoon, rie niei nis oeatn on his birth day. Mr. J. E. Carter, who had been married onlv a week, while looking through a trunk, 1 with HIS wuc, ai men inmir iirKr xvipiey, picked up a revolver which he accidently discharged: the nau took enect in jirs.

Carters head, making a very wound. The Board of Supervisors of Jefferson county had to put a slop to supporting paupers outside of the poor house, owing to the rapid growth of the pauper list, as a treat many would le supported that would not go to the poor house. The Chronicle says that the county has been imposed upon. The mail car was robbed of a bag at Rollinc Fork, on ihe 14th instant. C.

L. Service, alias Charles B. Anderson, was arrested, and there is evidence to prove him to be the guilty party. A detective who assisted in the arrest says that he is one of a cane of thieves who have been en gaged in robbing the mails for a long time. At a meeting of the stockholders of the Macon and Tuscaloosa Railroad, at Macon on the 13th instant, Robert C.

Patty was elected President G. G. Dillard, Vict? President, and Thomas J. O'Neill, Secret tary. The Macon Sun says that the necessary amount of stock has been subscribed and that arrangement are being made for the early completion of the rosd.

A Prosperous Villa ere Among the Lone- Leaf Pines. Pearlingtox, Jan. 20, 1887. Editor of the State Ledger: lam on board the steamer W. G.

Hen derson, which plys between Lookout Station aud Gainesville, Mississippi, on Pearl river. This section of Mississippi is rich in sacred memories. The home of Jeffer son Davis is near by, and the old homestead of J. F. II.

Claiborne is still standing, but is moss-covered from age. We have all heard of the legend of the Indians and of the mysterious music coming from the waters of the bay. The thoughts ot these things, now that I am on consecrated ground add additional interest to the surroundings; and the scenery is as romantic as the lauds and waters are sacred. Indeed, I doubt whether there is a more picturesque section in the South than this Sea-Coast region. The scenery is variagated.

Yonder, as far as your eyes will let vou see, are the waters of the Mexican Gulf beautifully dotted with snow-white sails of vessels from all na tions of the world. Here are the soft pearly waters of the "Pearl" contributing their mite the terrors of the deep, and there, towering in their majesty, are to be seen the tall tree3 of the forest with their heavy coats ot gray moss. hen see all these things and think of the fine ovsters, fish and game, and the many pleasures that are possible here, I wonder why it is that more of the pleasure-seekers do not visit this section. In mildness of climate in winter, and pleas ant weatner throughout the summer, it is the equal of any portion of Florida, while mother respects, such as I have enumera ted, it stands without, a rival. And aside from these facts, it affords abundant facilities for money-making The large busi ness of Messrs Poitevant Favre, at Pearl ington, Mississippi bear me out in this as sertion.

1 have iust visited their place of busine. and while there, went through their extensive mills and buildings and made some inquiries as to the extent of their business. This firm is composed of Jno. Poitevant fe Joseph A. Favre.

Their saw-mill has a capacity of 120,000 feet of lumber per day. They have iust erected a new iron fire-proof planer, capacity 15, 000 feet per dav, and two large drying kilns, capacity 30,000 feet per day. Ihey own a log steam railway in St. Tamany Parish, for supplying their mill with timber. This road is sixteen miles long and the firm have twohundred hands at work along the line cutting timber.

They have acres of available timber lands In the mill proper they employ about 125 hands: in planer and on yards, about fifty The mill firm own nine sailing "lighters average capacity 40,000 feet, employing forty-five men. These are used in "light ering" lumber to New Orleans ami to large vessels that cannot leave the deep water at Ship-Island. They also own two steam tugs which are used for towing rafts from up the river to the mill and for piloting the smaller sailing vessels to deep water. They also own the Steamer W. G.

