The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-01-31
CUNNINGHAM BILL
PASSES SENATE
The Jefferson Statesman Spoke Fer
V0ntly fOr Its Passage.
SENATOR JENKINS, WILCOX
Attacked the Measure and Made q
Brilliant Speech.
The VOTE WAS THIRTEEN TO NINE
The House Begins Consideration of the
General Revenue Bill, and the De-
bate Will be Both Lively
and Interesting.
THE VOTE WAS THIRTEEN TO NINE

Montgomery, January 3O.-(Special)-
Senator Cunninghams convict bill has
passed the house.
ITnmedia tely after the transaction of
routine business in the senate, the special
order, the convict bill, came up and con-
sumed the remainder of the session. The
bill was passed just prior to adjournment
by close vote, 10 to 9. 1t was confidently
expected that there would be long de-
bate over the measure, but the only
speeches made were by Senator Cunning
ham in favor of the bill, and by Senator
Jenkins, of Wilcox, who strongly opposed
it. The speech of Senator Jenkins in oppo-
siticn was one of the best efforts yet put
forth by that rising young statesman from
wilcox. He made many telling points in
the course of his remarks. Senator Jen-
kins was warmly congratulated by his col
leagues at the conclusion.
Full Text of the Bill
Section 1. Be 1t enacted by the general as
semDly of Alabama, That on and after the
approval of this act, all persons convicted
of felony In this state shall be sentenced
to hard labor for the state, and all persons
convicted of misdemeanor shall be SEN
fenced to hard labor for the county in
which they are convicted.
Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the
convicts sentenced to hard labor for the
counties shall not be hired or leased to any
contractors for the purpose of working
them in any coal mines, OF any other
work connected with or related to coal
mines. That from and after the first day
of January, 1900. not more than one-half
of tie convicts sentenced to hard labor for
the state shall be hired or leased to any
cont, acters. for the purpose of working
them In any coal mines, or any work con-
nected with or related to coal mines.
Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the
state board of convict inspectors, under
the direction of the governor, shall, from
time to time, make inspections of the phys
cal condition of the convicts employed in
the coal mines, and remove therefrom all
convicts that are found to be physically
unable to perform such work.
Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That on the
first day of January of each year, begin
ming with the year 1901, one-half Of the
net earnings for the preceding year of con-
victs sentenced to hard labor for the state.
shall be placed to the credit of the fine
>and forfeiture fund of the several counties
of this state. That it shall be the duty OF
the president of the board of inspectors of
convicts, under the direction of the gov
ernor, to prorate this money among the sew
eral counties according to the number OF
convicts sentenced to hard labor for the
state from each county in the preceding
year. Provided, however, that in counties
which have no fine and forfeiture fund, the
money due such counties, under the provi-
sions of this section, shall be placed to the
credit of the general fund, or as the courts
Nf
enue may direct.
Sec e. Be ii further enacted, That the
inspectors of convicts, under the direction
of the governor, shall, from time to time,
as the governor may direct, inspect jails of
the state, and report to the governor the
hygiene of the jails, the prisoners and the
general sanitary condition of the jails, with
such suggestions may be necessary, to
correct all conditions that are detrimental
to the health of persons confined in the
jails.
Sec. 6. Be 1t further enacted, That all
defendants who may be convicted OF felony
and sentenced to less than two years at
hard labor for the state shall be sentenced
to serve an additional term to work out
the costs as now provided by law.
HOUSE.
After the routine business was transacted.
this evening the house went into the COM
n,ittee of the whole for the purpose of con-
siderig the general revenue hill. More than
an hour had been spent in reading the bill,
when the committee arose, reported pro-
gress and asked for further time.
The reading of the bill will probably be
concluded tomorrow, and on the following
day one of the liveltest battles in the his
tory of the assembly will be inaugurated.
There is a lobby here against the measure,
and it is charged that politics Is being in
jected into the fight. 1t is a noticeable fact
that many of the lobbyists are strong op-
ponents of the administration.
Filibustering tactics have already been
threatened by the opposition, and If this
method is carried into effect to defeat the
measure, there is little hope for any other
important state legislation to get before
the house.
Representative Screws introduced a reso-
luton memorializing the Alabama members
in congress to use their efforts to get an ap-
preparation for the opening of the Coosa
river.