The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-02
ARGUED BEFORE
THE COMMITTEE
Hearing on Bill to Abolish Court
of County Commissioners.
NO ACTION ON THE MATTE
Arguments Were Made by Capt. F. S
White for the Defense and Hon.
John w. Tomlinson for the
Prosecution.

Montgomery, February 1.-(special.)-
bill to abolish the jefferson county COM
missioners' court was argued before the
local legislation committee this after
noon.
Captain F. S. White argued the case for
the commissioners and Colonel John w.
Tomlinson spoke for the bill. There was
a full meeting of the committee and two
and half hours was given to the consd-
Grafton of the matter.
When the arguments were concluded the
committee went into executive session. A
motion was made to defer action ON the
bill until tomorrow morning at $3.50 o'clock,
which was carried.
Sheriff f. p O'Brien was introduced by
the defense. AT the suggestion of Lawyer
Frank S. White the sheriff explained the
construction of the county court house and
jail, making practically the same remarks
as published in The Age-Herad this morn
ing. He testified to many different items
of expenses mentioned by Examiner Cowan
in his report, stating that the commissions
ers had in many instances had at his sug-
gestion made cuts in the expenses in keep
no 'iiS jar aiid cOuIlt especially Ill tile
T items of lights and water. Said he paid
out of his own funds for all coal that was
used in the Jail. Sheriff O'Brien was on
the stand for nearly an hour, different
members of the committee questioning him
IN regard to different charges made by the
examiner.
Attorney F. s. White then addressed the
committee. In opening the argument the
attorney submitted some affidavits on the
cost of moving coal, the number of cases
docketed by the commissioners for hearing
in tax cases-1.016 in number, and from the
health officer as to the purchase of medl-
cines. The latter claimed to have pur-
chased all medicines used, and stated that
they were purchased at wholesale prices
wherever they could be bought cheapest
Captain White argued at length the ques-
ton as to the constitutional right of the
proceeding to abolish the court. In Jeffer-
son county, he said, the commissioners, If
they are guilty of mispheasance, should be
tried. He made but little attempt to de-
fend the commissioners against the charges
made in the Cowan report.
He presented to the committee a signed
petition against the proposed abolition of
signatures of 1000 democratic voters.
Attorney John w. Tominson argued the
case against the commissioners. He opened
with the remark that Captain White had
not refuted single charge contained in the
report. The legislature, he said, had full
jurisdiction in the case. Let the bill be re-
ported by the committee, and if the legisla-
ture decides that these men are guilty
they should be turned out the same as a
man would discharge an unfaithful en-
poye.
In reply to an inquiry by Chairman Tun-
stall, if he had petition to have the court
abolished Colonel Tominson replied that
he did not. He thought majority of the
people in the county wanted the court abol-
ished. That the petition presented by Mr..
White had been signed before the examin-
er had written his report. Colonel Tomlin-
son spoke about ten minutes
Mr.. White closed the argument with an
appeal to the committee to oppose the bill
and the matter be investigated in the JEFF
ferson courts, if an investigation be neces-
sary.
Jury Commissioners
Montgomery, February 1.-(Special y