Newspaper Page Text
122 CONVICTS IN
KENTUCKY FREED
New Law Furnishes Serious
Problem in Blue Grass State.
ALL MUST SECURE WORK.
Indeterminate Sentence Measure Opens
Prison Doors to Men Guilty of All
Kinds of Crimes—Farmers Anxious
to Employ Prisoners, as There Exists
a Scarcity of Labor.
Hopkinsville. Ky.— Kentucky is tac
ing the problem of caring for 422 con
victs to be liberated at approximately
the same time and for whom no pro
vision has been made. The prospect
is viewed with varying sensations in
different parts of the state. In cities
and towns there is alarm, but on the
farms and plantations, where help is
scarce, no fears are felt, and in fact
the liberated criminals will be made
welcome for their labor.
This condition is brought about by
the new indeterminate sentence law
which is now operative in Kentucky
and which does away with the old
law by which the jury trying a case
fixed the term of years for which a
person should be confined, in the same
verdict declaring him guilty. As it is
now. the jury merely passes upon a
prisoner’s guilt or innocence, and if he
is found guilty his prison term is auto
matically fixed by the law covering
the offense with which he is charged
These sentences, of course, range from
a specified minimum number of years
to a maximum. And it has been the
rule heretofore for the prison board,
with whom the power of parole rests.
B . U
1 ~
Photo by American Press Association.
GOVERNOR M’C REARY OF KENTUCKY.
to allow the prisoners their freedom
largely upon the character of their
crimes and their prison conduct.
But in the John De Moss case, re
cently decided by the court of ap
peals, it is held that if a prisoner has
completed his minimum sentence and
shows a clear record in the prison he
must receive a parole then. Another
feature is that he must be able to
show that he lias some legitimate oc
cupation waiting for him when he is
set at liberty again. This parole of
course does not free the prisoner abso
lutely. A string is held on him. and
should he ever transgress again be
may be brought back and made to
complete his original sentence.
Naturally, the convicts are delighted.
Os the 422 convicts to get their liberty
2.32 will go from the penitentiary at
Frankfort and 190 from the Eddyville
prison.
One of the requirements with which
a prisoner must conform before he can
be paroled, even under the new order,
that he must have a job awaiting
him. has caused the 422 prisoners
who are to be released to cast about
for a landing place Among them are
iiidivhhiais of al! classes, some very
expert in certain lines, but the most of
them are ordinary laborers, this lining
especially true of the negroes, who are
iu the Inajority. Right here is where
the release of :he prisoners promises to
b< f a good thing for the state at large,
r'er several .'.ears the question of farm
labor lias grown to be more and more a
matter of serious nature. The negroes
prefer to live in the towns or to work
on the public works, where they can he
together in crowds. Often the farmers
are sorely tried in their efforts to get
labor at rush seasons and are forced to
pay exorbitant prices.
But the ordinary laborers among the
convicts find the farms their best
chance for getting the co voted job. The
farmers are willing to take the risk, if
risk it is. and they are offering to give
employment to the prisoners. In one
county the seventeen negroes that are
due to return have all been thus guar
anteed work. Other counties are doing
the same thing, and probably the ma
jority of this class of the convicts will
find a home and freedom on the farms.
(Governor James B. McCreary has
pardoned only a few convicts, but the
executive has nothing to do with the
wholesale liberations. The court ruled
-that he is powerless to iuterfere ia any
way with the release of the prisoners.
♦*’•*♦♦* WV
* CITIES AND CONDUCT. *
•a •>
x A c ’ty baa a powerful psycho •>
X logical effect upon its inhabit
X ants, and a beautiful city is uc! X
X only a pleasure to the nest het jc *
X sense, but a stimulus to right X
X conduct. Mean deeds aro n.ust *
X apt to be enacted in mean streets. *
* ahd the plunderer avoids the X
X stately square and broad a venue. X
* A murderer seldom, if ever, seeks •:<
* his victim on the steps of a capi X
* tol or in the corridors of a library X
* or a gallery X
* To participate in the replan X
X ning of a city is a civic duty of X
X the highest character. As in nt, X
X other way can a city be so great X
ly benefited, those who take part *
* i n such movements serve not X
* only their interests, but the in- *?
