University of South Carolina Libraries
The Press and Banner ABBEVILLE, S.C. Fubltshed Every Wednesday by THE PEESS AND BANKER CO v. n. i\ Kfin?r WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1916. ' __ I THE COUNTY CHAIN-GANG. The State Board of Charities and j Corrections in its annual report, at i pages 138-1-10, exposes the absurdity i nf plm'm iVint. it is eheaner to Overhead Charges Constant. "Another element to be taken into < consideration in trying: to arrive at i chain gang costs is the time lost : from work on account of sickness, i bad weather, Sundays, etc. The overhead expense, of course, goes on just the same. In Charleston coun- t ty the average number of days work- i ed was 84 per cent., the average i number of men at work was 93 per j cent. In Charleston city 19 per < cent, of the men were constantly idle 1 on account of sickness in 1913, and ] 25 per cent, in 1914. The average : rmmher of davs actually worked was not stated, but it could not have been more than 86 per cent., because there 1 are only that many working days in ] the year. Ih Spartanburg during j the two years of 1914 and 1915 the sentences of all convicts on the city chain gang totaled 37,710 days, but < during this period 7,333 days?19 per cent. ?were lost on account of : sickness, rain, and Sundays. These ] figures would indicate that about 20 ! per cent, of the sentence is lost. Therefore, the actual per capita cost : for maintenance must be increased by 25 per cent, to arrive at the real cost of a convict's daily work. An examination of the two tables i discussed above (Table XVI, giving figures as to guarding on 22 gangs, and the table on page 138) indicate, though they do not prove, the following generalizations: (a) That the average chain gang in South Carolina has 26 to 28 convicts, of whom 6 to 8 are "trusties." rr,, ^ ,? A 4.^ c (D ,> inat it empiuys <? iu u gumuo whose average monthly salaries are 1 $55.00 to $60.00 for foreman and : $30.00 for others. i (c) That in such a prang of 27 convicts the guarding cost is about ; $0.21 a day a man and the feeding 1 cost about SO.21 to $0.24 . The (1 other maintenance costs are probably | ] 30 per cent, of the combined expen-11 ses for feeding and guarding, bring-J1 ing the figures up to $0.55 or $0.60 j; a man a day. If this be increased . by 25 per cent, for lost time, as above indicated, we shall arrive at ' $0.70 to $0.75 as a probably fair estimate of the county's daily expense for each convict on chain gangs of 1 26 to 28 men. (d) That the larger the gang the ' lower the per capita cost. An an- 1 alysis was made of all the Charleston j city chain gnncr figures for two years, i It showed that, after deducting the : average number of pick prisoners from the average per diem population and assuming that the remain-; ing n?*'v'"?ov worked "I" d ; *.*:* a year,' the c. f T ; pvi:;,incr in 1010 for a gang n-" * v.- S1.1C7:;. nr ! in 101 1 for a r 1 "> it v.-. ;r?.0. That is. v"'"' : r i',*i i'i 10**' thnt j was 40 i or cent, ir.oie th: "> in 101 1. ; the cost was 20.5 per cent. less. Trie j worl.in'; of short term prisoners ">r> i very frrc.'l rangs would seem to be . doubly expensive as it takes from , two to three weeks to harden a man to road v.-ork after he has boon in jail for any considerable time." We believe that the report of the grand jury in Abbeville County, filed j some two or three years ago, esti- \ mated the cost of a day's labor by : a convict at about three dollars, and we are of the opinion that the figures were pretty close to the truth. But, whether the cost is three dollars, or one-half that amount, it must be evident to any thinking man that chain-gangs, especially small gangs such as we have in this county, are constant drains on the county, and that it is impossible. Dven work the public roads with convict i labor than with free labor. At the ! top of page 13S it is shown that it costs, in Charleston County, one dollar each day for the subsistence, guarding and miscellaneous expenses, of working a convict where the number of convicts in the gang is 12. Where the number is 21 the expenses j are figured at sixty-one cents per day. But these figures taken alone, are misleading as the report will show. The expenses are figured on a basis I of three hundred and sixty-five days ! in the year, and no allowances are made for Sundays, lost time, for sickness, nor for the many days of bad weather, when the convicts are idle, but when expenses continue to run on. Continuing