The age-herald., 1902-04-27

e~ tions. % ~-%%%<<%%-o%-<-<->< syzN HE Criminal Court grand jury in it's report rendered to Judge Dan
 A. Greene yesterday asserts in effect that the present state election law Is practically nil as far as fixing any pun ishment for dishonest election officers is concerned The portion of the report re- ferring to this question follows:
 Your honor has instructed ITS to look to the charge of frauds in elections, and we feel that 1t Is incumbent upon us to state that we have made no effort what ever to investigate these charges. not withstanding the many rumors in con- nection with the first election held in this state. We find that the election law of this state Is simply formula or recipe under which elections may be held with no penalties whatever to punish officers of elections if they in their descretion see fit to change the formula.
 First. they may increase the vobei second, they may refuse to sign election returns; third, they may refuse to count the vore: fourth. they may destroy tho bribes; sixth, they moy have deputies around the polls who may intimidats the voters; seventh, the markers may fill out tickets to suit themselvesI eighth, the majority of suspectors may refuse the minority clerk; ninth they may oarry the election to suit themselves regardless of ballots or electors. Any fraud oonneot- ed with state, county or municipal eaeo- ton in Alabama may be practtced by said officials with impunfty.
 PENALTIES GALORE
 FOR THE VOTER.
 We f1nd, however, that this so-cal1ed election law has penalties affecting the voter too numerous to specify. This may account for some people advocating hon. est leagues for the purpose of, teaching tho people to be honest. We have neither patience nor sympathy with this proposed innovation, and deem 1t an uncalIed for reflection upon the honest yoenanry of our country Under our new constitution the necessity fer frauds in elections has boen removed. and we might well face conditions as they exist and lot the peo- erless and turies absolutely helpless to correct this evil without speedy kgisia- tion bearing upon this question.
 WITNESSES SUMMONED
 WITHOUT NECESSITY.
 The jury also comments on irregulari- As- Rof1~
 We have experienced in several in- stances irregularities in the manner of summoning witnesses before the grand Jury, which, if not checked, will result in much unnecessary expense to the county, and great Inconvenience to wit nesses who appear before this branch of the court. In several instances the wit nesses were summoned and paid twice for attendance in the same case.
 Tn No. 11S two witnesses appeared, volunteering evidence upon which a case was dooeeted and disposed of; one week later same parties were subpoenaed from a distance of 296 miles at a cost of S61 20. It Is not our purpose to criticise or com demn any official as we believe the new law, allowing fee of 25 oents for each summons issued, to be partly responsi- ble for this irregular process. We sug- gest a repeal of this law whereby this confusion may be avoided and unneoss- sary expense saved and some protection be afforded the much abused fine and forfeiture fund.
 YOUNG WOMAN ASKED
 lMMoDEsT QUESTIONS.
 Tho jury also condemns the practice of asking young women witnesses fmmodest questions. The report says: #rt
 We also wish to call the attention of the court to another matter in connection with witnesses. A crime is committed. an infant is found dead in the woods; fao- tory is raided and a large number of hard-working girls with innocence and modesty stamped upon their faces are summoned before the jury and required to answer questions that every good mother in this country would blush to ask their own daughters. Neither the so- licitor nor any member of our jury asked unnecessary or improper questions, but after the evidence of six or seven girls was heard, who knew absolutely nothing about the facts in the case, we deemed it unnecessary to require the balance of these young women to testify. We think before young girl or lady be summoned before court or grand jury to testify in such case that a showing should be made to a judge or solicitor that these parties are in position to give material evidence, and not leave them to the mercy of those who do not realize the embarrassing position in which these in- nocent witnesses are placed
 JAIL lS NOT
 WELL VENTILATED.
 Other parts of the report follow:
 we made examination of the jail and found h fairly we'll kept and the food wholesome and substantial. We noticed however, that the second floor of the building seemed 0 isok proper wsutiia- ton, we were informed that there was