* terest of the whole public. X
* The importance of city plan- X
f ning is so great that once it is X
understood it meets with unqual- X
* isled approval and tlie strongest *£
X forces in the community are al- £
T wa ys in its favor. It is a move- 4*
X ment which as it proceeds en- X
X counters less and less opposition. X
X being at once a credit to the city X
X and its originators. It may well ***
X become an avocation of the great-
X est interest and absorption and X
X is one of the first importance not X
X only to the citizen, but to the X
4» community.—Frank Koester. X
f. . X
*♦* *7* C* ****** 'I” *!***■* *♦* "♦♦ *- •J*-*J* *J*"*J ,rt i*
PLAYGROUNDS IN PORTO RICO.
•
One of United States’ Exports to the
Island Is the Idea.
It was an American business man. a
townsman of Joseph Lee. who saw to
it that one of America’s exports to
Porto Rico a few years ago was the
playground idea. How well the trans
planted shoot developed may be seen
in the fact that during the last five
years the number of towns on the is
land maintaining playgrounds has in
creased from twenty-seven to sixty-one
and the money spent for playgrounds
from $3,000 to $43,209.
Through the influence of Arthur F.
Estabrook and his friends a playground
association was first established in
Porto Rico, one of the most active
members being the Rev. Alexander H.
Leo, who then lived in Ponce. Soon
the American school system, which
■ ~
THE AMERICAN PLAYGROUND IDEA.
had been organized in Porto Rico, was
encouraged to provide and maintain
school playgrounds. In one town a
private corporation donated land for
an athletic field, and in several others
more land for playground use has al
ready been given or promised. In some
instances where land was not available
playgrounds have lieen established on
the public plazas.
While the need of trained instructors
is very great, the co-operation of prin
cipals and teachers has done much to
foster and develop the movement. It
is phenomenal, reports an observer,
that the people of Porto Rico, with
their lack of advantages in the past,
could so soon do things so nearly up to
the standard achieved in America. The
children are bright and willing, but
the same observer reports that their
principal ambition is not to work, but
to get into the army and become po
licemen and wear uniforms. With
practical studies in the schools—farm
ing and mechanical work for the boys
and housekeeping for the girls—togeth
er with the spirit gained from organ
ized play, it is expected that the com
ing generation will be better fitted for
self government than are the Porto
Ricans of today.
The same games and other play
ground activities which are to be found
in American playgrounds have proved
equally successful in Porto Rico. Each
year in Ponce a meet of the Interscho
lastic Athletic association is held. This
is attended by parents and friends
from all parts of the island. It is a
representative and gala event, not only
giving impetus to the playground de
velopment. but stimulating a spirit of
neighborliness among the people.
Tokyo . aterworks.
The system of waterworks conducted
by the Tokyo municipality is the most
profitable of the city's undertakings.
Its annual net profit being reported as
nearly $500,000. Sanction has lately
been received from the government to
extend the system at a cost of $10,360,-
000 in order to be able to supply a pop
ulation of 3.000,000.
This undertaking is so profitable that
it not only has a large reserve fund,
but it can afford to lend money. Last
veer It advanced $300,000 to the elec
tric bureau and $250,000 for the im-
of the sewerage system on
the condition that the money be repaid
at the end of the next fiscal year.
MY MAY NOW
BE MADE “ORF
I
i
Surgeon Ganeral Gorges Up-;
holds Osnieis’ Orosi.
I
WILSON NOT CONSULTED I
Revenue Cutter Service Likewise May !
Be Forced to Eliminate Liquor on j
Vessels—Possible Modifications In I
Sweeping Navy Changes Before They :
Become Effective July 1.
