The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-20
STATES LIVING EXPENSES
 SUFFER ENORMOUS INCREASE
Legislature of 1907 Raised the Operating Ex- penses of the Peoples Government by
 S1.300,000 Each Year.

The Legislature of 1907 increased the living expenses of the State of Alabama by si. 300, 900 each year. The figures do not represent the total of the appro- priations They stand for the annual Increase of expenses and for nothing else.
 The greatest income producer con- nected with the State government is xhe Convict Department, operated under the plan introduced by Governor Jelks The Department brings in more reve- nue than any other department of the State government. Yet the increase Of tSate's expenses for each year is near ly double the amount of money received annually from the working of the con- victs under the present system. It is estimated that in the coming g year the Convict Department will pay into the Treasury, the sum of $700,0O0. If that is doubled the annual increase of the States expenses made by the present Legislature will be had with a carefully considered, some adequate Idea of the unparalleled liberality of khe Legislature of 1907 can be had.
 The friends of the present State sd- mfnistration have already felt the sting of criticism because of their freedom with the States money. In the baroe- cue season which is just closing several of the members of the House and Sem ate have been on the stump defending the Legislatures expensive ways. Their cue they took from the Governors late addresses.
 "Yes. the Legislature made large ap- prppriations but those appropriations were for. the old soldiers and schools. Will anybody here criticizs the Legislat- ure for making appropriations to help the old soldiers and the country schools?"
 But all the appropriations were not made for the benefit of the old soldiers and the schools. Not by a good deal Some salaries were raised. Some new off1ces were created.
 Cost of the Courts.
 For instance. the administration of justice in Alabama costs approximately $7B,o00 more each year than 1t did be- fore the Legislature met. The State Of Alabama has grown and practically all things in 1t have grown. but noth- ang in all Alabama has grown so rapid 1y as the cost of the courts. An at torney declared that the increase in judicial salaries alone for one year would pay the total cost of the judi ei&ry for one year of a period of fif- Eeen years ago.
 The salaries of all Supreme. Circuit and Law and Equity Judges and of all Cnancellors were raised. The raises have been carefully estimated for they were made at the winter session and the acts passed at the winter session have been printed.
 These estimates show that the Judges of the City Courts and Courts of Law and Equity. will cost the State $45,97O more during the fiscal year of 1908 than they cost before the Legislature met. several of these judges have been paid out of the county funds until 1907. but the Legislature changed that The Leg asiature made them payable out of the state Treasury under general act,
 The Supreme Court will cost the State 500 more than 1t cost last year. The eost of the solicitors to the State was increased by $6.60O. Supreme Court arnnIoves will receive $2,4S0 more Tf,ar they received last year. The four