The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-02
JUDGE .FEAGIN ON TOO MUCH DRINKING. Says Whisky is Cause of Ma jority of Crime and Poverty A PROHIBITION SYSTEM Says City Council Will Be Asked to Provide for Probation Officer
 to Look After In-
 ebriates.
A PROHIBITION SYSTEM

Out of twenty-two cases on the police court docket yesterday morning fourteen were charged with being drunk.
 Drunkenness. said Judge Feagin yes terday, lis the worst vice. It causes more loss of position, life and character than any other crime known in the police court of Birmingham.
 "rhe city of Boston has had for nearly quarter of century a probation or suspension of sentence system for inebri- ates and also an institution to which the incorrigible are committed for medical treatment.
 Judge William Jefferson Pollard of St. Louis has of his own accord instituted suspension of sentence of the habitual drunkard and placed them in the care of probation officer. This method is re- ported to have brought happy results in that comparative few fall to appreciate the justice tempered with mercy thus meted out to them. The inebriate is in formed that if he, within a year. Is brought before the court on a charge of drunkenness he wR1 be heavily pun ished for both offenses.
 The frank and candid Rtatement made by our last grand jury In its report of January S1 of the lamentable conditions caused by drunkenness and gaming and the demoralizing effect upon the citizen ship of our city Is timely and 1t is to be hoped that 1t will quicken public con science to demand better civic and social conditions
 Efforts will be made to have the coun- ell authorize the appointing of a proba- tion officer for the police court to carry into effect the methods that have wrought such wonderful changes in Boston, St Louis and other cities in America
 'As l stated a few days ago, France has had in operation for ten years or more the suspension of sentence for first offenders, reducing the number of second offenders from 47 per cent to per cent.
 'I am informed by private letter that the council of the city of Montgomery made provision for the appointing of q probation officer for it's criminal court This is the first body of law makers in the state of Alabama to take such a wise
  and humane step.
 There are a number of bartenders in Birmingham that desire to put down the illegal traffic in whisky there are also number of bartenders and liquor men in the city who decline to sell whisky to men they know have incorporate habits and who may be intoxicated. The efforts of these men deserve public commenda- ton. I believe the men who do the dam age are the men of questionable morals who sell whisky to men of incorporate habits and who break the Sunday law.
 T have been further informed that there are little girls in their teens, that frequent houses of III repute. If we had a probation officer such girls could be looked after and such places broken up.
 T do not believe in the method that punshes as much as I do the method of prevention. Reformation is good in a way. but prevention is better.
 Were such practices kept down it would enhance the resources of the city. During the year 1905, sS1 GOO in fines were collected by the city. l know positively that this money came out of the pockets of the most needy. To my mind it is much better to have some other way of punishment, do away with the system of fines for first offenders, and instead of taking the money they need out of their pockets, compelling them to become pub lie charities, let them keep 1t and put it to some good advantage"