The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-11
REPORT ON OFFICIALS
MOBILE COUNTY JUDGE AND
 SHERIFF.
Examiner John T. German Has In vestigated Condition of Their Books and Accounts-Com-
 pliments Their Efficiency.

Hon. John T. German, State Exam iner of Public Accounts has filed with
 the State Executive Department re- ports upon the result of his recent in- vestigation of the books and accounts of Hon. J. E. Afford. Judge of the h. ferior Criminal Court of Mobile Coun- ty and of John F. Powers. Sheriff of Mobile County. These reports are highly complimentary to both enicials.
 In his report upon the Sheriff Mr.
 German says:
 The result of the examination dis
 closes that there were several errors,
 amounting to $10.20 made against the
 State and several amounting to $S.40,
 made by the Sheriff against himself,
 leaving balance of $1.80 due the
 State.
 These errors are strictly clerical in character and reflect no discredit what ever on Mir. George Holt who occupies the position of office deputy, and whose duty 1t is to keep these accounts, and make out these board bills. On the contrary, MT. Holt is . most capable and efficient ofhcer. After the compile tion of my examination, called the attention of the Sheriff to these errors. He admitted their correctness and promptly remitted the $1.5e ascertained to be due. to the State Treasurer. In this connection think 1t is proper to to State that Mir. Powers deserves the highest commendation for the efficient and competent manner in which he Is discharging the duties of his office. He is conducting 1t strictly in accordance with law and giving an excellent sd- ministration of its affairs. He is par ticularly complying with the require ment of law. in obtaining cittimuLk es, before receiving prisoners into custody, and in filing and pres .rvi.lg these b It. musses as required by law. On ex- animation I find an order of commit ment for each of these prisoners filed separately, day by day. for each month in regular order. This strict compli- ance with law greatly facilitates the examination.
 There has been much comment or criticism on the large board bills paid by the State to the Sheriff of tnis County for feeding prisoners. On careful examination, I. am compelled to report that 1t Is not the fault of the Sh' riff. while large ainonu- of these b..ls ts for feeding prisonsrs sentenced to imprisonment in the County jail, in every instance, the Sheriff holds an oft"r of commitment from an officer authorized to imprisc s>r- ence, of ira- p"iSonment."
 MT. German highly recommends the Inferior Court and says that Judge AL ford Is particularly attentive to his du- ties and cautious in the administration of justice. He reviews the act creating the Court and continues as follows:
 From the establishment of this Court. February 23, 1899. to May 1. 1901 there were 1131 cases tried. In 169 of these cases. in which the Court had final Jurisdiction. $1.17s.s3 fines and costs were collected and paid into the County Treasury. the law creating the Court requiring all fines and costs to be paid into the County Treasury. All of this amount Is properly aecounted the docket for the amount collected in each case.
 "In 45 cases the prisoners were sen- fenced to hard labor for the County. From the hard labor imposed by these sentences. $53l.25 additional will be paid into the County Treasury, making a total of $1,707.7s for the County Treasury. .,.
 "In addition. in a large number Of cases in which the Court had only pre- liminary Jurisdiction. the defendants were bound over and convicted in the higher courts. Tn so of these case s55.S0 board bills were collected from the defendants. which nave been paid into the State Treasury. I hereto at taon the number of these cases and the amount collected in each case. marked Exhibit A which I ask to be con- stdered a part of this report.
 "I think the creation of this Court is a decided improvement on the old Justice of the Peace system in such populous County as Mobile, and con- ferring final Jurisdiction on th!s Court of all misdemeanors will result in sav- ing thousands of dollars to the State and County annually.
 "Prisoners. who heretofore have been committed to, jail on ?reliminar,' -ex- aminations. can have final trials at once and be sentenced or discharged, and thus save the State expensive board bills"
 Railway Workers on Strike.