The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-04


 enormous loss to the people and the farmers of Alabama fs about q ,o0o. 900 per month or $12.0e0.000 a year.
 This is an astounding loss and it is the greatest political. econemic issue that has sver confronted the people of Alabama in It's entire history. There- fore, the Alabama Good Roads Asso- ciation urge on every voter to vote for the Overton amendment. whereby practical. modern laws can be enacted which will make 1t possible to have State supervision with State aid. The people of Alabama owe much to our United States Senators and Congress man., who are advocating national aid. senator ,Bankhead has championed in the State, and as a member of the Rivers and Hsrbors Committee in obtaining large and liberal appropria- tions amounting to millions of dollars for the rivers and harbors of our State, which has been of untold benefits to our State. The people owe this dis tinguished Senator another great debt in his present effort in advocating na- tional aid for the construction of our neglected highways of the State. and also to the distinguished Congress- man, Oscar W. Underwood. who Is cfl cflampioning In the United States Con- gress for national aid, and delivering speeches in many of the counties of the state. for the amendment to the Con- stitution for better highway laws. The National Government good road aid Is desired, which will help the State of Alabama to build up her neg lected roads.
 The Alabama Good Roads Assocla- ton is aotuated by patriotic oesire to promote the public welfare, and tts conduct will not be controlled by mos faunrfno nP auVafCS ing any political ambition or party faction, to make an early effort to se- cure the adoption of the amendment upon the idea of promoting the general | welfare looking to the future devel- | opment of its immense natural re- sources and the numerous benents which all the people will enjoy through improved highways.
 We rely confidently upon the intel- | ligence and patriotism of the voters of | Alabama. They were trusted through | their chosen representatives to frame | the constitution and when the neces- sity arises they can be trusted to | amend 1t: they can also be trusted to | elect representatives who will proper. | ly iegislate under It's supervision. | The amendment is as follows: The | State should not engage 'n works ot | internal Improvements or lend money | or its credit In aid of suvh. nor shall | the State ba interested in any private cooperation enterprise or lend money or It's credit to any individual associa- tion or corporation, provided. that the State may. under appropriate lava | cause the net proceeds from the con- l victs to he applied to the construe' | ton. repair and maintenance of public l roads in the State, and the Legislature | may also make additional appropria' | tions for that purpose.
 The question has been asked: car anyone give a good reason why ths l proposed amendment specially referi to tho convict fundf And then pro. ceed to include every character oi l the States revenue. This is a pertl' nent inquiry and is entitled to c frank answer. The convict fund is the pre- ceeds and the labor of the State con victs. The cost of their conviction il borne by the tax payers of the respec' tive counties, and all of the costs o the administering of the courts is ti be paid out of the county treasury except the salaries of the judges ant solicitor, the latter paid by fees col lected and paid into the state treas ury.
 The earnings of what Is known d county convicts now goes to the coun ty, but this fund is not sufficient, ex cept in a few of the counties to pa. the State witnesses ana of1cers' claim
 against the fine and forfeiture fund. l It seems to be sair and just tha j the net proceeds of the State convict
 should also be returned to the coun
 ties which have paid the cost of con
 viction, and the convict fund Is not part of the legitimate revenue of tn
 State derived from taxation. Yt !s
 fine imposed by the State upon thos
 that violate the law, and not a tal collected as are the other revenues O the State. This Is unjust; the fin,