Henderson, which is engaged in the mail, passenger and freight traffic between Lookout Station on the New Orleans Mobile Railroad, and Pearling- ton, Gaiuesville and Logtown, on the Perl. Also five large sea-going vessels engaged in trade between Pearlington and the Mexican and South American ports. These vessels carry lumber down and return with cedar, mahogony, dye-woods, sisal, hemp, etc. They also do an extensive mercantile busi ness, the style of this hrm being lJoitevant, Favre Mr. T.

M. Favre, member of the Legislature in 1884, is the junior part ner aud is also United States Collector of Castoms for the Port of Skieldsboro, Miss. The mercantile interest of the firm is in the hands of Mr. W. A.

Brown, a gentleman conversant with all the affairs of the hrm and well qualified for the responsible posi tion he fills. The population of Pearlington is 1,200 and the town is prohibition, though ''an occasional pig rinds its way in. Ihey have a daily mail. There is one physician (J. A.

Mead,) and no lawyers, and the book keeper of Poitevant, Favre (Jo, says, they "don't want any." There are tour stores, two markets, two churches for whites (one Catholic and one Methodist); two churches for colored people Baptist and Methodist; lwo schools for whites presided over bv Prot. H. W. Fowler and Prof Car- ags, respectivelv, and a large, flourishing colored school. The society of the place equal to that of any village in the State, and the people, one and all, are proverbial for hospitality.

It was my first visit to the place and I shall ever cherish the memories of the pleasant day there spent. Sinking from the sublime to the ridicu lous, I will mention by way, of parenthesis, that my next later will be from Jone's Slough, near Lizzard Creek. Like Bill Arp's Mule, "I am making haste slowly, but up to now have managed to make all the landings in time for a "square meal." Though I am in a strange section, I often meet a familiar face, but it is the tace of the dear, old State Ledger. May its cir eolation continue to increase, until next to the Bible, it will be read in every fainilv circle in the land. Clarke.

Take Your Choice. Daily Advertiser, Jan. 19th: An immense audience greeted Mme. Janish last night in her new play of "Violets," and to judge from the applause which her sujierb acting elicited, they were well pleased. The play was not so interesting us the "Princess Andrea," which she presented last season, but was sufficiently strong to show some fine emotional acting.

Daily Advertiser, Jan. 20th: Of all the dull. uuintereKting, tiresome, stupid plays ever presented to a Jackson audience, the one Tuesday night, called "Violets," capped the climax. There was no plot, no sense, no actors, no actresses, nor anything in or about it to amuse, instruct or inters est an audience. It was a bore from be- to end.

The Courier-Journal boasts that the Georgia delegation in CongresH is not in favor of the repeal of the infamous Internal Revenue svstem. If ibis is the case, Georgia will repeal her Congressional delegation when the proper time Atlanta Constitution. The Cream of the Press of the Entire State. Editorial Expressions ltecltirl tl. Smallest Possible Space A Vari-4 ety of Interesting Thought.

Pass Christian Beacon: The Board of Supervisors, which met at Mississippi City, this week, after dilligent investigation, declared the result of the late election to be in favor of the subscription to the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad. Woodville Republican: It seems to be conceeded that the action of the last Legis- ature with regard to the Lem Law will affect only those laborers who may work on the share system. This class can not mortgage their crops until their crops are grow ing. Meridian News "Cleveland continncts- to be a bigger man than his party," is the continuous and pathetic cry of Republican papers. All the samee, the party was htr enough in 188-1 to jam an icicle down Mr.

blaine spinal column. Ripley Sentinel Money matters are cotton and other products of the soil arc- low, and thecrv of hard times" heard on every hand; yet the tariff taxes arc kept up. to the war basis. Raymond Gazette: Onr people must learn to be economical they must learn that it does not pay to sell a fertilizer worth $20 per ton for $5, and then purchase for their lands another fertilizer worth $10, hut which sells for 30. Weekly Panolian Our Government is now forcing the people to pay $100,000,000 annually more than is needed for the support of the Government.

