The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-18
ABOL LISHMENT OF
 PRESENT SYSTEM BY 1925 SOUGHT
Fight Only Begun Against Convict Leasing, Declares
 Judge w. E. Fort
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-HEKALD NVzA-- AL IuIy IT

Montgomery, Ala, eyuiy 1t Adoption of the resolution express ing the sense" of the legislature that there shall be no Legislation for the abolition of the convict lease system during the present session will not end the fight. Before the senate acted on the resolution Tuesday aft ernoon, Senator Brewer of Jefferson introduced a bill calling a special election three months after the final adjournment of the legislature for the submission of the convict lease question to the people.
 Introduction of the bill will mean that the citizens of Alabama may ap- pear before committees for the pre- Sentation of arguments either in op- position to the lease system or in favor of it The bill proposes a con stitutional amendment which would prohibit the leasing or hiring of any state or county convict to any person, firm or corporation after January l, 1925.
 The amendment would require the legislature to enact such laws as necessary to put the amendment into operation
 Bill Goes To Committee.
 Lieutenant Governor Mcdowell re- ferred the bill to the committee on finance and taxation. During his ad- dress in opposition to the Long lease resolution, Senator Brewer referred to this act of the lieutenant gover- nor and declared that the time should come in Alabama when bills intend ed to protect the convict could be re- ferred to the senate committee on penitentiary and criminal adminis- tratiOn rather than the committee on finance and taxation.
 The bill introduced by Senator Brewer follows:
 An act submitting to the qualified electors of this state, at a special election to be held at the call of the governor after 90 days from the final adjournment of this legislature, for their consideration of an amendment to the constitution for the purpose of abolishing the lease or contract sys- tenn with reference to state and coun- ty convicts:
 Be it enacted by the legislature of Alabama:
 Section l. That the following amendment to the constitution of Alabama is proposed to be Submitted to the qualified electors of the state for their ratification or rejection at an election to be held and called by the governor after 90 days from the final adjournment of the session of the legislature, at which the amend ment is proposed, which amendment is as follows, to-wit
 Sec. ? That on and after January l, 1925, it shall be unlawful for any person to lease or let for hire any state or county convict to any per son. firm or corporation.
 Sec. 3. The legislature shall pas. such penal laws as 1t may deem ex- pedient to enforce and carry into effect this amendment"
 Fight Just Started.
 With the adoption of the Long res FNI II NVN T ator Brower's bill, Judge William E ort of Birmingham, chairman of the CltlZenS committee, which is urging anti-lease legislation, announced from Birmingham that the fight has just started and that the adoption of the resolution will net prevent the campaign against the continuation of the lease system.
 The adoption of the resolution of Representative Long of express ing the sense of the legislature tha' there shall be no legislation whicf would prohibit leasing of convict, will not stop the fight which is be ing made by the citizens committee backed by men and women of al counties, for the abandonment of system which has been outlawed bS other states" said Judge Fort.
 We intend to continue this cam. paign and we still hold to the tpin.
 
 ture will reach the conclusion before the end of the present session, that Alabama cannot longer continue 2 system which has been condemned by other states.
 The day will come when the con. Nict lease system will be looked upor with htrror just as citizens of Ala bama now look with horror upon the dungeons and the whipping post. which their ancestors maintained 1T Alabama prisons years ago.
 There must be a decision on thi. issue and it cannot be postponed by the adoption of a resolution express ing the sense of the legislature tha there should be no legislation re garding it."
 Judge Fort announced that tn, forces favoring the abolition of tn, lease system would be marshalet during the week for the continuation of the fight. An effort to obtain z public hearing on the lease systen before joint session of both house! of the legislature was made by Rep. resentative Adams of Blount, who in troduced into the house resolution providing for such hearing Augus l. The resolution, which was referred to the committee on rules. provided that both opponents and friends ot the lease system be allowed to pre- sent their views.
 Representative Adams also intro. duced bill providing that the state shall retain supervision of the work. Ing Of leased convicts at all times. n ux uu ~ ru