The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-09

State convicts will not be leased to the
coal mining companies of Alabama and
that no bids will be received tomorrow
for their hire as had been advertised.
This decision was reached by the State
Board of Convict inspectors after
thorough 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 sloss-shefield Steel and Iron Com
pany These companies lease between
600 and 700 State convicts. They also
have leased about 800 county convicts
VINO are not directly under the jurisdic-
ton of the Board of Inspectors except
| as to their treatment Nearly all OF these
conyicts are worked In the mines Of JEFF
ferson County.
The announcement OF the proposed re-
moval of conyicts from the mines applies
only 70 State convicts but Governor jerks
| and President J. M. Carmichael OF the
Board of Convict Inspectors are SO
thoroughly determined to safeguard the
health of the convicts that it is said
4 that an effort will be made to apply the
same order to the county convicts.
IL this effort is successful about 1850
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 a 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 super
vised by the State and the convicts to be
fed, clothed and cared for by the State.
Pursuant to this idea persons who de-
4 sire to lease convicts have been invited
TO meet the Board OF Convict Inspectors
at the State capitol next Thursday when
. fhe situation will be discussed with the
mine operators
II is said that failing in its plan to work
the convicts in the mines under the pro-
lection Of the State the Board Of Con-
Wet Inspectors may secure authority 10
Il omen coal mines owned by the State Uni
versitv In Tuscaloosa and Bibb Counties
and operate them with State convicts
Both Governor Jelks and President
Carmichael of the Convict Board, are
emphatic In their declarations that the
conyicts will not be hired to the coal OPP
orators after January l.
The contracts for lease of convicts be-
tween the State and the mining compa-
MES will expire on January and 1t 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-
victs would be received.
In the advertising columns of The Ad-
n vertiser this morning President Car
michael makes the following important
announcement to mine operators and 9TH
ers working convict labor:
Notice Is hereby. given that the con-
victs now working in the mines will not
Il be leased, and that no bids for the hire
OF them will be received. on Monday next
or at any other time.
IA conference will be held in my office
at the Capitol on Thursday next. Novem-
her 10. looking to an arrangement to work
the convicts. In mining or otherwise, eth
er for the State or persons desiring their
services. under the immediate control
and supervision of this department.
Gan persons who contemplate submit
ting proposals for the hire of convicts
are respectfully invited to attend the
conference"
To a representative of The Advertiser
President Carmichael said the advertise
r7ent which he had placed in the columns
NJ The Advertiser carried all of the in
formation he desired to make public The
working Of convicts under the immediate
control of the State wauld he said. be
much better for the prisoners and equal
Il. profitable to the State government.
The proposed arrangement he declared
had nothing whatever TO do with the
IA County convicts.
DR.. Shirley Bragg. Physician Convict
Inspector sa!i 1t was probable that the
action of the Board relative to State Con-
victs would result ultimately in the re-
moval of County convicts from the coal
mines He pointed to the fact that a
statute prohibits the working of INSIDE
meanor prisoners ana felony prisoners to-
gather A rigid observance of this law,
- ne said might operate to exclude a ma
FORTY of County convicts from life In the
mines 1t was probable he said, that
the Board 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 reg
,,lations are thrown around them.
The action Of the Board of Convict In
snectcrs concerning the working OF State
convicts in the mines was based largely
n unon the recommendations of DIR. Bragg
ubo during his term of office. has beer
esneciallv watchful of the health and
sanitary conditions OF the convlcts.
SOM time ago, it will be re nembered
nv pragg advised revocal of the con.
troots with the Sloss-Sheffleld Company
hecause of the poor health provisions fol
oorvicts confined and worked at Coal
hurp The company remedied the condi
.Jors and the contracts were not revoked
Dr Bragg said yesterday that the life
ava health of convicts could best be con
sarved bv the State controlling the con
1,icts providing hospitals and medicines
for them and exercising an Immediate
sunervision over Them.
This change in the method of working
oonvicts is the most important step o.