Washington.—Willinin C. Gorgas the '
new surgeon general of the army, ou I
his return from South rica express I
ed his approval of the order issued bj i
Secretary Daniels forbidding the use |
of liquor aboard naval vessels and in |
all navy yards and all naval stations.
Many army officers expressed the j
opinion that this foreshadows an ofli
cial order making the army as "dry
as the navy will be when Daniels’ new
regulation goes into effect on July 1.
Moreover, rumors were in circulation |
that William G McAdoo, secretary of |
by American Press Association.
SURGEON GENERAL W. C. GORGAS, U. S. A.
the treasury, will apply a similar rule
to the officers of the revenue cutter
service.
It is certain that President Wilson
will do nothing to ste- ■ tide of pro
hibition. the chief < ..ive having
indicated his position dearly when he
asserted it is a departmental question
in which he is not concerned.
The president said that Secretary
Daniels had not consulted him about
the prohibition order, but that it was
not necessary for him to do so.
Gorgas, who has been in South Af
rica installing in the diamond mines
sanitary methods similar to those in
the Panama canal zone, expressed
great interest in the new move made
by Secretary Daniels.
He asserted that officers in both
branches of the service would be far
better off if they never touched liquor.
As surgeon general of the army he
is in a position to follow the lead of
Surgeon General Braisted of the navy
in recommending the abolition of offi
cers* wine messes at army posts.
Secretary Daniels let remarks drop
indicating that modifications in the
order are likely to be made before it
goes into effect July 1.
“There is plenty of time between
now and July,” said the secretary, “to
make any modifications that may seem
necessary. But the order will remain
absolute to the extent of prohibiting
wine messes or the use of intoxicating
liquors in officers' quarters, clubs or
other kinds of organizations on ship
l>oard or at shore stations.
“I am convinced not only from what
I have seen, but from the examination
of cases that come before me daily,
that many a young officer fresh from
the Naval academy learns to touch the
first drop in these wine messes, and
not infrequently this leads to his dis
missal from the service.’’
BONUS FOR EACH BABY.
•'Taxless Town” to Reward Stork on
Every Visit.
Harrisville. W. Va.—With surplus
funds rapidly accumulating, this town
of 800 inhabitants, famous as the “tax
less town.” is becoming so rich through
its ownership of gas and oil properties
that the mayor, backed by council, has
decided to offer a snug sum as a bonus
for every baby born here. The mayor
says that “it is the desire of the popu
lace that future generations may par
ticipate in the dividends of the most
prosperous municipality in the world.”
Harrisville is unique among cities of
the world in that it levies no property
taxes. This comes about because the
town owns its own natural gas plant
wells, lines and equipment. The plant
is rented to the highest bidder and.
with other dividends derived from the
lease of property on which are located
many producing oil wells, the munici
pality is “rolling in money.”
To Keep Caes Sanitary.
Washington.—The senate passed the
house bill directing the interstate com
merce commission and the secretary of
the treasury to promulgate regulations
for keeping in sanitary condition all In
terstate passenger cars.
* WHAT CITY PLANNING *
X MEANS. X
J t
.j, City planning means looking X
4« far into the future so as to make •>
X provision for future growth and
* avoid the mistakes of the past. 4>
X the realization that the city is a X
X permanent rather than , a tran- 4>
sient thing and that it must be X
X built with provision for every *
4* human need. More important X
X still, city planning means the T
X building of the city as a unit, as X
a whole, instead of in parts. A T
X century of individualism, in 4»
* which each man acted for him- X
T self, is passing, and a new ver- X
X sion of the city in which the X
X rights of the community will be X
X superior to the rights of the pri- X
T vate builder is coming upon the X
4- stage. *
X This is the important thing. X
«£ And with this vision in mind cit- 4.
