The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-26
SIMPSON DENIES . THAT OLD SOLDIERS
 ARE DISSATISFIED
Commandant at Mountain Creek Defends Homes Af- fairs Before Probe
 Committee

Montgomery, March 25.--tSpeeiaL) Tn answer to charges made by Rev. k II. Long of Mountain Creek, Command ant J. M. Simpson of the Confederate Soldiers Home at that place, appeared before the legislative Investigating committee this afternoon and gave detailed account of the conduct or ar fairs at tho home.
 Commandant Simpson denied emphat= icaly that there was Just cause for com plaint on the part of inmates or the home, and stated that MT. Long, who made the charges. had been instigatea by a. few irritable "sore-heads' who were always finding fault with tho management at the home.
 "In my opinion seven-eighths of the inmates at the Nome would deny MT. Longs charges said Commandant Simpson. "We have 94 men at the home, and they arc given the best care and attention possible under the circnm- stances"
 Tho commandant told the committed that the men at the home are given plenty to eat, and that they are given good medical attention when it is need cd. He said their food consisted of Hour bread, grits. rice, syrup, tea, coftee anu usually hog meat.
 Regarding Punishment
 Regarding the punishment ihhie'ea on the men, Commandant simpson saiu the rules prescribed suspendsion when the rules were infracted. He cited one instance of the suspension of man be- cause he had curseds and abused woman employed at the home. He asked the committee to summon as witnesses Gen. John k. Fuller anu B. M. Washburn of Montgomery noth of whom are members of the exeeutiVe committee of tho home. and inquire from them concerning the management. He also invited tho members of the com- mittee to visit the home and make an inspection of conditions.
 Greer on Stand
 only few witnesses appeared be- fore the Investigating committee at to- days session. Len r. Greer, associate convict inspector, was on the stand tns greater part of the morning and was examined as to the conditions at the state prisons. mines and lumber camps,
 Inspector Greer said he thought all convicts should be under the control of the state, indicating that the con. vict department should have authorl- ty over both state and county prisoners.
 Regarding conditions at the mines, Inspector Greer said ne nau Iouhu thde the convicts at Flat Top were severely punished at times, and that the food at that mine was not good. He said bet ter conditions prevailed at Banner mines, where the convicts had better food and are better treated.
 When asked concerning conditions at Lucille mine, MT. Greer referred the committee to his report on that mine He told the committee that the mine at Aldrich was a bad place to work oonvicts, stating that conditions were not good at that place.
 MT. Greer said that most or the con- victs preferred working in the mines to the lumber and turpentine camps. be- cause they wore able to make extra money at the mines.
 He denied that he had ever purchased any Alamo gas' stock, though said he had been approached on the subject. He said neither James G. Oakley, at that time president of the convict board, nor Leon MoCord had asked him to pur- chase that stock.
 The first witness on the stand at to- days session was Dr. w. IT. Sanders. state health officer. Dr. Sanders was on the stand all of yesterday. and today completed his testimony.