This sum is laid up in the Government vault and the people are deprived of its use. Natchez Democrat: The verv large ma jority by which the inter-State Commerce bill was passed, in the tonn which was given it by the Conference Committee, 43-ayes to 15 nays, has shown very clearly that there is a a strong feeling in favor of restricting corporations in their dealings-with the public. Grenada Sentinel The New ork World? calls on the Democrats to unite with one wing of the Republicans in the Legislature aud elect Rascoe Conkling to live -United States Senate. We hope they will do such thing. Kosciusko Star It is i common expression to say a man has worked from the ground up." The South has done more She was down in a hole and scrambled up even out of that.

Aberdeen Weekly: It would be a sad condition of things if mankind generally were to give up every worthy undertaking, every needed retorm, because it did not come up to their highest expectations. Holly Springs South The folly of planting all cotton has been so fully demonstrated, not only by argument, but by practical experience, that all admit it, yet our farmers continue to plant cotton and will continue to plant, as we have before stated, as long as labor can be procured. Lexington Bulletin M. Fritz, a small hill farm upon which he grows Iruits, vegetables and grasses. On eight acres of timothy, herdegrass and clover he has cut and cured fifteen or sixteen tons of hay superior to any imported from beyond Slate limits.

Greenville Times: With the Democratic platform, Col. Percy holds that the Governmment revenues should be reduced and proportioned to the Government costs and outlay; he did not approve of Morrison's hornzontal tarritf reduction. Yazoo Herald One of the most important measures before Congress is the inter-State Commerce bill which is attracting universal attention. Clarkesdale Banner: Parlies who have-not been in the county exceeding three week, just from the hill counties, who do not possess a second garment, come forward to the merchant with as much complacency as if they possessed millions, asking for advances. Ik IM X.T 1 Winona Advance i ne torth is owning its eves in wonder at the growth of the "New South." The visit of Mr.

Randall last year and that of Mr. Kelly this year. to Alabama, has been productive of re markable interest all over the country. Macon Sun: With the Natchez, Jackson and Columbus, the Macon and'Tuska-loosa, and also a branch of the Little to Birmingham, Macon will be right oi the highway to prosperity, and in a fevr years be the leading town in the State. Tujielo Journal: We honestly believe that Tupelo, to-day, affords a better field for safe and profitable investments in real estate than Sheffield and some other places where the speculative mania is raging.

Port Gibson News: There seems to a great demand for MisKissippi lands by Northern citizens. They are constantly investing in our lands. It certainly indicates the dawn of a new era in tit hit-torr of our State. Pontotoc Democrat: Work on our raik roads is progressing very satisfactorily, The grading has been completed a distance eleven miles from this place. Our timbrr lands are being bought up by Northern capital for mere nominal consideration from the State, and it is highly prohaj the demand will soon be on the increcse.

Liberty Herald: The application of commercial fertilizers to the various fie.d crops is no longer of doubtful utility, but conceded by all to be of great value in musing crops of either corn or cotton. Haziehurst Signal: The House of Rej-resentatives of ongress has passed a hill granting pensions' to those Confederal soldiers who descried and joined the Federal arm. This is making a dishonorable crime equal to honorable service. Boonvtlle Plaindealer: The Randall Democrats are in favor of putting whisky and tobacco on the free hot. Now thai strikes us as being the only true and genuine tariff reform.

These I wo articles are absolutely necessary to the health and well being of the great mass of the laboring people. They can easily dispense with tho idle luxuries of clothing and food. MeCtllstlh Leasing System A State Farm nntl Factory Proposed it Outside Jackson. Move Alitor of the State Ledger: In the 188 the attention of the citizens of this State was attracts eJ Lv ihe report of a special committee the House of Representatives, to a Mii--'ppi institution known as the convict VaMCg system. And while a general pub- lie indignation manifested ltseli, nothing Mical was done by the Legislature that i 1 1 a rraci vear to renictiy iue auusca uisuiuscu, ur in ihe direction of a radical reform in respect to the system.

