The age-herald., 1898-02-13

received s12.014.70, and Sheriff Mclean Of Mobile received $10,775.I0. This shows an average attendance" in the jail or Jener- son Of II prisoners, and in that or Mopne of '96. These figures may prove the eih- ciency Of the sheriffs in the enforcement or the criminal laws, but they do not speak we'll for zhe morals of the communities, nor do they establish the promptness or the courts in granting to prisoners speedy trials. M
 Some of the justices of the peace in Mo- bile county make a practice of sentencing persons convicted of mIsdemeanors In their courts to the county jail as punishment, in some cases for as long period as twelve months. This is a pernicious practice that should be stopped in some way. Such sem tences cost the state in some instances as much as $10S. Under the law they have the right to impose imprisonment for mis- demeanors that come under their juris- diction. The sheriff cannot refuse to re- ceive the prisoners and carry out the sen tence. I know that the sheriff of Mobile county does not approve of these proceed ings and that he would willingly stop the practice had he the power to do so. These cases appeal strongly to executive elem ency and should be heard. I recommend that you have them examined into, and If there is no good excuse for the sentence, to pardon-the prisoner. thereby relieving the state of this unnecessary expense. W Illc Wo nave pdiu Oul d idtSCT duiOuHt lol the food of prisoners than was paid the year before, the table on page - shows that more than twice as much of this fund has been returned to the treasury through the various courts as was received the year before. If the different courts in the state would take an interest in the collection of feed bills as costs in cases of conviction where the prisoners pay fine and cost this amount would be greatly augmented, but l re gret to know that this item is not looked after 1t deserves to be. Some of the judges in the state, I am informed di rect the clerk not to tax feed bills as cost in such cases. This may be policy, but it is neither law nor justice to make the citi- zens of one circuit court pay a tax from which the citizens of another circuit are exempted by order of a local court.
 The Pension Laws
 A tabuaated statement shows the work fngs of the pension laws. For the year ending September 30, 1896, there was in this fund the sum of SIG, 242 to be pro- rated between 4546, 2,5CS widows and fifty one blind soldiers. This gives to the blind $23.52 each, and to the soldiers and widows s16S5 each. For the year ending Sepaem- Der 90, 1897, there $116. 7s4.9S to be dis bu11sed with 5,5A soldiers, 3,364 widows and sxty-four blind. This gave to the blind $lS.72, ito the soldiers and widows $12.9S each. There was an increase in the appH-
 
 diers 596, of widows S56 and blind soldiers thirteen, a total of 1,464; hence the falling off in amounts received by each.
 This statement shows the number of pen sioners in each county, also the amount contributed to tine fund, and the amount received from it in pensions, it will be ob- served ltfat only twenty-eight counties in the state paid dDto the fund as much as they draw from it, while thirty-eight coun- ties neceived more than they contributed. Taffc maid into tIhiS fund the largest amount of any county in the state, it being S15 43S6 She also drew from IL more than any other county, being s,069.0o, leaving S10, 1S4.6 .66 to be given the soldiers od other counties. The county of Winston contribution was the smallest, being $253.61, for which her soldiers received in pensions the sum of S1, ,S0S.46, btng $.55419 moe than she contributed. Her receipts from ti.c p6lision fund alone was mora than the whole amount of the state and state sapecial tax Cor soldier tax) that she paid into the state treasury, deducting the taxes paid by the railroad that runs through the county. This is truly an interesting taioie, that should be examined and anaLyzeo py every one who feels interest tn the aged and dependent old soldiers, whose valor on the field of battle once challenged the ad- nriration of a world and wrote the name of 'confederate soldier" upon tine brightest pages of history ever made by any nauoh. The effect of the state to aid these worthy men is being sadly abused
 Should Be Rejected
 Applications are allowed in a great many instances that should be rejected. The board of examiners In some counties do not appreciate their trust. They grant applica- tions that they know are based upon false statements, thereby diverting this sacred fund from its proper course. They should feel that every cent improperly allowed is taken from a pitance that is intended for a worthy confederate soldier who is not able to make living for himself. They should know that it is not an effort on the part of the state to pay the confederate soldiers for services. If it were, then all would be entitled to share. It is given in charity and love to those who come under the law and any soldier who does not come within its requirements is as com pletely barred as those who were not con- federate soldiers. I sincerely hope that in the future those whose duty it Is to pass upon the merits will do it with that deyo- tion to duty which they exhibited when their country called them from peaceful homes to the field of battle.
 The next sta tement to which l invite your attention is found on page -. This shows the receipts and expenditures from solicitors fees since the law putting so- licitors upon salaries went into operation. The expenditures on this account are $3l,- 499.1S more than the receipts from earned money and paid into the treasury. Of course, this $S1 900 came out of the general fund and should be paid back from the con vict fund, which received the benefits of the solicitors work. But as there is no law authorizing this transfer, I have9not undertaken to have it done. Under a ruling of my predecessor in office the different counties in.jhe state Kwere claiming there was surphls in the solicitors fund that was subject to distribution among them under the provisions of law. I think Audi