Birmingham age-herald., 1895-06-16
IN TIE COURTS.

The grand jury was discharged by Judge Greene yesterday afternoon wlth the thanks of the court. Before receiving their discharge they submitted the fol- lowing communication, which was their final report:
 Criminal Court of Jefferson County,
 April Term, 1895. To Hon. S. E. Greene, Judge:
 We, the grand jury, empaneled for the April term of thls court, beg to submit this, our final report.
 We have examIned 52S witnesses and have returned 15S true bllls-l03 felonies and thirty-tYe misdemeanors.
 We have examined the books of the probate judge and find them properly kept, and have examined the bonds Of of flclals which we are required to examine and find them all suincent. The jail we found in good order it is as well kept as could be expected. The prisoners re- ceive a suificiency of wholesome food.
 We believe the present laws regulating the jurisdiction Of justices of the peace is-an improvement in the administration of justice in petty cases.
 We wish to recommend that the reVe- nue laws be amended so as to make it the specific duty of some officer to collect rev enue licenses due the state and county, with provisions for proper compensation. The present laws are inadequate to se- cure a strict enforcement of the license law.
 We examined the record rooms of the city court, and find a number of records and papers without proper facilities for keeping, and have recommended to the commissioners court to supply the nec- essary cases and racks to keep and pre- serve these records.
 We have examined into the SittingS of the commissioners court of the coun- ty and also of the jury commission. From the construction of the law that has been given to us by the solicitor and by your honor, we find that the commissioners have sat at times not allowed by law and drawn pay for such times We find also that the jury coul- mission have sat for a longer time since the passage of the act limiting the sitting of the commissioners court than was necessary for the performance of the duties devoving upon them as such jury commissioners. We are ad- yised by the solicitor that there is no power to institute a suit for the recovery of the money illegally drawn by the commissioners for holding terms Of court at times when not allowed by law, excepting the commissioners them selves. We suggest that the commis- sionerS should sit according to your hon. ors instructions to us as to the legal terms of that court, for the reason that they are not entitled to the per diem NioWHi duQ that ll1elI dClS dI Sucn lIle- gal terms are null and void. In pursu- ance of the duties cast upon them by an act of the legislature approved De- nember IT, 1884, they inspect the roads of the county, and for that purpose some of the commissioners have hired com veyances and paid the cost of the same out Of the county treasury We under stand there is no provision of law for such payment
 We recommend that the next legis- tq n fla.. salary. We attach as an exhibit to this report statement of the number of days, the dates, and amounts drawn by each commissioner since the passage of the act approved December 5, 1892, which was furnished us by the commissioners themselves.
 Regarding the act regulating the working of the public roads, we think the system is wrong. and that said roads; could be worked with more economy and better results if under the control of county officials, instead of being let to contractors. and to that end we suggest that the commissioners be relieved of the duty imposed upon them to inspect the roads by the act approved December IF, 1891: and that the office of supcrinten- dent of public roads be created, which shall be filled by election by the people: and the county be divided into road dis tricts, each one of which shall have an overseer, the county superintendent and overseers to be paid out of the road fund, the overseers to have control of the road and the hands working thereon, and the superintendent to have super vision of the-entre road system of the county.
 We find that the bailiff of the circuit court is paid mileage to and from the court house weekly, and this is denied to other bailiffs about the court house. We think that should be uniform, and are advised that there is no provision for paying mileage to such bailiff, and recommend that it be discontinued.
 We have examined the books of the sheriff and of the superintendent of education and find them correctly and neatly kept
 We examined the aims house and find that it is well kept and a comfortable home for the dependent. It is econom- cally managed and reflects credit upon those in charge. There are fifty-two in- mates, who are nearly all invalids. There are seven white females and two chil- dren, ten white males, twenty-three col ored males. three crazy white men and three crazy colored men. There are used on the farm two mules, one horse and four cows. Sold in two years, 13S pounds in truck. The superintendent receives $50 per month; matron. $60; two hired men at $11 per month each.
 iisud desire to call attention to the use
 ing and rolling of stones in the
 (ad leading-tp Clifton by miners
 mountain. It is dangerous to
 The ditches along the road
 led mountain are often filled
 les getting building stone. re-
 great damage to the road.
 to flic court. the solicitors.
 the hsiliff andl the faithful
 Videman. our sincere thanks