The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-23


 all expenses, that is quite one-fourtn of the income which Alabama derived from its taxes. Such A road as that would greatly relieve the people or Alabama from burdens. Has she nor persons convicted of crime? We nave today 1,763 convicts. Why could they not be so employed? If the great cor porations of Alabama can hire them at an average of g per month, feed, clothe, shelter, guard them and give medical attendance and still make It profitable, could not Alabama do the same thing when 1t has no hire to pay, which would amount to one hundred and eighty odd thousand dollars; ana IT that Is so, why not employ them III works of internal improvement. The treatment of them would be more hu- mane.' From time to time reports or your examiners show the utmost cru city in some prison camps where they are hired. that might be compared to Siberia. MT. President, were this sys- tenn to be adopted, the camps Tn Ala bama would be as clean as an lclcle as compared to those prison camps, ana as innocent and harmless as a dove cots. To adopt this policy is matter of humanity, and see the advantage Of 1t. For instance, you employ them for the construction of railroad run ming north from this point to Chat tanooga on the eastern bank of the Coosa River, which runs through country of great fertility. of marvellous variety of productions. both vegetable and mineral. It is estimated that 1OO,- 100000 feet of Iongleaf pine could be supplied for 100 years, annually, and not exhaust the forests. 1t would open mines of coal, iron, lim5 stone, maroie and all the other products that con- tribute to the wealth of State. You would find little towns growing up along it's line as 1t rushed from here northward just as you have seen foam balls lodge by the Side or rapid flow ing streams. They would be full of intelligence and thrift, and of every kind of useful employment. What ob- jectiqn can De made to it? Let me revert to the fact that Alabama has no property except this square, where the State House rests, and some eiee- mosynary institutions. It holds prop erty as a trustee, and what would pre- vent it then, paying so much royalty 10 the University of Alabama, for it's coal mines, and after 1t paid , or 10 cents CT whatever the Legislature might have determined upon, for dig ging coal to put the residue, after the royalty was paid, into the Treasury of the State, and thereby relieve the people of Alabama of taxes.
 The President-The time of the gen. tleman has expired.
 Mir. Sanford-I thought l had half an hour from the beginning, excepting on an amendment. I am not speaking on the amendment. but on the article it. self. I offered no amendment. The President-There is an amend ment pending, and the gentleman is supposed to be speaking to the amend ment offered by the gentleman from Randolph.
 MT. Sanford-I was speaking upon the original. I don't care about the amendment. because that is in the old Constitution. l was only showing why this section should be adopted.
 MT. CNeal-I was going to suggest as the Chairman yielded his time to the gentleman, would he not be entitled to thirty minutes?
 The President-The Chairman himself would not be entitled to but ten min utes under discussion of the amend ment.
 MT. Brooks-I move that the gentle man be allow ed ten minutes more.
 The President-The question will be upon the suspension of the rules.
 MT. Samford-I only want to say that we could build a canal from Birming- ham to the Warrior River and from Gadsden to the Tennessee.
 The President-Possibly the gentle man from Macon might yield minute to the gentleman from Montgomery.
 MT. Cobb-I will yield five minutes to the gentleman
 MT. Sanford-I am very much obliged to you. 1t accords with your chivalrous character. l was going on to say you could build the canal from Birmingham to the Warrior River and the tolls up- on the canal as the fare upon the rail- road would abundantly pay all ex- penses and contribute to the welfare and wealth of the State. You could dig this canal from Gadsden across to the Tennessee River. a project that has been agitating Alabama for more than forty years. 1t would bring water into the Coosa that would bear all of its freight over the many shoals and ob- structions in that river. bring down iron. timber, marble to Montgomery and on to Mobile and thus enable our people to compete still more success fully with the iron foundries in Pitts burg, Ohio. Illinois and other portions of the United States. It would be a great blessing to our people, it would give employment to them, 1t would in crease the value of taxable property along the country through which these rivers flow. it would help in every par ticular. and enable the schools to be more prosperous by the greater income of the State. Take 1t all in all the wisest thing for Alabama today, imi- tating New York many years ago, in It's great achievement. of the Erie Ca nal. which was opened in 1923; and inn itating Georgia, which built its railway many years ago. and thus became one of the leading States is to adopt this section proposed by the Committee of able men.
 MT. Cobb-I suppose the gentlemen present have Ilade up their minds, and l therefore move the previous question on the original proposition and amend ments.
 Mir. Oates-I hope the gentleman will not do that because the Committee has not been heard from.
 The President pro teu1--The question is on the previous question, the origi- nal section of the Committee and amendment. Shall the main question be now put?
 A voS being taken, the previous questic~l was ordered.
 MT. Oates-I yield my time to the del egate from Sumter, a member of the Committee. to speak for the Commit tee.
 Mir. Rogers (Suter)-Mr. President and gentlemen of the Convention, 1 ask your indulgence this evening, be- cause l feel that I am speaking in fla Vor of a prODOSitiOn tO many who are