Birmingham age-herald., 1894-08-29
SAVE TIE HOSPITAL!
Another Sound for Retrenohment
 in Another Direction.
Some Fig ures on the Fee Sys- tenn for the Consideration
 of Legislators.
To the Ace- Herald.

We boast of the wealth and strength of Jefferson county, and we have just cause when we consider that we have popula- tion which must now exceed 90. .000 and tax values approximating S40, 1000 ,000, and yet the county commissioners, 0 n the score of necessary economy, refuse to appropriate sum sufficient to maintain place where the unfortunate poor when sick or in- iured may be sheltered. The hospital was built by voluntary contributions, when it should have been at the public cost, and it has been kept open through the persistent and continued efforts of the noble women, whose hearts have been touched by the distress and suffering they have witnessed, and to permit it to be closed now for want of aid from the public money is simply disgraceful, in view of the facts, which do not appear to be generally known. The condition of the city finances may be an excuse for the recent action of the alder men in their laudable efforts at retrench- ment and economy, but tho action of the county commissioners is without justifca- tion or excuse if they will but have the courage to insist on economies which the present occasion demands, and which can be secured as soon as the legislature meets.
 Let's look at few items of expense which are borne by Jefferson county, outside Of it's general contribution to the expenses which should be borne properly by the state at large, but which are necessary and for which the county must pay if it would have the law administered.
 We have two judges of the city court, whose salaries are S5500; one judge of the criminal court, S2500; a solicitor and his assistants, $50G0; additional compensation to circuit judge, $500; total of SIS ,500, which Is paid from the county treasury, anu the expenditure, in my judgment, is necessary and proper. But in addition to this sum the people who have business In the courts aud the county offices pay to the ineumbeuts of these offices sums vastly in excess of this amount, and here the prun- ing knife should be used and used freely.
 It is estimated that the sheriff's office yields at least S12, 1000 per annum, the judge ofprobate S70G0 to $10, 0,000, the clerk and register of the city court 5000 to $8000, and SS000, Q total on the lowest estimate of nearly $50, GOO a year for these four officers. What the compensation Is of the other county officers, who receive fees, do not know.
 It will no doubt be said these officers do not draw anything from the tax payers, be- cause they are paid fees, but the answer is spacious, for at last the people pay the fees, and if the people who pay them are not tax payers, then. it is because they have no property and the evil is so much worse. Let all the fees of all the officers who are paid by the county or which are incident to the courts, which are maintained at the expense of the countyS be paid into the county treasury, and let these officers be paid liberal salaries for their services, and there will be no trouble about main ming the hospital. It may be contended that the sheriff's office would not come within the category l have mentioned, but when it is borne in mind that the larger part of the compensation of the sheriff comes from the administration of the criminal law and the profits derived from keeping the jail, paid by the county, it will be seen that the tax payer actually pays large part of the fees ot his office.
 Why should the sheriff of Jefferson county in these times of distress. or at any time, be paid three times as much as the governor of the state?
 Why should the judge of probate of Jef- ferson county be paid more than the chief justice of the state?
 And, lastly, why should the clerks, mere ministerial officers of the city and criminal courts, be paid more than the judges of the respective courts?
 The result of the abolition of the fee sys- tenn in the office of the county solicitor re- and why should not tEe salary system be extended to all the county offices and afford thA hAcounty commissioners the meaGs to maintaiff>one charity. which is neces- sity and whicS should be credit to the county3
 If the countA commissioners desire to effect this saving Apd secure the means nec- essary to maintain Aey can insist that our delegation in the nSxt legislature. shall secure the necessary Negislatlon, which ! have no doubtthey will >pe giao to do; but in the event of failure the& will at least en- joy the satisfaction of having made an honest effort in the right direction, and at the next election the people <Wlll ratify their action. ALEX T. LONDON. No Anti-Pyrine in Bromo- Seltzert