Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-02
THE CONVICT QUESTION.


 At every session of the general assembly the convict question comes to the front and much time and talk are consumed in it's discussion. At the last session of the legislature bill was passed constituting a board of convict managers, composed of nine members, who were given the control and management of this question, and it was hoped and ex pected that this measure would take the question from the halls of the legislature and put a quietus to it's con- stant agitation and discussion. But it seems the hopes and expectation of all good citizens have not been realized. Be- cause the board of managers has not been able to establish the convict system upon a permanent and satisfactory basis in two years there is a disposition on the part of some members of the legislature to reopen the whole question, to take a long step backward and to put the matter where it was before the passage of this measure. If there are defects in the bill would it not be wiser toamend the law and remedy these defects than to abolish what has been done and return to the point whence the legisa- ture started two years ago? What was the main object in the passage of the bill? 1t was to change the lease system, and to work the convicts on state account. If this object is found to be impractical at this time on account of the financial conditions of the state, it affords no good reason why the plan should be abandoned entirely, but on y that 1t should be postponed until the state is in better condition. Does prudent man, who lays the foundation for house upon a certain plan, which he, in his mind, has deter mined to be good, fear up the foundation and abandon the plan because of scarcity oi money brought about by means beyond bis control? Does he not rather wait until the financial Is and better times have come, and then resume his work upon the foundation already begun? If the state is not now able to take the con- viets out of the mines and work them on state account, why not amend the bill so as to authorize the board of sfnanagers to keep them in the mines, or to work them in any way they may deem fit for the best lu- terests of the state? This is what MT. Knights bill proposes, and it should pass because it is a sensible, ludicious amend ment to the present law. The law passed by the last legislature does not require the convicts shall be taken out of the mines internationally on the 1st of January next, but only if it can be done without injury to the interests of the state. The contract with the Tennes- see Coal, Iron and Railroad company does not expire un til three years from the first of January'next. During that time if the convict managers can ind work for the convicts more suitable than mining coal and which will be selr-sustaining, give them an opportunity to do SO. If at the end of that time the managers are satisfied that mine work is for the best interests of the state and convicts, let them keep the convicts at that kind of work. No iron clad laws or rules can be passed for the management of convicts. A wise dscre- tion must be left with those who have their management, and with whom can that dis cretiou be better vested than in one good business man selected by the governor from of "a acfr oI at rio of bo state? But, say those who wish to tear down what has already been done by the board of managers and go back to where the convict system was two years ago, the board has bought convict farm at Speig- ners and have spent much money and now propose to farm on state account and will bankrupt the state raising 5-cent cotton, and for this act of ndiscretion the board should be abolished. Now let us look at this matter. The writer does not understand that the board intends to do anything of the kind. In the purchase of land at Speigners it was intepdedito provide q place to work cOnvicts who cannot be worked in the mines. You will hear some men, who are ill informed on the subject say: "Do away with Speigners and put the convicts in the mines.' Those who contend that all the convicts should be put in mines will be surprised to be told that there is considerable proportion of the convicts who cannot work in mines, aud it would be murder on the part of the state to put this class at such work.
 Do these men want the state to be put in the position of murdering the unfortunate criminals in it's charge? Of course not. And when the question is understood it will be found the managers did well in pro- viding place where this class of convicts can be worked, and where they can be made self-sustainiug by raising corn, peas, potatoes, molasses, hogs and little cotton, together with making brick. There is not only class of convicts who cannot be worked in the mines, but a class also who are perfectly helpless and can do nothing. These will have to be kept at walls and supported out of the revenue arising from convicts who are worked in the mines.
 The convlcts at Pratt mines are now bringing over $10,000 per month. This sum will be sufficient to support the system and leave handsome revenue in the treas- ury, provided the amount of costs in state cases now unlimited, shall be put to S150 as provided in Knights bill, which was the sum under the old law and which was satisfactory to the officers of the courts There is no necessity for repeal of the pres ent law, but only for some amendments. Give the board of managers a chance to solve this convict problem. Do not do them the injustice of abolishing the board when they have ouly had two years in which to establish satisfactory system, which has taken years in other states, and which cannot be done in few days or & few years in any state. JUSTICE.
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