The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-23

c. 6. counties, precincts, cities towns
 The s poniiPle posa oets0 governing this regu Iregulation of the liauor traffc has been through local Legislation. I subscriha
 to the principle of local option. and
 such has been been my record on this ques- enable the people of localities, as may
 be prescribed by law. to vote upon this question. and settle for themselves what they want, whether that be prohi-
 bition, dispensary or saloon. As to what shall constitute the locality or I unit, whether county, precinct or in corporated city or town, there is a diff
 ought to be the county and incorporated city or town, that is to say, that an
 election may be ordered for the whole county or for any incorporated city or
 The Convict System.
 In the administration of any convict
 system the following points should be 1 kept in mind, humanity. revenue, equity
 to free labor. and reformation of the l convict.
 In the present convict system estab- | lishment by Governor Jelks and man. aged by him and the able Board of Con- these points are favored This is par | ticularly true as to the revenue. This | new system alone will make the ad- the best in the States history. The | present surplus in the State treasury Is mainly due to this source. There is also greater humanity, and more | equitable distribution of the competi- ton of convicts with free labor and an | effort made at reformation, especially | of the younger convicts. As an Illus tration of the difference in the revenue | between the new and old system. the net earnings of each convict at Pratt | Mines under the new system is about s35 per month. while under the old it | was about $10 per month--a difference | nF n1- ployed at mine labor in favor of the new system. This profit now goes Into | the State Treasury while formerly 1t | went to the profits of the contractors: | The system is now earning over and above all expenses about $300,o0O a year.
 cember, 1902, l was associated more or l less in an official and professional capa- | city with the convict system of the State. What accomplished in the re- formation of the old system by improve ment in sanitation and in the treatment of the sick I shall pass over and will refer those interested upon this subject l to the reports on the convict system. As a legislator my record on this question think will show that I can | claim, without boasting, presumption or infringement upon the credit due to Governor Jelks. to be the author of the new system. Senate Bill 104 which 1 was introduced by me into the Senate contained among other things the fol- | lowing important provisions: the aboii- ton of the lease and county convict system; the establishing of a manu- | featuring, mining. agricultural and in- valid department; the establishing of Board of Managers consisting of gen. eral manager. superintendent of mines, | superintendent of farms, medical director and jail inspector Couvicts allowable for work in mines were limit ed to 25 per cent of the whole number | of convicts and the State was authoriz- | lod tn a follows.
 First-To mine coal for the owners of mines at an agreed price per ton delivered on the tinple. that is to say, on the outside of the mines. Second-To mine coal for owners of mines at an agreed price per ton. the coal to be delivered at the mouth of the room in the coal mine.
 Third-To hire convicts at an agreed price per class to coal operators. the | State maintaining and retaining entire control of the eonvicts.
 Fourth-To lease coal lands and open and operate mines on State account. This bill passed the State, but was defeated in the House. Had it become law it would have netted the state | 1903 at least million dollars more than was netted under the old system, The | system adopted by Governor Jelks Is | in accordance with the list, End and 3rd | forms of employment above suggested. ' For the reasons why this system should be a success and for It's necessity, the reader Is referred to report of joint | committee which was prepared by me and which is printed in the Senate 1 and House Journals session 1896. Gov 1 ernor Jelks has thoroughly demon strated the wisdom and practicability | of this policy. .@
 While Acting Governor the Board of Inspectors with my approval refused to l hire convicts under the old system to | the saw mills, but made contracts with them in accordance with the new sys- tenn. The convict lease system. there- fore, has been practically abolished so
 far as the State convicts are concerne1 | I think, however, that the problem
 will not be fully solved until the State
 Is wholely independent of private In,
 terests. While Acting Governor I
 the university and girls industrial school for the purpose of opening and operating coal mines on State account; I had not succeeded when l retired
 I shall endeavor to wholly separate the State from private interests In the operation Of the convict system.
 The County Convict System.
 The county convict system Is a dis grace to the State and should
 De abolished. favor its aboIi-
 ti01 %d of the ne TSvae aed forfetars tGr fund of the several counties of the
 State, that 30 per cent of the net rev
 enue derived tr9m the wn6ae t6a co9nties o9nElcs lin accordance with the earnings Of
 the convicts from the several coun-
 ties, to be placed to the credit of the
 fine and forfeiture fund. If this is
 done all the court officers will receive their cost in full and in a short time
 the deficit in the fine and forfeiture fund of the several counties would pc abolished, and witnesses could be paid in cash instead of scrip, which scrip
 has been done for the State convicts
 can be and ought to be done for those
 who are sentenced to hard labor for
 the county.
 portance but 1t Is impossible to dis cuss them all in one address. nor is 1t possible to discuss fully the policy
 that should be adopted in the dis
 charge of all the duties of the execu- tive. 1 desire, however, to call atleh-
 tion to some of them.
 Appointments.
 In the filling of offices required ny law to be filled by executive appoint-
 ment would try to select one of my tl friends who is in every way worthy
 and well qualified to discharge the
 the appointing power, to his own non or and to the satisfaction of the peo' pie
 In filling vacancies in office as pro.
 vided by law. would insist that tht and capable. With that settled. should be governed by endorsement.
 believe that United States sena tors should be elected by the people This cannot be done under the con i best thing is for political parties t
 nominate their candidates in a prima ry to be voted for by members Of th' ! Legislature. If 1t be good thint , to nominate candidates to be eeIecte, ) States Senate fs if not also goot