The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-10
CONNECTS WILL BE TAKEN FROM
 THE COAL MINES Announcement Made That No More of Them Will
 Be Leased.
STATE MAY ENGAGE IN
 THE MINING OF COAL
Action Taken to safe-cuard Health of the Men Which 1t is Said Cannot be Done Under
 the Present System.

Montgomery, November 9.-(Special)- Announcement was made yesterday at the state capitol that after January l. state convicts will not be leased to the coal mining companies of Alabama and that no bids will be received tomorrow for then hire as had been advertised
 This decision was reached by the state board of convict inspectors after a thor ough conference over the situation and the action of the board has been approved by Governor Jelks. The board of convict inspectors was moved to take this important step be- cause of recommendations of Physician Inspector Bragg, who declares that the removal of present conditions in the mines of Alabama Is necessary to reduce the mortality rate among convicts and to pre- serve the health of men who are wards of the state.
 The only mining companies now leasing convicts from the state are the Tennes- see Coal, Iron and Railroad company and the loss-Sheffied Steel and Iron com pany. These companies have between 600 and 700 state convicts. They also have elased about 800 county conviets who are not directly under the Jurisdiction of the board of inspectors except as to their treatment. Nearly all of these convicts are worked in the mines of Jefferson county.
 May Apply to County Convlcts.
 The announcement of the proposed re- moval of convicts from the mines applies only to state convicts, but Governor Jelks and President J. M. Carmichael of the board of convict inspectors are so thor oughly determined to safeguard the health of the convicts that it is said that an effort will be made to apply the same order to the county convicts.
 If this effort is successful about 15oO convicts now working in the coal mines of Alabama will enjoy new conditions soon after the new year begins.
 Following the announcement of the pro- posed change in the method of working convicts came statement that the board of convict inspectors would propose to the mine operators to continue operation of the mines with convict labor but that the convicts must be worked by and under the complete supervision of the state; the stockades to be provided by the state, the guards to be hired and supervised by the state and the convicts to be fed, clothed and cared for by the state.
 Pursuant to this idea, persons who de- sire to lease convicts have been invited to meet the board of convict inspectors at the state capitol next Thursday, when the situation will be discussed with the mine operators.
 May Open Coal Mines.
 It is said that failing in it's plan to work the convicts in the mines under the pro- lection of the state the board of con- vict inspectors may secure authority to open coal mines owned by the State uni versity in Tuscaloosa and Bibb counties and operate them with state convicts.
 Both Governor Jelks and President Carmichael of the convict board are em- phatic in their declarations that the con victs will not be hired to the coal opera tors after January 1.
 The contracts for lease of convicts be- tween the state and the mining compa- nies will expire on January l, and It had been announced that bids would be re- ceived for new leases. Yesterday. how ever President Carmichael authorized the statement that no bids for working con- yicts would be received.
 In the advertising columns of the Ad- vertiser this morning President Car michael makes the following important announcement to mine operators and oth-
 
 .sNotice is hereby given that the con- victs now working in the mines will not he leased, and that no bids for the hire of them will be received, on Monday next or at any other time.
 "A conference will be held in my office at the Capitol on Thursday next, Novem- Der IS, looking to an arrangement to work the convicts, in mining or otherwise either for the state or persons desiring their services, under the immediate con- trol and supervision of this department.
 "All persons who contemplate submit ting proposals for the hire of convicts are respectfully invited to attend the con ference
 President Carmichael says the adver- tisement which he placed in the daily pa- pers carried all of the information he de- sired to make public. The working oi convicts under the immediate control of the state would, he said, be much better for the prisoners and equally profitable to the state government. The proposed arrangement, he declared, had nothing whatever to do with the county convicts.
 Will Remove County Convicts.
 Dr. Shirley Bragg, physician convict in- spector, said 1t was probable that the action of the board relative to state con- victs would result ultimately in the re- rnoyal of county convicts from the coal mines. He pointed to the fact that a statute prohibits the working of misde- meanor prisoners and felony prisoners to- rether. A rigid observance of this law, he said, might operate 70 exciude ma iority of county convicts from life in the mines. It was probable, he said, that the hoard of convict inspectors would ask the next legislature to pass such laws as would effectually provide for the removal of all county convicts from coal mines unless proper restrictions and regulations are thrown around them
 The action of the board of convict in- spectors concerning the working of state convicts in the mines, was based largely upon the recommendations of Dr. Bragg, who. during his term of office, has been especially watchful of the health and sanitary conditions of the convicts.
 Some time ago, it will be remembered, pr. Bragg advised a revocal of the con- tracts with the Sloss-Sheffield company because of the poor health provisions for