The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-15


 they have met with my hearty approval. The State has. since the first day of January, had positive and daily control of it's men worked in these mines to the number of something ike six hundred. The department expects to further reduce the death rate. which has been less high during the past few years than ever be- fore.
 The contractors are now paying per ton practically what free miners are paid. That this arrangement will increase the net income of the department, as well as show satisfactory decrease in the mor~ tality rate, I have no doubt The profits of the department for two years have averaged about $9O,000. You may, in your calculations on income and disburse- ments. look confidently to somewhat higher net income to the State from this department in the next four years. Cost of Returning Prisoners to the
 State.
 The States around us provide in their statutes for the payment by the respect i've counties of the expense incurred in the capture and return of absconding felons. It now depends alone upon the Governor whether ne will issue reQuistion with expenses by the State. This is not a fair burden to the State treasury. Lo- cal Boards of County Commissioners know better whether 1t is advisable to in- cur the expense of sending for these criminals. The local boards would have refused to allow it in some cases where I have permitted the amount charged the State and would, no doubt, have sent for criminals for whom l have declined to authorize the expense. The County Boards are better informed in these cases, and, besides, the counties should at least pay the expense incurred when the criminal is sentenced to hard labor for it's benefit
 Feeding Prisoners.
 The State paid out the last fiscal year $97, ,564 50 for feeding prisoners in the coun- ty jails. The appropriation for this pur- pose is $100000. Our annual needs are likely to run beyond this sum in the next increase the appropriation. This disburse- 1nent would be something less but for some special statutes waich allow the court in one or more counties to sentence a man to jail rather than to hard labor This sentence to jail means just so much each day for each such prisoner out of the States funds There is no excuse for taking this money out of the treasury other than the arbitrary statute. If you should not sec fit to repeal the act alto getner. you might so amend 1t that the county will have the burden of It's en- forcensat This wrongful diversion of the State s money amounts to several thousand dollars.
 Sixteenth Section Land.
 The States land agent finds in an effort to straighten out the States land books that there are 225,0e0 acres of sixteenth section lands. which, according to any showing we have, Is the property of the schools, but which is now claimed by per- sons under adverse or other real or pre- tended titles. The land agent has been diligently engaged and has done an inn mense amount of work in an effort to re- claim the State own and having pat ents issued to persons whose rights ap- near to be reasonably clear. He has met with many obstacles. among them the in- disposition of some of the County Asses sors to give him needed assistance. 1 suggest that a small committee of each house be appointed having this matter in care. to confer with the land agent and agree upon some needed legislation.