The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-12
DR. CUNNINGHAM OUTLINES
 POLICY OF ADMINISTRATION
 IN LEASING STATE CONNECTS

(contInued from Fifth Page.) not be influenced by 1t hiring convicts. The logical conclusion. therefore, is that by limiting the amount of coal mined by convicts we increase the demand for coal. Consequently competition among opera tors for that coal. The method therefore to maintain the revenue is to limit the amount of coal mined by convicts to about one-half of the present output, and for the state to mine this coal itself. and turn the profits Into the state treasury nov enjoyed by the mine operators If con- tractors hire the cohvicts for so much per capita, or per classification and main tenance, they, of course, will deduct tho latter from their estimate of their earn ings before biddin. If the state works It's convicts, it, of course, will maintain the cost of maintenance in any contract it may make with lessors of mines. In both cases the convicts must be main- tained With equal management the cost must be the same. Therefore, if contrac- tors can make more out of the convicts than the state it must De due to one or all of the following reasons: Difference in maintenance; more york; or bettel management.
 GOou Mdnd9emenLs
 NO one, we suppose, will agree that the state has right to allow contractors to do what it would not itself, in either bad treatment or over-work, and cer- tainly the state, by paying salaries suf- ficent can get as good managers. In other words the state should not grant to con- tractors prerogatives that it denies itself and certainly it is competent to manage It's own business. We therefore recom~ mend that the state operate coal mines on it's own accounty'
 The report here sets out that the State University has desirable lands to lease It then proceeds
 "As an illustration. of the earning ca- pacity of convict labor let us suppose that all convicts working in the mines were cutting coal and the price paid for this coal was the same as the price paid for free labor. The task of first class convict in the Pratt Mines seam of coaf is four tons; the price paid free labor for mining coal Is forty cents per ton. There fore, the coal mined in one day by first class convict is worth $1.60 This. of course, without expense to the operator. On this basis let us see what 300 first class convicts would earn at the present price paid free labor and the present task of the convict: 300x4 tons-120O at 40 cents per ton, s4SO per day, or s12,4SO per month.
 Cost to State.
 Now suppose the state had contract to mine coal at the same price paid free mines, the state paying all expenses now paid by the operator. The free miners expense Is His own maintenance and the cost of miners suppies-oil, powder, pa- per, squibs, etc. We have sworn testi- mony that the latter cost is at the rate of of on daily output, to-wit, $270O and we have the following statment as the result: Total earnings per month.. ..... .$12, S0.0O Expenses for miners sup
 pl1es.. ....$ 195.60 Expense for maintenance. 2,700.00
 Total expense. .. -. 3,4959O Net earnings. ..........$ S,9S4 4O "This proposition places the state and the mine operator in precisely the same relation now existing between the free miner and the mine operator
 Now let us see what the state would get under the existing system and pres ent contract: Three hundred f1rst-class convicts at SIS. 50 each, s555o net, which is $3434. 40 less than the same number of convicts at the same class and mining the same amount of coal would earn if
 
 paid for free labor.
 Suggestions.
 tThese figures illustrate the great pos abilities of the state. We therefore be- leve that the law should authorize the state authorities to mine coal upon the following terms and conditions:
 "F'irst-To contract mine coal at an agreed price per ton in the railroad car or loaded in the tramcar in the mines. ''Second-To lease a coal mine and mine coal on its own account.
 "Third-To hire its convicts per capita or per classification, per month to mine operators. the state maintaining, guard ing, controlling, etc. the convicts.
 ''We think the relative advantages are in the order mentioned. If the state can not make satisfactory contracts under any of the above provisions, then to pro- ceed at once to open mines of its own on lands owned or leased for that purpose. This we regard as the most undesir- able, because 1t might seriously cripple the mining business, but should be re- sorted to as dernier resort"
 
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