The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-16
Conner OUTLINES
FUTURE POLICY
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of a farm and outdoor exercise to the
condition of more secure keep and larger
earning capacity. THE way of the trans
gressor is hard" it would be difficult to
devise a system securing the deserved
punishment at the same time carrying
out the full hygienic conditions and hui
mainly of treatment. l would suggest
that this arrangement lately instituted
should be fully tested making from time
to time such improvements as may be
necessary,
The methods of hiring and working
and treatment of county convicts have
been criticised. l would suggest your in
vestigation and remedial legislation.
The iails of Alabama for the keep and
care of the prisoners are In great many
instances in a very crowded state ana
require your investigation and remedial
Legislation.
The practice of hiring the board and
keep of a man in chains to anyone who
expects to make money from the economy
of it, or the saving of 1t, Is wrong in prin-
cipe and is obliged in great many IN
stances to bring about serious abuses
BESIDES being the object of cupidity In the
making of money, it also excites the dis
position to keep the jals full for the pur-
pose of making more money. The state
very wisely took the care of the conVicts
In its own hands when hiring them out,
because it was found by experience that
serious abuses by not giving the proper
food and good care were the result
The report of the convict inspectors.
DR. Bragg chairman, shows this to be
the case and why should the state CON
tinue to practice out of date methods OF
farming out the care of prisoners OF the
state at so much per diem, when every
history shows that this methods has, al
most without exception, been abused A
man in iail is in the custody of the state,
and humanity demands that he should
have reasonable care suggest laws
making it part of the states duty to
feed it's own prisoners, and also suggest
a law to have a state inspector of the
tails of the state. / thing this would be
in the interest of both humanity and
economy.
The Youthful Offender.
The state has rightfully proposed to di-
vide the two that is, the adult and youth
full convict. The first step in this line
being the incipient home and school at
East Lake. The work accomplished by
the ladies with what subscriptions they
could get from the public and the meager
help from the counties and state has been
wonderful; and the success of this work,
bounded in as it has been by its meager-
ness of funds, is best attested by In
spection of same. / strongly recommend
that a sufficiency of the general fund
be diverted to the upbuilding and en-
larging of facilities for the care, not only
of those there, but whatever Of other
number there may be necessary to be
sent, to keep them separate and keep the
best influences around these boys at the
beginning of life, giving them every OPP
portunity that the state can furnish for
reformation As long as we recognize
the principle that bad company is de-
structive even in our home life, how
much more so must it be in the chained or
convict life; and If we in our homes recog-
nize the Importance of securing good in
huences, how much higher is the duty of
the state to separate these boys and give
them the best influence rather than the
worst?
/ strongly recommend sufficient appro-
priation to secure dormitories and facili-
ties for the keep of all the youthful GRIM
lnals, and 1t will in the end. IL there be
anything in the axioms of life, be much
more economic and upbuilding to the
state speaking on surface grounds alone
than to let them go on with the associa-
lions of adult and hardened convicts of
the state.
Manufactures.
1t is evident that the tariff a policy
of the United States government is here
to stay. 1t Is also evident that Alabama
being largely agricultural has not shared
in InlS species Ol pdllOhdSC anu Dcitut
given by the government. AS matter
of state policy, we should give our people
the opportunities for versatile employ
ment and should give our state chance
to share In that great wealth made by
other states in the manufacturing of
goods of every description, particularly
that of cotton.
At 10 cents a pound our farmers make
; money and get a fair return on their
lands and labor, and this wealth stays
within the state. The average amount per
pound which the manufacturer makes Is
- TO Is cents per pound; we could more
than double the value of the pounds of
cotton raised in the state by manufacture
ing 1t in the state. If the state could man
ufacture every pound of cotton that IL
grows giving that much additional en-
nlcyment to the citizens of the state.
and that much additional wealth and
value TO the economics of the state. IT
would be great point achieved. Also
the state is now one of the largest own
ers of timber lands and iron and coal
lands If we could but get an equitable
adjustment of the freight rates within
The state so as to encourage the building
of industries which use crude material, il
would tend more than anything else to
Increase the wealth of the state. and to
Increase the citizenship of the state. Sc
curing that disersification of interests
that the United States government en-
courares nv it's tariff svstenn- and the