The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-19
Convict Earnings and Child Well

To the Editor of The Age Herald:
 I always regret any occasion that seems to make it necessary or important to try to correct mis- leading statements or suggested differences appearing in a newspa- per. l do not seek, and do not like, notoriety. However, in your issue of the 16th instant there ap- pears a news article from your Montgomery Bureau relating to a bill introduced in the senate on the first day of the adjourned term, in which the question is asked whether the bill was intro duced for the purpose of defeat ing the opponents of the present convict system. The inference clearly appears that your corre- spondent believes 1t was pro- pounded for that purpose. The publication of the article gives the sanction of a great newspaper to your correspondents belief. Were it not for the sanction or approval thus apparently given, I should remain silent. The opinion of an individual Is not important, and I include in this statement my own opinion as well as that of your correspondent.
 The bill authorizing the gov ernor to use any part of the net earnings of the convict system for the care and education of destitute children was not suggested by the governor, and is not in any sense an administration measure. l pre- pared the bill during the recess of the legislature. and the day be- fore 1 introduced it I asked the governor if he had any objection to using a part of the convict fund for such purpose if the legisla- ture authorized 1t. The governor replied that he had no objection. That is absolutely the only con nection the governor had with the introduction of the bill. So far as I know he Is indifferent to it's fate.
 The bill authorizes the gov ernor to support out of that fund the state owned institutions, such as the Boys Industrial School and the State Training School for Girls. It also authorizes him to employ a part of the earnings in the maintenance of the child well fare department. But it does not in any way interfere with the con- trol and operation of that depart ment. That department has not, and unless l am mistaken, will not have, any control of the state owned institutions. The welfare department is doing a great work, but 1t is not institutional work, and in my opinion it's present functions result in too much good to allow it to be diverted to in stitutional work. In preparing the bill I assumed that the wei fare department would continue ir it's present work, the placing of destitute children who are not de- linquents in homes, and that only delinquents, as now, would be sent to the institutions. Accord ingly, the control of the institu tions was left where it is now placed by law passed during Gov ernor Kilby's administration. That law placed those institutions un- der the control of the board of control and economy. The board of convict supervisors has sue ceeded to the duties of the board of control.
 These are the facts relating to the bill. There Is no ulterior mo- tive or purpose behind it, l have no other interest in 1t than any citizen interested in ameliorating the condition of destitute children. In my opinion it ought to pass, but if the representatives of the peo- pie defeat it l shall not say 1t was defeated for any other reason than that it did not appear to the leg islature to be meritorious or prac- ticable. J. M. FOSTER.
 Tuscaloosa, Ala, July 16, 1923.