The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-16

should be a Jail inspector, perhaps
two, with the power and authority
to see that these places are kept in
proper condition and that prisoners
are properly fed. These inspectors
should be men who know something
about sanitation, and above all, who
would be fearless in the performance
of their duties
Or. c. F. Bush, in 1902 made the
following statement;
1.-The state of Alabama appro-
PIRATES from 80 to 40 cents per day
Ca sliding scale), for feeding pris-
oners. 1t is plain that the intent of
ithe law is that each prisoner is to
get that amount of food per day, but
a very different condition exists. In.
the bajority of jails the prisoners are
given two meals per sday-in a few
jails three-and 1t is plain they are
fed as cheaply as possible in order
that the sheriffs may have a wide
margin of profit on the feed bills.
have had several sheriffs to admit
to me that, without the profit from
the feed bill. they would not have
the office, as it was one of their
greatest sources of revenue =
DIR. Oates Criticism
I'm 1916 the following criticism of
the old system was made by Dr. W.
C. Oates:
1.-The law regulating the fees of
the sheriffs for feeding prisoners in
the jails in Alabama can be char
acterized by one word only-Damn-
able
DIR. Glenn Andrews has written:
This law relating to the feeding
OF prisoners which the legislature
undoubtedly intended to result in the
prisoners being amply fed, resulted
in some cases in starvation. 1t has
legalzed graft. 1t has made the fee
for feeding the most lucrative pre-
requisite In the sherff's office. A
number of sheriffs have told me that
but for the feed bill the office of
sheriff would not be worth anything
to them
Appeals to Legislature
"Dr. c. II. Smith wrote, November
4, 1922. as follows:
".Having been connected with the
convict department at intervals since
1902 as local physician and for the
last two years a. physician inspec-
tor, i have had the opportunity of
observing and examining all new ar
rivals in the penitentiary. l wish to
state that there Is quite a contrast in
the general appearance and physical
condition of men on their reception
now than that of few years back.
Formerly they made their appearance
pale. weak and anemic. and their
bodies covered, with ulcers, due to
having been confined in vermin rid
den insanitary and poorly ventilated
jajls and the lack of a sufficient
amount of well balanced food. The
above conditions lowered their vital
ity and rendered them more suscep-
tible to tuberculosis and other con-
stitutional diseases and necessitated
them being kept out of the mines
and mills until they could regain a
normal state of health. I have noted
quite a change for the better along
these lines for the last few years.
II hope this matter will receive
your most earnest and careful con-
alteration. / cannot conceive of your
abandoning a system which protects
the lives and health of the prisoners
and conserves the funds of the state
and returning to a system that
threatens their lives and destroys
their health II the sheriffs are not
adequately paid for their services let
them be paid more out of the public
funds, not out of the dinner pals of
the prisoners who are helpless in
their keeping.
THOMAS E. KILBY,
Governor.
January. 1923"