The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-11

Montgomery, February 10.-(Special)- 'rhe investigation by the Stanley commit ee of Congress of the consolidation of seral iron and steel companies into the sed States Steel corporation, and in Fntally into the system of leasing con- | yt labor in this and other states, has ' knply added fuel to that which was al lady the 1ivest issue in Alabama.
 | Though Governor O'Neal Is of the opin- on that the time will never come when ' he financial condition of the state will |snrrant the removal of convicts from the Intnes, there is no doubt but the convict foblem is the greatest problem in Ala ps ma today. and that ultimately it will e solved. The state at the present time leasing convicts to coal mine corpora ions, to farmers, to lumber and turpen- inc companies, to manufacturing com |anes, and in addition is employing large umbers in the cotton mill and the farm hich are the property of the state.
 The result is that from the corporations arge sums of money arc being annually btaiped. The state is receiving a fine eturn from the lumber and turpentine -ihpdilitS anu lIolll tHt he leasing of convicts to farmers has not owed exceedingly profitable.
 The convicts employed on the farm of ie state are aiding in feeding the other pnvicts leased to corporations, and in idition are supporting themselves. The hvicts employed in the cotton mill ot e state are smaking clothes for other 'nvicts, and in addition are netting the ate profit every year. Other convict Dor is saving the state a .considera ble kpenditure Of money in building a tuber- llosis hospital and a dam for the rem ation of power.
 How to punish those convicted of criu,e sainst the peace and dignity of inc ntc and at the same time guarantee e preservation of their inalienable rights human beings is the problem. To sub- st convicts to arduous toll in locations |csedingly hazardous, simply because of cir ability to earn revenue is not the irtion, many people believe.
 Divided Into Four Classes
 Jnder the present system in Alabama able bodied male convcts are leased corporations, and are divided in ac- rdance with age and vrility into asses. first. second, third and fourth, average remuneration of which being
 s30, $2O and sl0 per month. Accord to recent enactments of the legisla- re the state cares for the convicts. q through inspectors appointed for that rpose, sees that they have medical at ntion, and are safeguarded as far as ssible from danger 10 life and limb.
 a result of the work of inspectors classes mentioned above are regu- ed. The man today who is member the first class mign; become mem of the second class next month, and m the fourth class there is often an vation to more rerunerauve circles. spite of these improved methods. how ,r, the state guarantees nothing to convicts save their. food and clotli- There is no provision for turning kr to them a portion of the profit de- ed from their labor, and no provision
 their families in case they are killed disabled as q result of an accident.
 he apparent object of the convict law Alabama is to get revenue for the te. For this reason. the convict bu- II chief is expected to make contracts adyantageous to the state as he pos lv can. For the same reason, it is allv either the old diseased. or infirm labor on the farms of the state. The men. of course. are employed on the n or in the cotton mill.
 State Has Ten Contracts
 he state at ,the present time has ten tracts under the terms of which 1t res its convict labor. Four of these tracts are held by lumber and turpen-
 companies the Henderson, Boyd nber company at Richburg. the Horse e Lumber company at River Falls.
 Henderson Lumber company at San i. and Selars, Bullard 6 Co. at Sam
 There are four mining contracts
 by tho Red Feather Coal company J.ucile. the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and
 compeny at Flat Top. the Besscmer
 Iron and Land company at Belle AtCONTlNUED ON PAGE p