The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-10

maintenance and the cost of niners supplies -oii., powder paper. s9uips. etc. We have sworn testimony that the latter cost is st the rate of $2.Se for 100 tons of coal Therefore. on daily output, towft, 1,2oo tons 1t would be $ses0 per day, or .is5.6O Ter montn. Now. add the maintenance of Sao con vfcts at ss.ao per month each. to-wit, S2,7oa and we have the following statement as the result to-wit:
 Expen. miners sup 5ss.so
 Ex. nfaintenance5. ..sIoo-oo
 Total expense ..... a,4es. 80 Net earnings <. ....S Sssss ~fV
 This proposition places the state and the mine operators n precisely the same relation now existing be- tween the free miner and the mine op- erator, *
 Now, let us see what the state should get under the existing system and present contract: Three hundred first class convicts at $1s.5o eacil-- s5.55o 100 net--which Is ss4o4 70 less than the same number of copvicts at the same task and mining the same amount of coal would earn. If paid for their laker same as the amount paid for free labor.
 These figures illustrate the great possibilities of the state. We there fore believa that the law should au- thorisc the staee autkcr.ties to mine coal upon the foi!c wing terms and con ditfoHs: ss
 First. To contract to mine coal at an agreed price per ton, put in the rail- road car or loaded in the train car in the mines s -
 Second. To lease coal mine and mine coal on it's own account.
 Third. To hire it's conyiets. per cap ita or per classifca tion. per month to mine operators, the state main taining, guarding. controlling, etc.. the con
 We think the relative advaptages are In the order mentioned. If the state cannot make satisfactory cofl- tracts under any of the above provi- sions. then to proceed at once to open mines of it's own, on lands owned or leased for that purpose. This we re- gard as the most undesirable. because 1t might seriously cripple the mining business. but should ke resorted to as a. dernier resort.
 Assignment of Convfcts in Mines. In rooms headings, air courses all on
 coal, per cent .. .. .. .. .... .. 80 O~ lead work in mines. per cent .. 20
 This 80 per cent distribution in a wal sdGti way as tO hc0P dp the headings and air courses and to work all the rooms. would produce an average for first-class coHvicts of 3 80 tons, second class 50 tons in ssani of coal 4 feet thick Six hundred and fifty convicts, about one-fourth of tn 3 present number. assigned to mines, 50 on the outside and 500 in mines, 300 first class and So1 second class. 80 per cent or 4s0, 300 first class and 1s0 second class beieg on coal. the other 20 per cent all second class. to dead work, would produce the following output of coal on the cars daily:
 First class men at 8 80 tons each, l,140 Second class men at 2.5o tons each 45o
 In round numbers. 1.soo tons Der day day. This at 50 cents per ton. on railroad cars. would amount to $500 per day; s2o.s00 per month and $249, 500 per an- mum; cost of operating the mines, s10o % per day, or s2.600. % per month. Cost of maintaining convicts, $s. % per month each, $5,s5o. co: total cost, $s,- 450. %; net profit per month, sl1,350 .Oo; per annum, $1S5,000 %.
 Tn this estimate we call attention to the following facts:
 First. The assignment of these con- victs is .n accordance with expert tes- timony. Second, the task of first-class convicts. today at Pratt Mines is four tons; the second class is three tons, (see rules and regulations of board of inspectors). Third, at Pratt Mines and Coalburg there are about 800 first class eonvicts. Fourth. at Pratt alone, or the first Gay of December, 1898, there were 2S0 second class convicts Fifth, that the estimated price of min ing coal is r.diculously low. Sixth. that ths cost of maintenance as esti- mated is more than what it really is.
 A fa convict reform Tn this state, to main tain in Alabama a convict system com nensurate with the high standard of this Christian civilization. to maintain the revenue as far as possible, consist ent with the higher aims of criminal administration. and to do justice to all our fellow citizens in the distribution of convict labor. we respectively sug- gest the following important changes, to-w!t:
 First The abolition of the county convict system, of Its limitation to mis- demeanors. who shall be prohibited from working in the mines.
 Second. The abolition of the lease system.
 Third, The just ard equitable dis tributIon of convict with free labor.
 We believe that this end can bc attained by the enactment into law of Senate Bill No, 104, and hereby rec oramend its passage with such amend mentS as are necessary to. perfect the bill without destroying the essential principles.
 Respectfully submitted, 4s
 '''R.. M. Cunningham.
 e. J. Hall.
 Charles E. Waller
 I'M B. McCullom
 John F. Burns"
 It is thus clearly shown: ,.
 1. That when I advised the reduc- tion of class. which carried with 1t corrc spending reduction of task, the company lost money.
 2. ThAt when I advised the reduc- ton of task, or a change of work of convicts, after they had been classed hy ihe state, the company lost cores popdingly in the work of the convict, and paid the state according to the class.
 3. That in claiming, and trust with dIIa rnOdeqtV that thA