The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-02
PROPOSED TO PAY STATE DEBT
 BY LABOR OF THE CONNECTS
In View of the Large Earnings of the Convict De partment President Carmichael Suggests Funds
 Might Be Used to Pay State Debt.

Judre I. M. Carmichael. President of Inc state Board of Convict Inspec- tors. submitted yesterday his quarterly report of the convict year to Acting Governor Cunningham.
 The communication shows that the general condition of the cohVicts our- inc tha mast three months has been as good as is known in the history of the present administration.
 Six new contracts were made wnn lumber concerns, turpentine distiiiers and farmers, all of which maintain the high prices current in Alabama for con- vict labor and protect the moral and nhvsicai welfare of the convicts.
 It is estimated by Judge Carmichael that if these new contracts are not in- terrupted in their operation they should realize to the State a sum Of $so,ooo annually or A net, after deducting ex- nenses of s60, ,00O One contract was made with N. A. Thaggard Of Conee County, for turpentine work, by which, the State will receive $25 per month for each convict. The contractor Is to house and furnish rations to the con victs and employees of the State. and the Department Is to clotne' guard anu care for the convicts.
 This contract and two with the Hand Lumber Company, of Dolive, and the Horse Shoe Lumber Company, of River Falls, are regarded as excellent TOT the prfces stipulated. The two latter cor porations win pay approximately $2s per month for each convict leased. By the terms of these contracts, the De- partment has the entire control Of the convicts, as far as feeding. clothing and caring for. them are copcerned.
 Judge Carmichael suggests that on account of the great excess of the earnings of the Department over the expenses of the States criminal law. 1t might be possible within twenty or twenty five years to pay with the pro- ceeds the entire State debt.
 The report in full is as follows:
 Montgomery, Ala, Nov. 30, 1904. Hon. R. M. Cunningham, Lieutenant
 and Acting Governor, Montgopery'
 Ala:
 4439 of the Code of Alabama, l beg to submit my quarterly report
 The condition of the convicts during the quarter terminating with this day has been, as Is in all respects, as fa- .vorable as has been known during this administration.
 On Thanksgiving Day. all those in the immediate charge of the Depart ment were furnished an excellent dim ner, together with fruits of all kinds which could be found in the market. A number of contractors did likewise, furnished their convicts with an excel lent dinner I am sorry to say, how ever, that several in violation of the law, and influenced by an unbecoming greed, employed those in their service to work on Thanksgiving Day. As soon as I can find myself conservative enough to use such language as ought to be used, I mean to take this mat ter up with these money making peo- pie.
 It never occurred to me until after Thanksgiving Day had passed. that we had to do with any people who would utterly disregard the law, but the in- formation has come to me in relation to their conduct, and I confess that l was shocked by 1t.
 Since ithe 31st day of August last, on which day my semi annual report, was submitted to you, the Board has made contracts as follows:
 One with N,r A. Thaggard, Esq, in Coffee County, for turpentine work, for which the State will receive $25 per month for each convict. The con- tractors housing and furnishing ra- tions for the convicts and the em- ployes of the State, and the Depart ment clothing, guarding and caring for the convicts.
 Also contracts with the Horse Shoe Lumber Company, and the Hand Lum- Der Company one at River Falls, in Covington County, and the other at Dolive in Baldwin County. and in these contracts the Department has the en- tire control of the convfcts, feeding, clothing and caring for them. gener- ally, except as to prisons, water, wood, lights, lands for garden and truck patches, beds. bedding, dining and eook-room and furnishings, quarters for the employees of the State, and the like, and other concessions made by the contractors.
 In each of these cases the State will receive SLIP 1-2 per day each. for each days work done.
 The Board has also made three con- tracts, one with Walter Bros. one with L. H. McCurdy and one with w. D. McCurdy, for agricultural work, at $9 per month for each convict. These convicts are such as are not suitable for mine work.
 Tn these agricultural contracts the Department does not take charge of the convicts for several reasons. In the first place. agricultural work is not as arduous as saw milling and tur- pentining, and cannot be done in the night time. and therefore the interest of the convict is not so much in jeop- ardy on a farm as in turpentining or saw milling. In the next place the number engaged Is so small that it Is impracticable for the board to take charge of them. The expenses would exhaust the profits. In the last place, the need was in no sense so great for the department to take charge of the convicts as in some other places.
 If these several contracts, together with that of the Durham Lumber Com pany, recently made. shall be kept fully up to the undertaking of the la... U