The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-22

 Pratt Consolidated Company's Fight To Retain System Of Convict Lease Noted Among Conspicuous Developments ADMINISTRATION TACTICS CAUSING LOSS STRENGTH Following "RaiIroading" Of Long Resolution Shutting Off Petitions Signed By Citi- zens, Bareback Comes
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery, Ala. July 2I 1

Montgomery. Ala. July 2I
 MONTGOMERY, Ala, July 21-Ap- pearance in the lobby of the capitol
 Friday of Carr Mccormack, presi- dent of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company, became an interesting sub ject for discussion in legislative cir cles Saturday. His visit to Mont
 gomery was coupled with the state wide fight now being made for the
 abolition of the convict lease sys-
 tenn. MT. Mccormack was at the
 capitol with ". A. Gibson, legis- latiye agent of the same company, who came to Montgomery with the assembling of the lawmakers, who has been here since the first day and who has made no secret of the
 fact that he is interested In the defeat of the anti convict lease leg islation.
 The activities of representatives of
 the Pratt Consolidated Coal Con- pany have become the big subject been made from the beginning Of the fight by those who favor abol- ition that the chief opposition has come from those who are benefit ing directly from the system. Al though the administration is
 
 committee has expressed the opn ion that the governor is willing to seek a way to end the leasing system without causing the loss of state revenue. There were indi- cations among our few legislators who remained through the weekend that some of the strong supporters of the administration will remuse to go with it longer if it continues to insist that the lease system should not be abolished.
 Will Break With Brandon.
 Representative w. Y. Adams of Blount, was cited as one of the law makers who will refuse to go with the administration on it's convict lease system proposal.
 MT. Adams had stood consistently with the administratin until he was brought to the Long resolution which lature that there should be ro leg islation looking toward abolition of the lease system. Mir. Adams did not vote for the adoption of the res olution. He disapproved of it's adop tion and followed his adverse vote with the introduction of resolu- tion calling upon the legislature to fix a definite date for a joint session during which those favoring the abolition of the system could make arguments In support of their con tentions.
 MT. Adams resolution set August 1 for the opening hearing. It went to the rules committee This resolu- ton declared that the constitutions of Alabama and United States give citizens the right to present arSu- ment for or against any subject of legislation and that it Is not within the power of the legislature to say liVoa enc cf n n C made by the citizens who favor the ending of the lease system. A accepted As Good Omen.
 The dilemma faced by the admin stration as a result of the onslaught on the revenue bill in the house Friday also is accepted &s a good omen by those who want the convict system changed. The Long lease resolution went through by a large vote which showed that at that par ticular moment the administration was supreme, but a week later some of the same members of the legis- ature who were leaders in the fight for the adoption of the resolution joined in the attack on the revenue pill.
 Proponents of the bill abolishing he lease system are preparing fig ures to show why the companies want to continue the lease system. Lewis Bowen of Birmingham, mem per of the house, contends that the | coal companies are reaping large | annual profit from the system, that if the state desires to continue to | use convicts in the coal mines, 1t | can take over a mine and obtain his profit which is going to the coal 
 The abolition of the lease system | would not prevent the state from | using convicts in coal mines. The | state convict department would have he power to say how the convicts should be worked and wauld nave he right to lease a coal mine from | a coal company or to purchase a coal mine.