X ies ars beginning to control the T
4» to providi! that th«» X
X streets of the city shall be beaij- T
X tiful, harmonious and in con- X
X formity to a complete city plan. X
X They are laying out suburbs so X
X that the tenement and the slum X
X will not reappear; they are be- X
X ginning to regulate the height of X
X buildings and the amount of 4*
X land that can be covered by X
T structures. All these are part of
4- city planning. A
In a commercial way cities *;*
4» like New York. Philadelphia, X
X Boston, the cities on the Pacific X
X coast, are developing their water 4*
I fronts so as to minimize the cost X
of transportation: they are link- X
ing them up with railroad sys- X
terns and co-ordinating water X
and rail transportation. Mar- X
kets, too, and the reduction of X
the cost of living through the X
elimination of unnecessary mid- X
X dlemen are part of this program,
X as is the building of great city
X centers emblematic of the aspi- X
X rations and ideals of democracy. X
—Dr. Frederic C. Howe.
NATIONAL HOUSING COUNCIL.
Recent Meeting In Bath, England, Dis
cussed Finance.
An important conference of the na
tional housing and town planning
council of Great Britain was recently
held in Bath, England, to consider the
practical administration of the housing
and town planning act of 1909 and was
attended by many representatives of
western counties. There was consider
able discussion about the difficulties ex
perienced in closing houses unfit for
human habitation when there were no
houses at all, or none at reasonable
rates, for the dishoused persons to go
into. The views expressed were to the
effect that while the work of closing
unfit houses and of supplying suitable
ones should be in the hands of the local
authorities the state should co-operate
in enabling such undertakings to be
properly financed. A resolution present
ed by Henry R. Aldridge, secretary of
the council, was as follows:
“That this conference desires to ex
press its opinion that every effort
should be made to induce and help
local authorities to undertake the sup
ply of houses for the poorest and for
those dispossessed by the closing of un
healthy houses. As a means to this end
the conference is of opinion that mon
ey should be lent to local authorities
for approved housing schemes at a rate
of interest and for a period which will
enable houses to be provided at rents
which such persons can afford to pay.
Further, this conference is of opinion
that, given this financial aid. local au
thorities should accept the placing upon
them of such constructive housing ac
tion as a statutory duty and be willing
to bear the whole or part of the sink
ing fund charges of bousing loans.”
This resolution was amended by add
ing an expression of opinion that the
provisions of the housing acts should
continue to be carried out by the local
authorities and was then adopted.
Clevelarxl’s Garbage.
In 1912 about 44,000 tons of garbage
were collected by the city of Cleveland,
0., and 23,500 tons during the first
six months of 1913, the latter being an
increase of about 30 per cent over the
amount for the same six months of
1912. The cost of collecting and deliv
ering the garbage at the reduction
plant was $2.90 per ton in 1912 and
about $2.50 during the first six months
of 1913. The cost of treating the gar
bage after it was delivered to the plant
was about $1.95 per ton in 1912 and
$1.90 during the first six months of
1913. During 1912 the income from
the sale of grease and tankage amount
ed to $151,000 and during the first six
months of 1913 to $76,588. These fig
ures do not include interest on the
investment nor depreciation on the
equipment. The reduction plant has
been operated by the city since Jan. 1.
1905, previous to which time the city
paid a contractor $69,400 per year for
collecting and disposing of the garbage.
At that time collections were made
from an area of about thirty-four
square miles, while at the present time
there are over fifty square miles within
the city limits.
Municipal Markets lllegal.
North Dakota muncipalities, under
their corporate Charters as established
by the state legislature, are not per
mitted to establish meat markets and
similar retail enterprises, according tt
an opinion filed with the city council.
It is the result of a petition to the
council that it establish a municipal
meat market in connection With the
recently <-on-tructed municipal abat
toir,
// (. < ; / ■ / /,
Council Proceedings.
Council Chamber,
Gainesville, Ga., Apr. 9. 1914.
Regular meeting of the council,
flavor Rudolph presiding.
Roll called and Aidermen Grigg,
Lathem. Crow, Pierce present.
Minutes of the regular meeting of
February 26 and call meeting of Apr.
1 and 2 read aud confirmed.
Appeal case of Doris Early was
called, and owing to absence of a
a witness for said Early, was contin
ued until the next regular meeting.