On the contrary, the system was ntinued under a statute, the preamble to which singularly enough reeited that the jh pie of the State did not approve the leasing ot convicts. In the attention of the Legislature was called by Governor Lowry to the evils of convict leasing, and this popular disapproval, and reformatory legislation was invited. The present paper, substantially, was submitted to many members of the Legislature of 1SC'(5, and the theory of a reduction of the prison onulation with a model iarm connected with a manufacturing department, was suggested to several members of the committee of 1884. The Legislature of 1884 declared, by a preamble to a bill leasing the convicts to a I i i i railroad company, that the leasing of con victs wan not sustained by public opinion; while the committee recommended that the divicts should be reclaimed by the State on the model farm plan. Finally, the Legislature of 1886, by a special provision in the act of March 17th, 1380.

leasing the convicts to the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad company, required the Railroad Commissioners to submit to the next Legislature "a practical and comprehensive plan by which the State shall be enabled to exercise direct and exclusive management of the penitentiary and con victs at the earnest date possible. Thus, a subject in respect to which so much has been said, and so little done, has final I assumed a practical and substantial shape. Under the provisions of this statute, which directs a board of commissioners to submit a plan of reformation for legislative action next year, the question, whether the leasing system shall be abolished, has most happily been changed to the selection of the mst praciical method of effecting the reform. Gov. Gordon is making a vigorous and earnest effort to free the State of Georgia of convict leasing.

But if Mississippi will faithfully and promptly follow the logic of the legislative directions to the Commissioners, to her will belong the credit of being the first Southern State to destroy an institution that is a reproach to the whole South. The following is the paper already alluded to: A PLAN FOR RESTORING THE CONVICTS TO THE CUSTODY OF THE STATE. The following propositions contain truths that are self-evident: First The State is under a moial duty and trust to keep the Care, treatment and discipline of its convicts in its own hands. The fact of depriving them of their liberty i imposes instantly and imperatively the duty of direct and exclusive government control. And, moreover, this trust can never be sold or bartered away without a violation of duty.

Second The permanent example of the leasing of State convicts to persons or cor-' orations, for private profit, is a standing illustration of the cruel error that a community is to be put to no expense in the execuMon of its criminal jurisprudence, the repression of crime and the reformation of criminals. Kvery intelligent and kind-hearted individual, whether scientifically informed on the subject ot State prisons or not, out of his sense of justice, must perceive the truth of these propositions, and with the recognition of their truth he must anxiously desire a change. And, manifestly, it would be useless to argue with a mind so uninformed as to believe that the true object of imprisoning a convict is to squeeze out of his body the price of the cheap clothes he wear. the common food that he consumes, and, if possible, a revenue for the State. These views are expressed in respect to a system that belongs to Mississippi in common with every Southern State.

And, moreover, the characteristics and features of this system, and not individual or private interests, are alone to be considered in a word, the whole subject must be dealt with from the standpoint of the highest principles of morality, or be thrown aside as uiiworthv of any sort of consideration other than it has received in the past If the testimony of two Legislatures and an Executive message are of any value as evidence, the tone of public opinion in respect to the principle involved, is such as to give assurance that a sweeping reform would meet with universal approval. The State has leaned so long upon lessees as an easy escape from what has been regarded as a mighty problem, that the UUesllon ot retorm has waited lonsr nnon paestion of reform has waited long upon Legislutures for an answer. With a sincere and earnest nnrnnse tboro n. nn r1iffiiil -1 es that are formidable noue that are ins surmountable. me outset it must ne conceded that a great of preliminary work must be done, and a variety of measures adopted before a permanent change can be consummated by which the State can reclaim the direct and exclusive management of the penitentiary and And it is probable that it would take two or three vears to execute and complete the design, "it is epparent that the question has now reached the point where thorough and praciical action should be taken by the next Legislature, or the whole subject should be put aside on the confession that the State has assumed trust that it is incapable of dis- I i Cull Klwl irst The number of convicts, 812, a is The present prision was built many years ago, when the science of warming, ventilation and sanitation was in its infancy.

