The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-28
A Bin That Needs Revision

IkGBlsISr.
 There is bill before the Alabama Legislature denned as An Act to pro vide for and regulate the salaries of Judges of Probate, Sheriffs. Clerks of the Circuit, City, Law and Equity oi other courts of record, Registers in Chancery. Tax Assessors, Tax Collect ors, members of the Board of Revenue or County Commissioners. Coroners and Clerks of the Supreme Court" There Is more of the title, but the offices named are the ones involved and the purpose or the bill Is to do away with the fee system of paying officials and to give them fixed compensation.
 It cannot be denied that the purpose of the bil is good. because many abuses have grown out of the fee sys- tenn in Alabama, and it is time to dis salaries when sheriffs in the larger counties receive four times tho Day of judges of the Supreme Court. There are, however some parts of the bill showing the proposers greater famil- iarity with general than with local conditions, and these parts should le- ceive ciose attention before the meas ure goes to the Legislature for a vote.
 serious defect is presented in the want of adequate provision for con- ducting the business of probate courts in the larger counties and keeping pace with the public demand in the ming of probate court recocdS. In Mobile County. for instance, the ap- propriation the bill makes for clerical help in the probate court, would not provide one-third of the clerical force required. The bill allows $1,50O a year for probate clerk and ai the rrerent time, with the work constantly grow. ing. $S,600 per annum Is paid to six and some times seven persons engaged in recording documents filed in the probate couct and in other clerical du- ties conn scted with the court The salary contemplated in the hIll would not give each of the employees ofNthe probate court of Mobile (-Ountv conn O year.
 An investigation of the work of the probate court shows that fer one deed book there are five thousand entries. as follows; recording and lndeXing one thousand; direct index, one thousand. reverse index, one thousand; general direct index, one thousand, and general reverse index the same number There are eight deed books used. making for, ty thousand entries in all. Slime care has to be shown in recording mort ages corporations marks and brands. medical diplomas, marriages, taDuIat- ing by letters. There are eight thou. sand registered voters to enter. cIas sify in wards and precincts and each requiring duplicate copies. The nro- pate court also deals with indlgent in- sane cases and records these proceed ings. State licenses and pensions Ac. curary and dispatch are required In the performance of the work and the clerical force is frequently compelled to work at night to prevent accumula tions of documents for record.
 While the salaries according to the population grade arc stated in the bilI there are other matters left out, su-- gVstinE the questions:
 Who is to control or appoint probate clerks or remove tlRm for causeq Who will be the iudsS of their com potency?
 How can judges of probate be made responsible for all records? Who Is to prevent abstraction from and mutiIa. ton of records
 Tn the public interest the proposed bill needs considerable alteration as far as it concerns probate courts.