The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-14
Fifty Additional PatOImen Are Needed to Cover the
 Residence Section
CHAIRMAN HEIOT SHOWN
 THROUGH THE CITY JAIL
This Matter Also Coming to Commit tees Attention-Mayor's Finan- cial Statement Looked for.
 Council Meeting.

The recommendations of Chief Nier, made at the last meeting of the police commission, that the police force De ln- creased by some fifty men, will be placed before the City Council committee on police and sanitation this week
 It Is reported that a special meeting of the police commission will be called at the same time that the sanitation and police committee meets, and that the com mission. in a body, will present the chiefs recommendations to the aldermen having in charge subjects of this nature
 Chief Wier declares that Birmingham needs a great police force. He brings out that at present the residence sec ton of the city is not at all partoled, and that the citizens are preyed upon by thieves and other marauders whose oper- ations would be an impossiblity if the city had enough policemen.
 City Not Patroled.
 On the northside the extreme beat is on Fourth avenue. On the southsde officers are scattered as far as Avenue A, while one patrolman skulks over the other southside territory. On Fifth, Sixth and all other avenues on the northside no patrolman puts foot unless called there by something out of the ordinary.
 The chief wants fifty more patrolmen. With these he can cover the entire city as it was .never covered before He with these endorsements, could have twelve mounted men He wants two more captains and one more lieutenant making three commissioned officers or these grades.
 These recommendations, as stated will be officially placed in the hands of the police and sanitation committee this week, and will be brought to the atten- tion of the council. Of course, before the recommendations can be favorably acted upon they will have to be submitted to the finance committee for consideration However, it is learned that several mem bers of the police and sanitation commit tee are in favor of increasing the force, and that several other aldermen. of the council have made attempts to the same effect.
 As to City Jail.
 The police and sanitation committee
  existing at the city jail. Saturday, c. C.. Heidt, chairman of this committee, made a partial investigation. He was shown through the jail and was brought face to face with conditions there, as de- scrlbed in the report of the assistant city attorney. He stated after the investiga- ton that he was glad to come out into the cool air again. It is remembered that considerable trouble has been had with the city jail recently. A stevedore as saulted a prisoner, and in the testimony aduced at his trial 1t was. found that robbery, piliage and cruelty were prac- ticed without the knowledge of the war den. It was pointed out that the steve dore, himself a prisoner and convicted one is of bad character, and should not be placed in charge of other prisoners. Immediately after this, the escape of a white prisoner named Hillman, and two negroes, brought out the fact that the white prisoners are not confined in cages, but are Allowed to roam through the cor riders. It was brought out, too, that the walls of the jail are so feeble that one determined on escape would have little trouble. It was stated Dy the warden on this occasion, that if the prisoner-steve- dore was willing every prisoner in the city jail could easily make an escape, and their absence would not be missed until the following morning.
 It is thought that Chairman Heidt made an investigation of the jail to see some thing of these defects himself, and that he will have something to say to his committee and then to the council.
 Financial Statement.
 This committee will also consider the recent report of Sanitary Officer Burson, and his petition for an increase in force. He needs two assistants.
 The excite committee will also meet prior to the semi-monthly meeting of the council This committee will consider sev- eral petitions from saloon perpetrators who wish to sell to negroes
 It is indicated that the meeting of the council will be interesting, though chief ly made up of routine matters.
 The street committee will present sev- eral ordinances for street and sidewalk improvement The finance committee will report on monthly bills and pay rolls.
 The annual statement of the Mayor on finances will be a feature.
 
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