It is not surprising therefore that the grand jury of Hinds county last January, condemned it, saying that its cells were dug out of solid masonry, ill ventilated, cold, damp and unfit for the purpose intended. The State is of course responsible for all this. The fact that such an extensive, work as the reconstruction of this prison is required, is a formidable reason why, in the prospective change the location should be changed. But it is indecent and a source of mortification that the State should have its prison in the heart of the State Capital and within three squares of its State House. CONCLUSION, The fallacy of the Legislation in respect to the leasing system is, that economy has been regarded as the prime consideration, and his has been made to dominate the whole subject.

All reforms of this character are necessarily more or less expensive. But in this case, with land that can almost be had or the asking, and the convicts to furnish the labor, the public conscience cannot be snenceti oy tue piea oi poverty, vve are 1 1 I At tIT rrt too poor to do right. But happily hese misconceptions are passing away be- ore the pressure of a broader humanity and sense of justice of the people of Mississippi We are getting a clearer and truer idea of what we owe to a convict, for he has not ost all claims upon Heaven and his fellow- man, though he has sinned against both. His liberty is lustly taken from him. but lis right to health, to good food, clothing and kind treatment he has not forfeited by anv law human or divine.

When the State imprisons him, it assumes the duty of caring for him. and it commits a crime against humanity when it barters away this trust I have not written to assail lessees, but against a system inherently bad, a poor make-shift at best, and one that must sooner or later, and the sooner the better in all conscience. Frank Johnston. immigration South. Editor of the State Ledger: From a letter I have just received from Western Kansas, from a Northern gentle man who resides in Mississippi, I learn that it has been terribly cold up there this win ter, and he says that "if one-half the efforts were made to give information there about Southern clime, Southern soils, Southern productions and Southern markets that is made about the West, it would be but 6hort time before a flood of Lm igration would be pouring into our neglected State He says, further, that he has met with very few new comers who are satisfied with this country, (Kansas).

Climate cold, longdiss tance to market, farm produce cheap. Great discontent with many alt want to leave, and no one seems satisfied. He says that now is the time to make the effort and impart the information while parties con templating makinga change are undecided which way tp go. I am satisfied that the above is strictly so, and the many excursions of Northern and Western men to the South this winter, more than ever known before, and the cordial reception with which they are meet- mr everywhere, is rapidly melting away the mountain of prejudice and sectionalism that has existed between the two sections of the same land, and it will not be long before the enterprising Northern man will be bringing his energy and capital down here to make all our industries prosper. The Interstate Dairymen and Fruit Growers' Convention here on the 16th, 17th and 18th of February, will be a good time for our representative Southern men to meet and make welcome the same class of men from the North ami the Went.

Let nothing be left undone to make all we can of this opportunity to ad vertise the beauties of onr climate, our soils, our forests and our products. G. D. H. Supreme Court Derisions.

The following decisions were rendered Monday, January 17th, 1887: cases affirmed: L. Lea vs. State, four cases. R. L.

Teasdale vs. State. Milton Bradford vs. State. Willie Frost vs.

State. Wm. Deans et ux. vs. Robertson Co et al.

3 Lucy Whitfield vs. J. H. Marshall et at. J.

W. Eckford et at vs. s. H. Berg Lucy Whitfield vs.

Ann Ward et al. S. F. Hamblet vs. C.

E. Carr. CASES REVERSED AND REMANDED: R. M. Tindall vs.

George P. Tindall et al Charles Verner vs. Mary Verner. Frank McNulty vs. C.

K.Walker. George P. Verner and Charles H. Verner vs. Mary V.

Verner, affirmed as to George I I Ml I P. and reversed and Dill aistnisseu as to Charles. A Mr. Malors left Pontotoc with a bag of money, last week, lied on nts saauie. Alter 'firoinc a few miles he found that it was lost.

