Huntsville gazette., 1884-02-23

oe compelieu. Inc INES are not cOllect ted
and punishment for their non-payment is
Impractical of enforcement. Men sente ne.
ed to ten days labor cannot be hired out to
work, and can only be supported in Jail at
the public expense. So, the existing on
d'tion Of affairs, touching the highways of
Madison County, is deplorable.
10 this connection, it is a matter of re-.
greet that legal obstacles, under the existing
statutes OF our State, preclude thu use of
convict labor on the public roads of the
county. Should the convicts be employed
on public works in the county, the pay
inent of officers fees, fine and costs, in ad-
dltlon to the expense of maintainancey and
guards, would make the convict labor more
costly than hired labor. The financial con-
dltion and prospect of the County is good.
The debt amounting to some s24, 900 is in
fair way of liquidation through the sink
ing Fund, crerted by the sale of Memphis
d Charleston r. r. Bonds in 1882 If the
convict labor could be applied to macad-
amize the highways leading to the county
seat and central depot of sale and supply.
the people would derive much greater ben
eft, than 1nder the present system. BY
order of the Commissioners Court the con-
victs are now hired by the Probate Judge
to work at hard labor to Conner & McCurdy
at Pratt Mines, Jefferson county, in this
State. The amount realized from their
hireing has been turned over to the Fine
and Forfeiture Fund, as required by law.
Instead of this, we urgently recommend to
the Representatives and Senators of Madi-
son County in our next General Assembly
the enactment of law authorizing the
Commissioners Court to use the convicts,
not convicted of felonies or sentenced to
more than two years hard labor, in Madi-
son County on such public roads as said
Court may designate. free from the pay
ment of all court costs, officers fees and
fines these to be paid otherwise out of the
remaining fine and forfeiture fund. To
macadamize the highways of county is
not however, the work of month or q
year; and the recommendation here made
looks to the Inauguration of system of
labor, controlled by a representative body,
that will progressively and in time relieve
our people from the incalculable evils Of
bad roads. When completed macadamized
highways will traverse all parts of the
desirable localities in the United States,
attracting population and wealth, increas-
ing greatly the value of property and ben
efitting all our people.
The Auditor of Alaba.ha calls attention
to the fact, that not one time in ten are
persons returning taxes sworn and that the
words ''sworn and subscribed before me, :"
signed at the bottom of the Tax returns by
the Assessor, impress few with the idea
that they make their returns under oath.
1t has been suggested to the Grand Jury,
that the Real Estate of Madison County has
long been loaded with the heaviest burden
of taxation, while owners of personally
have not paid their due proportion of tax
es. We would only call public attention.
to the matter suggested The oaths of the
parties making returns and the investiga-
tions of the Assessor are the only rstnedies
we know for any such inequalities.
We would call the attention of the Com
missioners' Court to the need of a safe and
suitable place in the court room for the
Clerk of the Circuit Court to keep the nu-
| IN h,c
hereby recommend the erection of eom-
partment for such purpose.
Below is appended an itemized statement
of the Disbursements of the County made
since the last term of this CourG.
ITEMIzED STATEMENT OF DISBURSEMENTS :
Date, Character of Claims, paid by Treas
urer from July 31st, 1883, to Jan. 81, 1884.
Expense Of Jurors and Bailiffs So, 295 Is
Coupons Interest (on bonds) a"a
due Jan. l. 1884. 100000
Expense of Poor House and
Paupers, including Sup't sal-
ary 944.69
Expense of Public Roads and
Bridge. 3255 80
Insurance on Court House and
jail 5.75
Gas, Coal and Water for Court
House and Jail. 379, rs
Medical Bills and Drugs inclu-
Health officer, Physicians at
Poor House and Jail, - 316 80
Officers salaries and ex oficio
services Observation-Disclosures. 1920. .95
Expenses and work at Court g...o
i House ard Jail ..... 346 95
| Printing Books, Stationery, In
u dexing &c. c...................- $40. Is
-+' = ---z- =
sl4,os5. AZ
Balance on hand Feb I, 1884, -I
as per General Report. ....... 14,2e7.12
s2S, 1892. SO
!, Having performed the duties assigned us
to the best of our ability, We now ask to
be discharged