The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-02
Back Pay for Assessors.

The tax assessors of the several counties assessed the polls for the tax year 1900- 01, before the adoption of the constitu- tion, and earned their commission for that year. The constitution gas ratified November Il, 1901 and was in force from November 18th of that year. The consti- tuition intended in the clause forbidding the payment of commissions on poll taxes to take away every incentive for collecting this tax. l take 1t, however, that the assessors claim for commissions on work already done is clear and 1 ad- wise that bill be passed relieving them out of the state treasury for this work. Amount to which each assessor is entitled can be easily ascertained from the audi tors books.
 You will be called upon to pass bill to prevent confusion in certain county offices growing out of the dates of elec- ton fixed in the constitution and the date at which the officer now begins his term under the statutes. The offices re- ferred to are those of assessor, collector and county superintendent. The terms of these officers should begin about Sep tember l and under the new consttu- iion they could not be elected until No vember. The necessity for a change in order to avoid the confusion growing out of the change of date for state elections is urgent. Schools otherwise cannot be properly handled and the assessment and collection of taxes would be made practi- cally impossible at least one year in four. Lynching.
 There has only been one murder com- mitted in this state in the past year at the hands of a mob. This is the states S best record in many years. The victim was taken by violence after brave sheriff had been shot down. The murder CTS are out under bond. The citizens of the state have been law-abiding for the most part and at times patient and long suffering Our northern and eastern critics of this particular phase of crime have been forced to observe conditions nearer home. We have reason to believe that after a while, the more thoughtful of them, finding their own and their neighbours home invaded, will see that this section has borne q burden the full measure of which they had not been pre- pared to appreciate. We may anticipate day when lynching will be considered by even the northern men as no longer southern diversion. Whatever may be the fashion in other parts of this country, in this state we desire to be law-abiding, and in order that there may be less ex- cuss for violence. the governor should be given the power to order a special term of court to try a fragrant offender. He has now no authority to order special term. The supernumerary judge can only hold a regular term of a court The laws delay is responsible for much lack of reverence for its processes. A speedy trial below and speedy hearing by the higher bench would do much to destroy a taste for lynching in Alabama. The duty is upon you to make provisions for trials free from unnecessary delays.
 Peonage.
 In at least one locality in Alabama sew eral farmers have been working men and women under guard without legal au- thority to do so One or more of these offenders have been sinners for a dozon years. They have acted without the shadow of a right and have been plain violators of the state laws. The offense has been notorious in the community and these criminals should have long since, been inmates of the penitentiary That good people surrounding them al- lowed persistence in this evil doing has