Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-31
FINDS IT INTERESTING
Golf Talks in His Own Behalf. and Cowing Gives Him
 the Lie Direct.

chambers in the new criminal court build ing today. The pending bill proposes 10 make the recorder the presiding judge oi the court of general sessions and increases his salary to SIG. .000 year.
 At 11:20 o'clock Chairman O'Connor called the committee to order and ~an- nounced the objection of the hearing. Judge Cowing said, on behalf of the judges of the general sessions 'We shall offer every assistance in our power to aid your investigation. We are m sympathy with the purpose of the iLquiry, and hope you Will go away 'owith knowledge of the true facts. We hope you will hear all that is to be said on both sides.
 Recorder Golf was then called to the wit nts, stand and sworn. Chairman O'Con- poi questioned him. He was aaked 10 give bis siews of the court of general sessions. He said:
 "WelI, senators, 1 wish to say 1 have learned for he first lime this morning tha: there had been chief justice of this court. That position was occupied by Rt corder s,my,hss, but not by Judge eowing' as he
 Judge Cowing denied that he had so stated.
 The witness continued: .sfhere has never been any statute, never any ruling, 10 fix a cbief judge oi the general sessions. It has always been an assign ment of cus- tom. have iohg been convinced that the attaches of this court are thoroughly in- competent and unfit to fulfil the duties of this court. There has been no order, no discipline. They are never found on duty. They come when they want to, and go when they want to. The appointees of each judge consider themselves Independent of he other judges. There are no hours of duties. There have never been any rules Of the conrt. The lawyers practice in any part they wish. When motion is overrued in one part t.~ I s,.1f fF nnth haP part. There is absolutely DO rule govern- ing that. There was such a case last fall.'
 The witne.s then cited the case.
 Mir. Golf said: ''I became convinced necled with the indictments was illegal. Hence arose the scandal connected with the pigeon holing of the indictments. As long as can remember many of the indictments were held over the heads of men for cleo tion purposes. This was especially true with liquor dealers. There was great in- crease of indictments just before elections. When in the district attoruey's flee my desk WIS broken open to get out some in- dictmeBts. Other desks were broken open.
 I here is no record of indictments. The indictments have been taken over to New Jersey and burned as MT. Purdy can tell. have never sought 10 cast any reflection on any judge. It is against the system ob- ject. 1 insisted on a change when l be- came recorder, and the system is now much better. The indictments are now matter oi record. think more is to be done. l invited my brother judges to meeting in January and one of the subjects discussed was app ointments.
 Mir. Golf sI oke of the list Of attendants and clerks, and said some of them drew pay from the city for years, while really giving no service.
 He said: "I considered that the chief clerk of this court should not be district leader in politics" Senator O'Connor wanted to know if the rla nf ot position 10 advance the interests of his party. The recorder taid he could do so. He said there was no reflection on the char acter of MT. Sparks. If clerks had been promoted for honesty, efficiency and length of service, as the other judges claim, MT. Hall or MT. Walsh would have been made chief clerk.
 ''What system would you recommend?"
 ''l would have men come here and work for their money, the same as any mechanic. Iwould have inc men divorced from poi- Itcs, and would not have men receive letters from political parties, as Judge Cowing knows.' .'1hat is not true," spoke up Judge Cowing. "Don't you use my name.o
 ''JuGge Cow ing knows men have re- ceived letters,' continued Recorder Golf.
 ''Ii's a lie, it's lie,o shouted Judge | Cowing. "Don't mention my name, and especially in connection with falsehood."
 MT. Golf got red in the face, but con- tinued, "And there is Clerk Hall, who | became a democrat after his appointment by Judge Cowing."
 .tThat's lie, cried out the clerk, who | was standing near by. al am demo- crat and always have been.'
 Judges Cowing and Fitzgerald were asked If they wanted to ask the recorder any questions.
 "No," said Judge Cowing, "I will an swer bim in my own way. wonld not put question to him. have not spoken 10 him in three months, but wish the op- portunity of being heard.'
 tAnd Hlso," said Judge Fitzgerald, ''I want 10 make a statement.o
 ''Oh certainly, jndge,' said Chairman O'Connor. "We shall give you chance 10 give your side of the case. We only wish to get at the truth of the matter. There seems to be difference among the judges.''
 "Yes, unfortunately, said,J udge Cow ing, ''there is a difference and it is dis graceful condition of affairs. During my sixteen years' service l have not had any thing so scanda1ous.'
 ''I am sorry to see such a condition of things" said Chairman O'Connor.
 The chairman then announced recess for an hour.
 After recess Judge Rufus B. Cowing was sworn. He said he was city judge. He then proceeded to read a statement in which he said: 'tI am not here to smirch my court. l shall confine myself to the proposed bill to regulate the appointment of court attendants.
 "Supposug l had sent to Albany bill increasing my salary 33b per ceut and making me chief judge of lhIs court, what would you think of Judge Cowing? pause for your answer. We are all presid- ing judges in our own part. Who could be better selected chief judge than he who is fitted by long experiences and acqnaintaucs