The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-18
TWO GRAND JURIES INVESTIGATED AND
 APPROVED SYSTEM
Few Escape From Camps and None Is Heavily Chained"- Frequent Re ligiOus Services and Ade- quate Bathing Facilities

Members of the board of revenue of Jefferson county deny in toto every statement made by c. B. Mccormack Friday night before the house com mittee that has under consideration the recommendation of the probe com mittee to remove the convicts from the mines of the state. MT. Mccormack Is quoted as saying that the convicts of Jefferson county are badly treated, that those who do not escape are heavily chained; that they have neither medical or spiritual attention; that no bathing facilities are provided, and that it is costing the county an enor- nous sum to maintain the convicts on the road. He is further quoted as saying that the cost is S2.3i per head per day.
 These statements the board of reve- nue and those in charge or ,ne con victs deny.
 Grand Juries Approved
 That the convicts are humanely treated, well housed and cared for is evidenced by the reports of the two grand juries that have investigated the convict system and given It nign praise. The records show that there are only 15 convicts at large who escaped from the county roads since last November; that of the convicts less than 25.per cent are 'shacked' and none avily chained
 The recor also show that pr. W. A. Burns. a competent physician, has been employed by the county to look after the convicts since the system was inaugurated, and that the Rev. s. R. Emerson and other preachers, white and black, have conducted religious services
 The statement Is made that not only are bathing facilities provided at every camp, but the convicts are re- quired to bathe regularly, and 1t Is on record that at camp of 40 men there was not one that lost a days work on account of sickness. It Is also a matter of record that not one con- vict has been killed or seriously in- jured'' while working on the roads since the system was started.
 The statement from the board of revenue follows:
 Statement From Board
 "We notice in the mornings paper a report from Montgomery, testimony given by MT. G. B. Mccormack in reference to the working of the con victs on the Jefferson county roads, and he is quoted as saying that the county did not furnish a physician to attend convicts when they were sick or a preacher. Will say that Dr. w. A. Burns was employed when the con victs were placed on the road and has attended every call, and he made ar engagements with local physicians in the community where they worked in cases of accident or sudden illness to attend the calls. We nave had the Rev. S. R. Emerson, who has for the past several months preached to the white men at Maxine. We have had number of other local preachers to visit the camps, both white and black, and preach to the prisoners. We not only having bathing facilities at every camp, but they are required to bath twice a week.
 "In reference to the cost of the convcts, the report of MT. Worthing- ton when carefully studied will reveal the cost of convicts which is $1.lS per head per day This included cost of conviction, cost of court, cost of hire, feeding clothing. guarding, doctoring and all thc. entered into the main- tenance, ans the depreciation of equip ment, and the interest on the invest ment.
 BOARD OF REVENUE OF JEFF PERSON COUNTY"