Petition of sundry citizens asking
that a light be placed on E. Wash
ington street between Sycamore aud
Boulevard was read and on motion
referred to the Committee on Water.
Lights and Sewers, with power to
act.
Chairman of Police Committee was
instructed to look into the disturb
ance caused by noise at the old
Methodist church building.
G. W. Dobbs was before Council
asking that a sewer line be laid on
Chestnut street. Application was
referred to Committee on Water.
Lights aud Sewers.
The following reports were read
aud adopted:
Board of Education.
Report of Secretary and Treasurer
of the Board of Education for first
quarter 1914:
Amt recd from States3,4l7 28
Amt reed from city 1,953 86
5,371 14
Pd salaries J.n, Feb.. Meh.. 5,221 58
Bal on hand 149 56
5,371 14
Submitted to Council in accord
ance with the ordinance governing
City Board of Education. This Apr.
9, 1914. A. S. Hardy,
Sect, and Treas.
Marshal:
Number arrests 74
Number discharged 10
Fines collected and pd. Clk-._5111.00
Finance Committee:
Balance March 1, 1914 $1,069 14
Paving on Green street 816 36
Fines, fees and costs 334 15
License tax 513 00
Ad valorem 1,077 45
Water rents 953 47
Meter sales 118 40
Junk sales 41 47
Cemetery 95 00
Curbing, sidewalks, sewers. 192 54
Opera house 2 50
Rent on house water station 2 00
Interest 2 37
Amount overchecked 794 67
6,012 52
Disbursements:
General government:
Mayor’s salary, March $66 67
Aidermen’s salaries, March 225 00
Clerk’s salary, March 125 00
Treasurer’s salary Ist quar - 12 50
Attorney’s salary Ist quar__ 25 00
Printing and supplies 4 00
Telephone 2 05
Postage 2 00
Allowance to Mrs. T. B.
Wright 25 00
Office lights 2 50
489 72
Board of Education 1,753 86
Police:
Salaries 446 24
Supplies 2 10
Dieting prisoners 11 90
Team hire 2 00
Lights 2 50
464 74
Fire Department:
Salaries 280 00
Supplies 11 25
291 25
Water Plant:
Salaries and wages 159 87
Supplies 4U 00
Equipment 87 50
287 37
Light Plant:
Salaries and wages 35 00
Supplies 137 88
172 88
Sanitary and Health:
Wages and salaries 182 72
Supplies 61 19
243 91
Cemetery:
Salaries and wages 35 00
Supplies 2 75
37 75
Streets:
Salaries and wages 247 94
Forage 64 28
312 22
Public Debt:
Atlantic Bit. Co 1,787 60
Interest 130 80
1,918 40
Public Lands and Buildings:
Wages 25 00
Repairs 2 97
Opera House lights 13 05
41 02
6,012 52
Following resolution read second
time and adopted: . j
Whereas, the Honorable Board of
Roads and Revenues of Hall county
have expressed an intention to dedicate
for certain purposes and upon certain
conditions the circle upon which is lo
cated the Confederate Monument in the
square of the city of Gainesville and,
Whereas, the conditions imposed by
said Board of County Commissioners
such as to require the policing and re
moval of garbage therefrom and the
protection of the trees, hedge, shrub
bery, grass, flowers and monuments
from damage or injury, therefore,
Be it resolved by the mayor and coun
cil of the city of Gainesville in regular
session assembled that said city take
such steps as its officers may deem fit
and proper to comply with the condi
tions as prescribed by the Board of
Revenues of Hall county
Street Tax Ordinance, 1914.
The following ordinance read the first
time, rules suspended, read the second
time and adopted:
Sec. 1. Be it ordained by mayor and
council of the city of Gainesville and it
is hereby ordained by authority of the
same, that all male persons between
the ages of sixteen and fifty in the city
of Gainesville, Ga., shall be required to
work on the streets of said city six days
during the present year, 1914, said
work to be done under the street over
seer. and at such time and place as may
be ordered by the street committee.
