The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-08-22

to their capacity with able-bodied men,
What would we do with 900 additional
able-bodied men? We would have no
money with which to build necessary
prisons. We would have no money with
which to feed and olothe these men. We
could not force the companies to renew
their contracts.
However, as I have said, do not
anticipate that the legislature will de-
cline to pass the necessary appropriate
bill If it persists In its apparent purpose
to abolish the lease system, However,
do think that 1t would have been the
part of wisdom had the aboltionlsts, be-
fore planning to take the convicts out
of the mines, planned and made effective
a programme providing means for the
GENERALIZATION and permanent realiza-
ton of their cream.
How Georgia Prepared
Alabama should have emulated the ex-
ample of Georgia. The Georgia legisla-
ture, as is known, enacted first of all,
provisions by means of which each coun-
ty could tax itself mills for the main
tenance of convicts on the roads; and.
secondly, and in the succeeding session
of the legisla ture, incidentally. increased
the taxation in the counties to ~ mills.
Georgia then appropriated sum of
money for the requirement of the state
II. lpl Ito tOllNl1ls
''This course should have been pursued
in Alabama. The problem is a big one,
and l. of course, will endeavor to work
it out with members of the Legislature
If the members are opposed to the idea
OF an appropriation. | will exert my in
fluence in an effort to bring a change.
But If nothing is accomplished save the
abolition of the lease system of course
the problem will be rendered immeasure-
ably more difficult in a year or more
hence. What course 1 would pursue then
| cannot tell
But the governor at no time admitted
that he thought the legislature was pur-
posely proceeding in a course which would
insure the failure of the innovation in
the event of its institution, and he only
smiled when informed that, according to
report, the plan of the prohibition ma
jority is to force him perhaps against
his will. to call an extra session of the
Legislature next fall.
Bill Before Senate
The Carmichael amendment to the Da-
Wis bill providing that the state after
1918 shall lease no convict whose sentence
term is less than five years, and that no
convict shall be leased after 1920, passed
the house this week AS seen, it will
produce an experiment prior to the next
session Of the legislature which will
either to perpetuate or abandon that eX-
pertinent. Furthermore. it will provide
an issue for prospective candidates for
the legislature, and prospective candidates
for gubernatorial honors.
The substitute will be before the senate
committee on penitentiary and criminal
administration next week BY the fol-
lowing week it will, in all probability
be debated on the floor OF the senate.
The indications are that the measure will
pass.
There Is no question but that the gov
ernor will veto the bill, and it is said
that many who supported it on its orig.
.inal passage. will, when it is returned
to the house offer the executive veto
as a defense, and vote it out of commits
sion.
At any rate, considerable mystery IS
involved IN the plans of the abolitiorists.
and the outcome will be awaited with
consuming interest.