The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-12

OF CONVICTS
State Beard Submits Its
Report.
AN EXCELLENT SHOWING
VIII Earn Quarter of Million
In Fiscal Year.
President Carnichael Congratulated
Governor ON wisdom Displayed In
Changing the System Of Leas-
Ing PrisOners-Health r. Good.

will in all probability be paid into the
State Treasury as the net earnings Of
the State Convict Department for the
fiscal year which ends September 80.
During the first three-quarters Of
the year. which ended June 80, the de-
partment paid into the treasury in net
earnings $217,104.71. President ]. Nj.
Carmichael in his report, submitted
yesterday to Governor Cunningham. in
dicates that the total for the year will
be over a quarter of a million dol
lars.
President Carmichael says further,
that the success Of operating the con-
victs under the direct control Of the
State has succeeded beyond the most
sanguine wishes OF the men who On
augurated the change from the old sys-
tenn. He praises the foresight Of Gov
ernor Jelks. who placed the policy in
operation and consratulates Governor
Cunningham as one of its staunch
friends and supporters upon Its sue
cess.
The last year the lease system was
in effect the State received from tho
workings of the convicts about $94,-
600, which was the largest annual net
receipts under the old system. Com
pairing those figures with the quarter
of a million income for the present
year SHOWs WHdt ttlS new Systth hdD
done for the State Treasury.
| Report of Department.
The report of Judge Carmichael was
in full as follows:
Hon. X, NJ. Cunningham, Lieutenant
and Acting Governor, Montgomery.
Ala:
Dear Subsection 4439 of the Code
OF Alabama, contains this language.
The Governor shall have general SUI
perintendence, and control of the III
speotors and of all matters relating
to convicts, and see, that the inspectors
perform their duties; and there shall
be made quarterly to him. by the Pres
ident and as often as he may require.
a report of the condition of the cor
vfcts and OF the work done by each Of
ficer.'
In pursuance of this requirement of
law, l now submit the report so re-
CURED.
The condition of the convicts is, per-
haps. as favorable as 1t has ever been
during the existence of this department.
True some are sick and few have
departed this life during this quar-
ter. but in the main, the convicts are
healthy and are apparently as well
contented as people could possibly be
under the circumstances. They are
well fed, well clothed. and their gen.
eral well being carefully looked after
THE policy of the administration,
that is Of the inspectors. approved b.
the Governor, is for this department 10
acquire as rapidly as may be. absolute
control of the convicts, so that no man
not connected with this department
will be responsible for the personal
treatment of convicts. Ia
Every quarter perhaps every day,
demonstrates more and more thorough
ly the wisdom of Governor Jelks and
of those concurring in his opinion, in
inaugurating the method of working
convicts in the mines. Under this sys-
tenn the convicts are we'll treated, and
as a financial scheme. 1t is a success
beyond the most sanguine hopes Of
those who inaugurated the project at
the outset. Since that time another
contract has been made with the Dun
ham Lumber Company of the same
character, and others still, II is hoped.
will be made in the same manner. and
doubtless with the same measure of
success.
dent, as usual. has given attention to
Office work and the general superin-
tendence of the department.
The Physician Inspector has been
engaged in classifying and giving med
ical attention to the convicts, and the
Associate Inspector has made the usual
inspection of convicts, to look after
their treatment. and the like. Each
one of the inspectors has attended
every meeting OF the Board and all
have counselled together in relation
to the best methods of managing the
Intricate questions arising frequently
before the Board.
The subordinate officers of the de-
partment, having charge or the several
prisons, have been engaged in giving
diligent attention to their respective
duties. having in view, in the main. the
interests of the State, and the success
of the department.
The Mining Operations.
The mining operations have been
very successful. improving somewhat
all the while. The farms at Wetump-
ka, Speigner and No. 4, have a respec-
table promise of success. In fact. they
are as good as the farms in the sur
rounding neighborhood where they are
located.
The primary object of the present ad
ministration. is the we'll being of the
individual convicts. Nevertheless, as
secondary proposition, its financial sue
cess is a matter also of much import
ance 1 therefore beg to suggest that
the net income from this department
that is, the amount going into the
treasury. after all expenses are paid.
for the first quarter of the present ifs
cal year. beginning October, was
First quarter -.............$ 57.1S9. %
Second quarter .......... 94,945. 40
Third quarter :. ........... 64,969. "a
Total .............$ 217,104 II
ut will appear, therefore, that the
net income for the present fiscal year.
If no great disaster befalls our opera
tions, will be at least a quarter of a
million dollars and more
TT is well known to the President
and Inspectors. of this department, that
you heartily favor the new departure.
or mining operations. now carried on
by this department, and expected fully
greatly beneficial results to the State.
nevertheless, with due Difference to
modesty, the board entertains the hone.
that Governor Jelks and yourself, and
in fact, all the friends OF the new de-
parture, may be agreeably surprised at
that which goes beyond your expecta-
tions.
1T will be observed that there is a
want OF correspondence in the net
amount received for the several quar-
tiers mentioned in this report This is
due to several causes, two of which
may be mentioned: greater receipts in
one quarter than another, and greater
expenditures in one quarter than an
other. The first quarter of the fiscal
year. as will be observed, resulted in
net income of S57.1s9.2s. During that
OF cost bills, was paid. reducing sharp
lW mot an.