along this line, the report says: stead of being ever alert to prevent gU? a convict from escaping, Capt. , Schroeder, or the other man in charge of the work, could give more time to studying the engineering for problems connected with a system of ^.or roads, which need study in this county, as well as others. The Supervisor would be enabled to give more fr0 time to these problems too. We ^ hazard the guess now that the chain- we srang troubles of the Supervisor of ^ Abbeville County take more of his to time than all the other work of his office, and that he has next to no au1 (-.' ma roollw +<-> cfnH-ir tlip location of nmt ivuuj vv j - !U V roads, the proper surfacing of roads, how to mix sand and clay, and ques- jn tions of this kind. We say again that the chain-gang system will bankrupt any county the size of Abbeville, if continued, and ^ that without respect to the management; and that the system should be discontinued. There are many other reasons why convicts should not be on the roads, but the financial con- Ab sideration is alone sufficient to con- ati demn the system. J in th? on< ABBEVILLE'S COTTON MARKET, nol or We do not agree with the letter 1 published in this issue and written ^ by our friend, Billy Gaines. Now, wjj it may be true that the cotton-buyers his of Abbeville practice vain frivoli- tio: ties and assume unaccountable airs ^ in the business of buying cotton; but j|or f-Viov oro hn+h nlH mpn jitiH have heen <-V?o trained in a different school from us 1 younger men, and they must have bul their way. Besides this, both of them are great "sticklers" for style, faj apd each must practice his little bla joke. res But when we get down to the mar- !^uket itself, the figures will show that we have the best cotton market in by the up-country. The day the letter sell of Billy was received two men from }j.n< Due West were in this office talking of this market, and they commented unl on the fact that Abbeville has paid cot more for cotton during the whole WO fall than any other market nearby, cer and stated that a great deal of cot- da} ton was hauled here from Due West, otfc Instead of getting the buyers from C01 IT1G Greenwood to haul cotton from Abbeville to that point, we believe the ani figures will show that a man can mo v-v money ordinarily, by buying <. oii< in Greenwood and hauling it here to be re-sold on our market. V?'e have kept up with the markets in the towns of the up-country for several months, and we are uniformly from one-eighth to one-quarter of a cent per pound ahead of any scl of them as reported by the daily ^j( papers which come to this office. j"n", roi A WOLF CAT. er< Representative Wolfe, of Ander- ^ son County, introduced seventeen ne bills in the House of Representatives, to in Columbia, on the first day of the ln session, and the next morning was able to sit up and take nourishment. cu He has so far recovered as to be able fei to return to his home in Anderson on til: Saturday. on The only blusters from which a brave man will take a blow is from be the wind. ctv county can be cut in nan, pernaps uu a fourth of the present cost of main- for taining our chain-gangs. tha And the roads will be worked bet- po? ter. There will be no need of guards pr for ;he men working. One good man can work a hundred men instead of having three or four men to guard pje a dozen or twenty men. And in- mj, stead of having a man who understands managing convicts, we can vjc then have a man whose entire ^ thought will be taken up with the troubles of making good roads. In- ' with the best of management to get Tt value received from the system. With a few hired hands the roads of the county could be scraped in the early spring, which is about all the St; work needed at that season of the so< year. When the crops are worked , pri the last time in July, work on the W; roads should begin. vei Now there is no cconomy in pay- soi ing for work which a man should do th< himself, no matter what the price, wo At that season, and for a few weeks, it the negroes are idle on the farms. ls They should be self-sustaining, and must be during that period. They CV( travel the roads and should assist in e,r working them as should every other the resident of the county. After those tra who prefer to perform labor in lieu ins of paying a road tax, of say three all dollars each, have worked the re- Sy quisite number of days, they could zer find profitable employment on the tio roads, and be paid for their labor net out of the contributons