The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-11
Hiring of the Convicts. The Birmingham Evening News, Bir- minRhafn Alabama

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 Gentlemen--I received your nota some days since. together with an edi- torfal clipped from The News. and beg to suggest that before saying more. I
 of Alabama, and for the Board of Con vict Inspectors, any desire or purpose to give preference in the hiring of the. labor of convicts, to any individual or ! Your kindly suggestion that with draw the advertisement for bids for
 the hire of the labor of convicts. and was doubtless predlcated upon the idea
 that persons bidding for tho labor of convicts. not having ready equipped
 prisons. would be placed at disad- prisons and equipments. This coupled
 with the fact that the contracts will
 pc made at the option of the Board, for doubtless made the impression upon your minds hereinbefore indicated
 II may De stated as fact. that no indlvidual or company can hire the la Dor of the conyicts who cannot comply with the requirements of the notice in furnishing prisons and equipments. So | reduced to Its last analysis, the objec-
 tion of The News, is to the length of
 the time of the contracts, that is, one, two or three years. The length of the contract will not be determined to the detriment of the State.
 It may be stated as a fact that calling for bids is merely an initiation of ne- gotiations. looking, to the hire of the labor of convicts. The man who, in convicts will make his bid to suit what he conceives to be his interests. It Will then be left with the Board to de- terminee whether the bids may all be themselves the right to do so, or to accept that bid. which tends most to the promotion of the interest of the
 The notice for bids is given in good time to give any one who desires to do so an opportunity of furnishing the necessary accommodations for convicts before the first of Januaryxnext, and If his bid is sufficient, he my obtain a contract for three instead of one year.
 The News suggests that the propo- on its own account Is a pleasing kind of myth" to talk about, and has no real substance, This Is the kind of am that of has or Deen fTend in by
 undertakings upon the part of the Convict Department, but what has been more pleasing still, these so-called
 myths" have, materialized to the great Alabama. The myth" of which The News speaks 1t is now believed will not prove that unsubstantial thing which The News seems to think. I wish to assure all persons inter- ested that all bidders. whether they have prisons ready made, or contem-
 
 fair showing in the matter of awarding contracts.
 I think The News. and all others in- terested, may trust the Governor and the members of the Board of Convict Inspectors for fair treatment, and the success of the Convict Department. The people of Alabama generally be- lieve that they have had to "go into the Treasury, every cent that could possi- bly be gotten from the hire of convicts to responsible bidders during the present administration. and they fur ther believe that the convict inspectors have discharged to themselves and to the people every duty they owe as of fcers of the Convict Department, and the people further know that nothing has been done in corner" and.
 therefore, have a good right to suppose that nothing will ba "done In cor ner." -. I may add that the Convict Depart ment Is in no wise dependent upon the mining interests of Alabama, for the employment of the labor of the conYicts under its management. South of Mont eomery there are interests not perhaps quite as extensive as the mining inter ests, where all the convicts, dare say, under the control of the department could be placed upon advantageous contracts.
 With much respect, I am,
 Yours truly, J. M. Carmichael President of the Board of Convict In spectors.