The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-27

numerous conversations he assured me
that no goods were purchased except by
open bids. except in the case of few
supplies, which he called emergency sup
plies, which were needed at once and
where delay by asking for bids would en-
tail a great loss TO the department. This
method of purchasing supplies by the
president and members of the convict de-
partment without the aid of a purehas-
ing agent. continued until on July 90 1912,
[ received the following letter:
I'VE. The undersigned, constituting the
board of convict inspectors, after ma
ture and deliberate consideration for
what we deem to be TO the best interest
of the state. respectfully recommend that
you appoint a purchasing agent and au-
ditor for this department. While We do
not presume to suggest, we are unani-
nous in the recommendation for that po-
sition of Capt Alfred Moore, at 3 salary
of s125 per month and travelling expenses,
TO take effect August l. Respectfully,
j. G. OAKLEY, President.
Il, p. GREER. Associate Inspector.
u. T. FOWLER, Physician Inspector
In accordance with the recommenda-
tions contained in this letter l appointed
Hon Alfred Moore auditor and purchas-
ing agent. At the time of making this
appointment I prepared the following
rules which were adopted by the board
of convict inspectors, to-wit:
Rules Adopted
"1o7 The office of purchasing agent
and auditor OF the convict department is
hereby established
"1oS The purchasing agent and audi
tor is hereby empowered and required to
purchase all supplies needed for the
proper support and maintenance of the
convict department. Such supplies shall
be purchased whenever practicable under
contract by bids, and printed notice shall
be sent to every dealer who has requested
his name to be placed upon the mailing
list, furnishing him a statement of the
amount and character of supplies re-
qulred. The contract shall be awarded to
the lowest responsible bidder IL the price
be a fair and reasonable one and not
greater than the market value and price.
The purchasing agent and auditor shall
have power to reject any and all bids
submitted if for any reason 1t Is deemed
to the best interest of the state to do SO,
and In such event new bids shall be called
for The convict board shall determine
the kind and character of animals to be
slaughtered for meats for use In the con-
vict department, and shall make such
rules and regulations as shall be neces-
try, bread and other supplies intended for
use by said department. It shall be the
duty of each warden of the convict de-
partment to cause to be prepared esti-
mates of supplies required for the proper
conduct and maintenance OF the convicts
under his charge and CONTROL covering
periods to be fixed by the purchasing
agent and auditor, to forward the same
to him, and at the same time to forward
OF cafd Inn fno To hn viz RI X.
partment and to the governor. 1t shall
be the duty Of said purchasing agent and
auditor 10 audit as often as Is practicable
the books and accounts of each warden
of the convict department and the clerk
In the office at Birmingham, and to for
ward report of the result OF said audit
ing to the governor and. TO the convict
department. The salary of the purchas-
ing agent and auditor shall be tho sum
of s125 a month, with actual travelling ex-
penses, which must be itemized and
sworn to. The governor may, at any
time he sees proper. remove, with or
without cause, said purchasing agent and
auditor, or abolish said office.
MIR. Moore's Qualifications
MIR. Moore had been for about 20 years
a teller in the First National Bank of
Huntsville Ala, was an expert account
ant, had also been engaged in the mer-
camille business, had been mayor of
Huntsville and was relative of mine,
and his absolute integrity was unques-
toned ! know that under his manage
ment every dollar of goods purchased
by him would be secured at the lowest
possible price. and that there would be
no graft of any kind or character. About
the beginning of this year | discovered
that a number of supplies were being
purchased by the president of the con-
vict board and by some of the wardens
and convict inspectors, and | refused to
approve any purchases so made. Their
excuse for making these purchases was
that 1t was not practical to wait for bids
as the purchases they made were of an
urgent nature and made in an emer-l