The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-16

not be sued and we would like to ascer-
tain our condition, II after making long
contract, the State should find that II was
losing money. Have we any assurance
that the legislature or succeeding ad-
ministration would not abrogate the con
tracts?'
Administration Stands Pat.
You can depend upon this administra-
ton fulfilling it's part of the contract, put
MS to the future under succeeding adn'h-
lstrations we cannot of course give you
any assurance" replied Governor jerks.
Mr.. Spencer said that in his opinion II
would he a good thing for both parties
to the contracts for them to run eisbl
years.
The Governor said that he did not care
| to do that. He preferred not to run the
! contracts over into other administrations
| Colonel Maben called attention to the
provision in the memorandum, proVloihs
| that the contractors should furnish the
machinery to the convicts for the opera
ton of the mines. 1t would hardly DC
fair he said ito compel the contractors "a
| furnish the expensive machinery, whicn
| In unskilful hands might be thrown oh'
| Of order without the States making some
| provisions for repairs.
] The question as to where the coal sheniu
1 be weighed, whether at the cars or az tne
mouth of the mines was sprung by the
| Governor asking where, in the opinion VI
| the operators, II should be weighed. ihey
| all agreed that 1t should be weighed On
| the tipple but in the final memorandum
| presented at the Afternoon session. the DE-
cision of the State officials that the coal
should be weighed and delivered at the
| mouth of the mines, or rather at the enc
| of the room, was expressed.
AS to the Buildings.
Mr.. Mccormack said that companies
which were already provided at the mines
with prison and hospital buildings would
be In a better position to exercise their
option when he submitted his bid and
| four or FIVE years than the companies or
operators which had to erect their build
| ings. He said the fairer provision would
| be that the bidder should exercise MS
| opinion when he submitted his bid and
not after his bid was accepted and he hao
| to make his contract.
Mr. Mccormack attached considerable
| Importance to this point and brought 1t
| III several times in the general discus
| sion, He was opposed by Colonel Maben.
The decision of the Board and the Gov
ernor that the option was to be exercised
when the bid had been accepted and the
| contractor was entering upon his contract
| remained mistaken.
In reply as to how many tons of coal
| man mined a day one of the operators
said that the average was nine tons
day but some miners got out between
twelve and eighteen tons daily.
Walker Percy presented an amendment
to the plan of the State as outlined In
the memorandum which he declared
would be advantageous to both the State
and the mining companies. He presented
hriQHW hut
clearly and it received the consideration
| Of the officials.
Mr.. Percy's Amendment.
It affected that portion of the memo
randum which related to the states Sc
lection and control of the pit and mine
bosses He said that II would be much
better If the companies selected the
| bosses, the State reserving the right TO
| object and secure the dismissal of any
| boss who was not satisfactory.
Mr.. Percy declared that the companies
in furnishing men, tried by experience.
would increase both the profits of the
operators and the State.
Mr.. Percys suggestion was warmly sec
onded by Colonel Maben, VINO argued III
its favor
The State officials expressed no opinion
as to the amendment but it was not en-
bodied in the final memorandum.
The Governor said that they had lis
tened with much interest to the various
suggestions made by the operators and,
for the state officials. he asked that all
suggestions be reduced to writing and
| submitted to the Board.
For that purpose and In order that all
in the conference might have an oppor-
| tunity to get luncheon an adjournment
| until $3.50 o'clock was agreed upon.
Loaded With Suggestions.
The operators came to the afternoon
session armed with number of sugges-
lions in writing. The suggestions COW
| cred the points made by the operators
and at the morning conference and their
purpose was to modify some of the con-
ditions prescribed by the administration.
The written suggestions were given the
| Governor and the Convict Inspectors, who
retired to the Governors private once
| to talk them over. The executive session
| of the officials was rather long. They
we're absent from the ante room about
| two hours.
They came out with the revised condi-
| tions under which the conYicts OF the
State were to be leased
The conditions finally submitted ara
| those published herewith. The single ma
| t.riaI change from the morning session
was in the provision that the coal wa
| 70 he delivered at the cars. The final
| conditions provided that the coal should
| he delivered at the mouth of the room.
There was practically no discussion of
the final memorandum. Colonel Maben