A band ofGypsus that he pas-ed on the road were supposed to nave iouna ano weie searched, but without success. who have been sentenced to a term out of proportion to their offenss, might be pardoned, or their terms shortened to meet the pistice of each particular case. I am aware that the pardoning power is prerogative of the Executive, but this commitiee could assist in the matter of the investigation and recommendations. The proposed laws amendatory of the present criminal code, could with justice and propriety, be made retrospective as well as prospective in their operation, and thus give past offenders the benetitof the new law. Under the operation of these several suggestions the population of the prison would be largely reduced, and this, without any harm to society.

It would continue to decrease steadily for several years, until the permanent population should not exceed Jive hundred, possibly four hundred. Conceding the correctness of these views, it is evident, that brought down to this number approximately, the State could easily take control of its penitentiary and make it self-supporting, or nearly so. But the truth is self-evident that the pubs lie duty of the State to take the exclusive control of the State Prison must be the prime consideration in dealing with this subject, and the economic view one ot minor consequence. Thus, if the question is to be dealt with on principles of sound morals, these two questions must be valued in the order stated. If moral considerations demand a change, then the economic problem is, to effect the change at as small an expense as is fairly compatible with the humane treatment of the convicts and the proper discharge of public duty involved.

Unfortunately principle has been made to yield to a mistaken idea ot economy in the past, and the scare-crow of an enormous expense is still brought out to deter this reform. Prisons, and large ones, where agricultu ral labor is out of the question, have been made self-supporting; many nearly so. And where annual deficits are required, Legis latures and communities who recognize the proper relations between States and State Prisons do not hesitate to meet the expense. Sing Sing Prison, in the State of New York, with 1522 convicts, during seven years, yielded a surplus revenue of $300, UOO to the State And Auburn jrnson, in the same State, in the yea 18S4, cost a deficit of only $691. Both these prisons at first cost the State heavily in getting theua underway.

But a Mississippi establish ment would necessarily be on a raucl cheaper scale. 1 concede that the greater number ot INorth ern penitentiaries require annual appropri ations. But this should not cause the slightest hesitation. Assuming that the prison population can be reduced approxi mately as stated, the practical question is, what particular steps should be taken. A MECHANICAL SECTION SLould be established.

About one hundred and seventy-five or two hundred conjicts could be kept within the walls of a prison proper. Machinery and manufacturing plant could be added to that on hand, at a eomnarativelv moderate cost, and there could be manufactured for the whole nuin a. K.I It ber ot convicts, hats, clothing and shoe. This solves the Question ot clothing the entire prison population. These could also be manufactured for sate common furniture, sash, blinds, doors pressed brick and finished lumber, boots shoes, agricultural impliments, buckets brooms, tubs, barrels and probably a great variety of other articles that would occur tc the mind of an intelligent and patien investigator.

A MODEL FARM. A large farm could be purchased at small price and provided with buildings a comfortable but cheap character at th outset. There could be raised corn, oats hay, fodder, potatoes of both kinds, peas and every variety ot garnet) proauci, nogs cattle and sheep for food or sale. In the Model Farm Section ought readily to be made to feed the whole prison DODUiauon. 1 The mules and horses necessary, could, in i a short time be raised on the farm, and the .1 3 outlay required for the purpose would not be large, and would unquestionably prove a paying investment.

Under this scheme, with ordinary careful management, the prison could be made self-supporting. Who can demonstrate that it would impose a burden on the State out of proportion to the end in view? It is appropriate and useful in this connection to call attention to the fact that the agricultural labor of convicts under sublessees has been highly remunerative, and to the extent that the lessees for many years have paid a large annual hire to the State for its penitentiary. Why cannot the State take back its prison and utilize this labor on its own farm If it was to the interest full hire for them, why it not pay the State, that has no hire to i I I 1.