Sec. 2. That all persons who may de
sire to do so may commute said work
by paying in lieu thereof the sum of
$3.00 into the city treasury, to’ be paid
to the city clerk, to be receipted for by
him, which money shall be in lieu of
said work, and shall be expended in
working said streets.
Sec. 3. The said $3.00 herein provid
ed for shall be due on the day specified
in the summons of the policeman serv
ing the summons.
Sec. 4. That whenever directed by
the street committee the clerk shall is
sue to each of the citizens who are lia
ble to work on the streets staffing the
time and place at which they I<o ap
pear, and the number of days they are
to work, which notice may be served
by the marshal or policeman at least
one day before the party is to appear.
Sec. 5. Any person subject to work
on the streets of said city who, after
being duly notified, shall fail to appear
or pay the $3.00 in lieu thereof by the
specified time injthe summons, or any
person who having appeared shall fail
to work the required time as directed
by the street committee, shall on trial
and conviction be punished as provided
in section 68 of the city code.
Sec. 6. Be it further ordained by the
authority aforesaid that all ordinances
and parts of ordinances in conflict with
this ordinance are hereby repealed.
Following bills for the first reading
were referred to the finance committee:
E. E. Kimbrough, $75; Geo. W. Moore,
151.04; Sims Grocery Co., 49.15; Sou.
Bell Tel. & Tel. Co., .60; Hosch Bros.
Co., 2.00; C. W. Merck, 12.49; J. A.
Adams, 2.75; Hardie & Son, 143.09; Geo.
P. Estes, .25; Reed Bros., 5.60; Dr. C.
D. Whelchel, SBS; Ashford Bros., 2.75
Hughes Bros., 132.33; Ga. Ry. & Power
Co , 383.63; Gainesville Ry. & Power
Co., 290.47; Palmour Hdw. Co., 18.28;
G. D. Barnard Co., 15.97; Bagwell Mfg.
Co.; 10; J. L. Nix, 3.50; Garrett & Ashe,
7.25; Gainesville Brok. &Com. Co. 45.
Following bills read the second time
and approved by the finance committee
were ordered paid: Neptune Meter Co.,
$210; H. L. Richardson, 11.90; Carter
Grocery Co., 14.15.
On motion the remuneration of the
Tax Assessors was fixed at $2 per day.
The salary of city engineer C. L. B.
Sanders was fixed at SIOO per month,
beginning April Ist.
The matter of contracting for coaj
was referred to the water and light
committee with power to act.
No further business the council, on
motion, adjourned.
John B. Rudolph, Mayor.
C. B. Stovall, Clerk.
Save 50c
And have your Panama Hat Cleaned
before the 20th.
U. R. WATERMAN,
Agent The Ben Vonde Co.
Lumber and Shingles
For sale byß. A. Parks. Murrayville
Ga., Bute 1. Made at my saw mill,
Write, or Phone 2503.
Discharge in Bankruptcy.
In the District Court of the United States
for the Northern District of Georgia.
In re. J. B. Robertson, Bankrupt. No. 305
in Bankruptcy.
A petition for discharge having been tiled
in conformity with law by above-named
bankrupt and the Court having ordered
that the hearing upon said petition be had
on June 6th, 1914, at ten o'clock a. in. at
the Uqited States District Court room, in
the city of Atlanta, Ga., notice is hereby
given to all creditors and other persons in
interest to appear at said time and place
and show cause, if any they have, why the
prayer of the bankrubt for discharge should
not be granted. O. C. FULLER, Clerk.
By F. L. Beers, Deputy Clerk.
Notice of Dissolution.
Notice is hereby given that the
firm of Vater & Lederer, heretofore
engaged in the business of Jewelers
in the city of Gainesville, is this day
dissolved by mutual consent, Mr.
Vater retiring. The business will
be continued at the same place by
Mr. Lederer, who will settle all firm
liabilities and receipt for all debts
due firm.
This the 4th day of May, 1914.
Charles Vater.
George E. Lederer.