The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-14
FATE OF CONVICT
 LEASE MEASURE
 HANGS IN BALANCE
(Continued from Page One,

| of Sumter are confident that they will be able to prove to a asmajority of the mem bers of the house that the road system is theoretical and impracticabe support ed entirely by a maudln sentiment and fostered by a number of politicians who in future years would be congressman, senators or governors.
 l Today, it was the subject of general gossip that the abolitionists would resort to substitute for their victory, a sub stitute providing for the submission of the lease system to the people. MT. Mer- ritt, prohibition floor leader, said this aft ernoon, however, that no compromise would be offered. and that the fight would be from the shoulder straight out. We are not seeking u compromise" !" he said. Tt is clear-cut proposition and must prevail or go down on it's mer- its. We feel that behind us is the senti- ment of the people of the state, and we know that we are supported by knowl- edge that we are morally right. We hold that the state should not weigh against dollars flesh and blood and bone of it's unfortunate people,"
 The Chief Arguments Those favorlng the lease system have an advantage in the general admission that the state financially cannot afford
 1t this time to abolish a system profit able and substitute a system expensive.
 The argument of the aboltionists whic h ias appealed with wonderful forces to the mass of the people is that the state can not in honor longer afford to traffic in flesh. to indulge a system of slavery which they contend is more barbarous than that which exists in the frigid reg ions of Russia. While these are the ar guments around which all others will re- vo1ve, others require attention.
 The abolitionists contend that from a standpoint of economies. the destruc- ton of the system, giving rise to d good road renaissance throughout Ala bama, is necessary. Their opponents reply that good roads can be con- structed, cheaper by free labor and that it is with lilly founded logic that the theory that treatment accorded conNicts on the roads Is more humane than that accorded in the mines. Is promulgated The differences are nice and of a va riety prone through plausibility to win adherents The situation is similar to that in which a hunderd men seeking truth in chaos follow divergent paths Each legislator admits that the ques. ton is big one. the problem, mo- mentous and so revolutionary in its effect, Is one in which. deep study and
  in its solution.
 The legislature does not desire to bankrupt the state, and yet half the members of the house. so deeply i'm pressed with the great duty which con- fronts them, would not hesitate to run that serious risk If by no other means. alleged inhumanity to man might be practiced no more in Alabama. The Approximate Cost Governor Henderson, as it known, is violently opposed to the abolition of the lease system. He made public this morn ing a statement by the president of the convict bureau in which that official gives in detail the approximate amount which would be required in maintain ing convicts were the lease system abolished.
 The statement follows:
 Tt would be necessary to have an appropriation for at least on year or more to take care of the convicts while a change was being made.
 "The upkeeping of the convicts. clothing, feeding and transportation al SIS per month, putting the average number of convicts at $500. would be s52, ,5O0 per month of s637.000 per year. It is possible, however, that this might be reduced to $12.50 per month which would be equal to S504,000 per year.
 
 buildings to take care of convicts would be question of what class of buildings they should be. As the state now stands we have room to take care of only 1000 convicts. This being the case we would have to provide room for at least 25O0 more. It is possible that buildings could be put up. equipped. at $260,000 total. would suggest that nothing less than $300,o0O be assigned for this pur- pose. In addition to the above 1t will be necessary to know just what these con victs will be put to doing. If on farm lands. equipment would have to be pur- chased for this purpose; if industries, then additional money would be nec- essary for this purpose It will be inn possible to give an estimate just now as to what will be required without first ascertaining just what these convicts will be put to doing. but 1t is reason- able to say that it will take considera- ble money for this"