The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-02
Statement to This Effect
Made by ]. A. Clayton
in Convict Probe
Yesterday
SCALES SAID TO HAVE
BEEN USED BY BUREAU
WHEN NOT BALANCED
Loose Management in Connection
With Supplies at Banner Brought
Out by Turner-The Pratt
Consolidated Settles
$4,000 Claim

Montgomery. April 1.-(special.) .)-sal
aries of the weighers of Southern Inspec-
tion and weighing bureau, which fur
nishes the state the weights of all coal
mined by state convlcts at Banner mines,
are paid by the Louisville and Nashville
feet was made by ]. A. Clayton, state
inspector of cars at Mineral Springs at
the public investigation of convict de-
partment this afternoon.
According to the testimony given last
week by G. +. Mccormack and other
officials of the Pratt Consolidated Coal
company, the board Of examiners were
lead to believe that the weighing bu
reau was an independent corporation, but
MIR. Clayton testified that the weigher
receives his salary from the pay car of
the railroad company. The witness fur
ther testified that the scales used by the
bureau were used three days last sum-
mer while they were known to be out OF
balance
M. j. Kelly, coal weigher at Banner
mines, said that the scales at the mines
were often out of balance and that they
were always set so that 500 pounds on
the weight of each car would be counted
off for slate and rock. He said he knew
of no company who used the system ex
cept the Pratt company and that the
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad COM
pany required the conylcts to pick the
slate from the coal.
Kelly refused to say. however, that the
scales at Banner mine were registering
dor q an jnEnnr-
ton was made by Examiner II. Y. Brooke
and the State Mine Inspector c. ii. Mes
bitt, February 25. He declared that moth
ing was said to him about the under
weight and that he did not think Nesbitt
did anything 10 the scales. but admitted
that Nesbitt, may have helped bal
once" them. Kelly said he thought the
deduction Of 500 pounds from each car
OF coal for slate and rock was right as it,
will lust about take the amount of rock
out
The state made an effort to get Kelly
to say that the scales We're set under
weight. Don't you know that the scales
were off 20 per cent" asked state counsel.
Il do not" was Kellys reply.
The afternoons investigation was of
short duration and adjournment was
taken at o'clock. J. G. Mabin. Jr., will
be a witness for the Sloss- Sheffield Steel
and Iron Company Wednesday morning.
ItO ReCOIu VI ouppiicS INtpt
Evidence showing that there had been
loose management in connection with the
supplies received at Banner mine for the
use of state convicts was brought out
this morning in the examination of j.
W Turner, superintendent OF convicts at
that place.
Mr. Turner told the examiners that no
record had been kept of the supplies
and provisions received at Banner mine
until 10 days ago. at which time a check
ing system was established lie said this
checking system was inaugurated by In
spector l.. T. Greer.
According to Mr.. Turner, the state for
a time maintained commissary at Ban
ner. but this was discontinued and sup
plies and provisions were shipped to the
mines for the use of the convicts. Wit
ness could not recall that any checking
system had ever obtained with reference
to the amount of goods received at the
mine until Inspector Greer gave instruc-
tions. about 10 days ago, that records
lie kept of all such transactions.
Except for the testimony of Mr.. Tur
ller the investigation was featureless.
Mr.. Turner was followed on the stand
by H.. w Perry, vice president and gem
eral manager of the Red Feather Coal
company. at Red Feather, known as the
Lucille mine According to Mr.. Perry, the
convicts at Lucille have ample opportun-
ltN 10 iildhe tNtId IHOHtS, SoInt Dl lHeil
having made as much as $50 TO SIS extra
in a month He told of two instances
in which discharged convicts had pur-
chased farms with the extra money they
had made while serving time at the
mine. *
Turner First Witness
J. w. Turner. superintendent of the
convicts at Banner mine, was the first
witness in the state convict investigation
Monday morning. He looks after the out
put of the mine and welfare Of the
men. The condition of the men has been
good. and they have been treated hu-
namely.
Witness said scales in the mines are
used to determine the tasks of the men.
Ten. eight, six and four tons of coal
per days are respective tasks of the four
classes of convicts worked The coal
cutting machinery at Banner practically
doubles capacity of miners output.
Witness said the scales at Banner mine
had not been tested since he became con-
nected with the mine. He said he thought
the scales were correct, except 500 pounds
allowed for slate in order to get the net
weight of coal.
Il have never made any change in the