of those who in prefer to pay the tax rates than per- the form the labor. These laborers can ten be hired at that season of the year, ma in every community for seventy-five the cents per day, and they will do a Soi better day's work per man than the the average convict. Every road in the vai county can be worked in August by wa this system, and the expense to the pol IE STATE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM. ? rjj The political fight concerning the ate Warehouse System has come y )ner than we anticipated. We ^ sdicted last week that the office of n urehouse Commissioner would de- S lop into a political plum to be F? jght after by politicians, and that | 3 good which the system promised ! B uld soon be lost sight of. And M J uzj appears that what we had to si.y j fast coming true. i g* The trouble is the same as befalls j sry attempt of a government to i jjg ter the business which belongs to ; citizens. The system is con-13 ry to the spirit and intent of our j Jg titutions. We see no reason why Mi hJ the benefits of the Warehouse | K| stem may not be saved to the citi- j jj is of the state by proper regula- j ns of the business. There is no j Q ;d for the state to enter business j ?*. competition with its citizens, and 3 s legislature should abolish the sys- j "J n before it grows to be a political i chine. The cotton growers of L? : South by co-operating, as do the athern fruit growers, may do for |f ;mselves what they will hope in S n for a government managed j* rehouse system permeated with ^ itics. u But if the law is to remain of S ce, we are of the opinion not only 3 it the matter should be as free as 3 isible from politics, but that the 3 ssent Commissioner should remain office. The system cannot be L| )t out of politics if either the peo- U * 1 i 4-U/, fnm- ma or tne legislature eiec I l/IIC Will" | ^ ssioner. He should be appointed 3 the Governor by and with the ad- yj e and consent of the senate, and 3 re should be no election. We ?jf r this without reference to the Lf ltlemen offering as candidates to ILf :ceed Mr. McLaurin. Mr. Cary jr no doubt a good man, and is said S be an experienced cotton man. Mr. j* Mahan is a lawyer, and there- 3 e has had no training in the coti business. Politically we might willing that either be preferred || j. but I I f the present i;uuuui^.v...., m the standpoint of the business 5 be transacted and the ends sought, * believe that J no. L. McLaurin is 3 ! best equipped man in the state 3 handle the job, and that should U the only consideration. As the IJ :hor of the act, he should be al-|i? /ed to work out the good which If promises from it, or it should fail the hands of its friends. THE COTTON SITUATION, Seen By Billy Gaines; Suggests ^ That the Merchants "Organize." S itor Press and Banner:? Will you allow me a word on the a 1?market. The situ- g uevine wvw on seems to be about thus: Rube IS ves up with his cotton; he is put | (3 line by a policeman and is told g it there are two buyers in town? jfj 2 is at breakfast and the other has (jD t come down yet. After an hour j|J two the two buyers turn up. S One of the buyers tells Rube that j| does not cut cotton but that he I a 1 condescend to look at it if he @ 1 have it cut. After another hour s cotton is cut and put up at auc- gj ri and sold. Rube is present S ile the sale is going on, but that is g )ut all. The cotton finally sells ? about two cents per pound more s in tne nrsc uiu. Mow Rube does not know much, g ; he believes that a market of such ; ? sticity is a good market to stay e ay from. For this state of af- h rs the supply merchants are to a me. They are lacking in self- ? pect or they would induce other g pers to come on the market, even ? they had to pay a royalty. The S siness of the town will be injured 1 a such practices, for no farmer will : S 1 cotton on such a market, nor J S ier such conditions, if he can help ij Abbeville's territory is limited and [a less there is a change, very little ^ ton will find its way to the Abbe- ? e market another season. I || uld suggest as a remedy to have , a tain days on which to sell, say two llj y's in the week; then buyers from [3 ier points could be present, if they gJ * * - J " 1 +1 rvt n ni> lllO (5-^ 11(1 not stay an uic v,w..v., ? rchants micrht. induce the cotton a vers at Greenwood to buy here, (IJ :1 send the cotton to Greenwood in [g tor trucks, as roads are good, and ra :re are a number of trucks there. j|jj Yours truly. i? Billy Gaines. : [3 \$ ) DISCUSS THE FERTILIZER SITUATION j| I pi There will bo a meeting at Sharon gj iool house Thursday night, the 20, ;eting will called to order promptly i[|] seven o'clock. The public is I @ ,'ited. especially the farmers in Sha- |[|j n and adjoining communities. Subjects of vital interest to farm- j ^ - "''ii lip discussed. Farmine i rc] t;hout potash in 191G and we Ej dw not how long thereafter, is a j cessity, and it is up to the farmer oij figure out just what he shall do j |lj] the absence of potash. Some lands q'd not need potash, some do. At- : Ojj id the meeting, take prt in the dis- 1 [jj ssion and try to determine what j [3 rtilizer your land most needs. Fer-|{?| izer formulas will be worked out ' jg Mr. Cheatham, and he will be ll} id to work out a formula for any- ; '|] e present. [ [3 It is hoped that a night class may |Ej organized for the purpose of IM * -v "**o w o v - ? - w* j Don't Miss Thi; I i To Buy all the Boys' ClotI j Boys' Suit and Overcoat ^ in this 33 i=3 per cent D I now and make your sefed ij broken and the best pattei | Yes, wehj 3 _ we are offer m f\ j_ _ _ J 3 uvercoais ai i 1 SPOT CASt Boys $2.50 S lliilri Boys 3.00 S MfStjlM I Boys 4.00 ? 'iPEflU Boys 5.00 S jBMEl Boys 6.00 S VBMsK Boys 7.50 S VlK.\: Boys 8.00 S ? B( Boys $2.50 C i 5u m W\ Boys 3.50 C Boys 7.00 C Boys 8.50 C These goods are new and made' i pendable materials, Serges' Worst 3 quality. j Take advantage of this opportu: 1 Suit and Overcoat at a big saving i: 2 these prices. | PARKER , SJ2j2f2J2iSI2M3MSI5J3IS?3J3JSISM3JSJSi3JSJSMSI3iSf3JS?3M3MSf3JSfc Our Entire Slock 1 _ SPEC of Shoes at 25 f J 3X11131* per cent discount I CflSH BARG/ Must Turn Our 6001 Remember this is 1 (JASH BAKU/ our JanuaryClean j ABBEVILI Up Sale. j pjj0ne ... Best bleached Homespun, 10c quality *7 \ per yard / 2C Good Lonsdale Cambric, 10c quality 1 at per yard 2 Best Lonsdale Cambric, 15c quality, "t * at per yard * * v? Best Cannon Cloth, 15c quality at -l at per yard AJLl* Good Cannon Cloth, 10c qaulity, at Q at per yard Ov Best Percals, 10c quality at 1 at per yard 2 vBest Dress Gingham, 10c quality, J at per yard lie Good Cotton Flr.nnel, 10c quality 1 at per yard 2^* Best Outing, all colors, 10c quality \ at per yard it C All Men's He r:s at 25 per cent off. 25 per cent o. All trunks and Sn l" " '' " C af rsipy r.ftnt of", UrC tjcUCin. ui i.?3 u.w f per cent off. Ei:y Coc^s and Coat Suits fro n Everything in our store going except patterns. Come early and get best sele c ways picked first. Yours to 3j3I5iSMSi'SJ0SJ3i5ISri2I3MEMSf5?n1 fi vJJ5J5v5?55v5J5555JJ^ ^ - - ? - - K HA ! ^1 s Opportunity 1 ling you need. Every j? in our stock is included If, iscount Sale. Come in [f Jons before the sizes are jjjfc rns picked over. S ive too much Boys' Clothing and ?] 11 f tK ) 0._*x_ 3 mg an 01 our .Doys suns etna ; 1-3 off of regular prices for tc -L_. Here they are: jg ^BOYS'SUITS. $ Suits 1-3 off now $1.67 y; Suits 1-3 off now 2.00 S Suits 1-3 off now 2.67 JS Suits 1-3 off now 3.34 Suits 1-3 off now 4.00 yj Suits 1-3 off now 5.UU tfs luits 1-3 off now 5.67 ^ JYS' OVERCOATS. " ffi )vercoats 1-3 off now $1.67 jjj )vercoats 1-3 off now 2.34 ie )vercoats 1-3 off now 3.00 )vprpoa.ts 1-2 off now 3.34 !fi )vercoats 1-3 off now 5.00 jjj )vercoats 1-3 off now 5.67 nj in the best of styles, of good, de- jfj ;eds and Cassimeres, in splendid jjj nity now to get your boy a good ffi n price. Nothing charged at S ft. PFFQF I IX. IVUJUUJU | Rffissffiffisffiffiffiffiififfiaaiiiiiffifiifi 2jaiaiSI3I3JS?3!SI3ISI5SMSJSI3I3I3JSM3JSISM3JB13ISEJ51SI315J2JSIiJS IAL | ah Boy's Clothing I ? Q ~ 1 _ n and Men's Pants 1 * I y aaie | if'jj jier cut | in STORE I Discount. I is into Ready Cash J Better Cotton Flannel, 12 l-2c quality , |\ g at per yard vv. g Best Cotton Flannel, 15c quality, % * : at per yard A A C a Good Sea Island, 5c quality, M at r>er yard g 9 Better Sea Island, 6c quality, ? 1 at per yard [a Best Sea Island. 8c quality, / S at per yard - s All 25c quality underwear OA at &VC ? All 50c quality underwear 39c I I All 45c nuality underwear O^ P at J5C | 1 rB [3 C?*c;r -L:iiire s-oc j; or .n'osr.ery at p i": Cpt.cz i.r: 2c- per cer.t off. En- i - V r3) :. Ail lacc and embroidery at 25 I 1 5 us at your owi price. ai cut prices. Nothing excluded g 1 tion, as the best plums are al- I gi T11 n ti/* [51 X 1C<I ^ w store !^dtov?r1 jE, S. C. | We have the right | p] goods and the right 1 Mm Street | prices. ?j I ijajgfgjBi^jgjgfgjgjgjSISIISJSJSISJSMSJMSlSISJSj'SISMS/SISIE/EJEISPiS^^