The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-19
HOUSE ABOL|SHES OFFICE OF STATE PRISON INSPECTOR Fight Led by Weakley and Precipitates Warm De- bate-Charge Oates
 a Czar
By l.. <. BETTY

Montgomery February 1S.-(Special) The house today, by a vote of Go to 2s' abolished the office of state prison in spector. The debate on that office, whose elimination is provided in the bill known as the Justice measure, con- sumed the greater part of the morning session, and furnished material for much debate. No action will be taken on the bill by the senate, however, until after the recess.
 The fight for the abolition of the prison inspection department was led by Representatives Weakley of Bir- mingham, Davis of Walker and Judge of Shelby. They charged Dr. William H. Oates, prison inspector, with having exercised czar-like power, and called for the abolition of that official on the ground that his department was useless and a heavy expense upon the state.
 On the other hand, Colonel Sam Will John of Dallas, Representative Shapiro of Jefferson. Representative Green of Dallas and others maintained that the prison inspector Is doing great work for prison reform in the state, that the office is one of the most needed de- partments in the state government and that it was needed not only to enforce the laws relating to jails and prisons but also to enforce the child labor laws.
 But it was a losing fight from the very beginning. It became evident from the moment the debate began that the bill would pass, and hence there was no sur prise at the overwhelming vote against the retention of the department
 Exercise of Czar-like Power
 Most of the opposition to the prison inspection department was based on the ground that pr. Oates had authority to exercise czar-like power. This state ment was made by Representative Jus tioe, author of the bill, Davis of Walk CT and Weakley of Birmingham
 Mir. Weakley declared that Dr. oates is preparing to erect monument to himself and his administration in the shape of a S300,Oe0 prison in Brming- ham.
 Mr. Shapiro of Birmingham cham pioned the cause of the department with earnestness and Servor.
 "The only officeholder l know whose head is sought to be cut off because he has been too diligent in the performance of his duties is Dr. Oates, he said. The Jefferson representative then declared that Dr. Oates had stepped on the toes of too many officeA olders in the state to be popular.
 Tn beginning his speech against the bill Representative John of Dallas called upon all members of the house who had vis- tied their county jails in the past six months to hold up their hands About IS hands were raised
 The Dallas representative then declared that the members were unfamiliar witt jail conditions in their own counties, and were, therefore, incapable of voting in. telligently on the bill.
 Various other members spoke, Repre-. sentatives Green. Fite. Bealle, Griffin and others speaking against the abolition ot the department, and Representative! Wech, Sorrell and others advocating tht bill.
 Appropriation for Vault Urged
 Another bill that precipitated consid erabe discussion was the measure oi Senator Lusk to appropriate s10.0oo fol the construction of suitable vault il the state treasury
 The most ardent champion of this bill was Colonel John, who declared 1t would