The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-23

! Montgomery, June N.-NSpeclal)- l ne 1 importance of care for the records in the office of the secretary of state is not realized by the average man" said Sec retary Frank Julian yesterday in talking of the plans to refurnisn the offices of the capitol we have books here that are of untold value to the people of the state, which have been so long in use the backs are in many cases torn off and they are in great danger of being rem dered inefficient In the service lAeS were set apart to do."
 Those records referred to by MT. Julian include tract and plat books and field notes which, If lost could not be replaced after long, tedious and expensive work at Washington. There is not week passes that scores of men and women do not have to refer to them to verify titles and make good deeds and conveyances. Hence it is of the greatest importance that they be cared for in the best and safest way. It would take many times over their cost to replace them in case they are lost
 There is little care taken at this time by the state to preserve books and rec .1ds that are of great value intrinsically and sentimentally, though the latter class receives perhaps the best attention. We have to store supreme court reports and codes in damp basements," said MT. Julian, "where they arc damaged and in some cases actually lost Very little money will provide for means to preserve these and in the end make back to the state far more than 1t ever cost to pro- vide proper filing and storage cases'
 One of the live wires of the coming meeting of the State Bar association will be the paper of Judge William II. Thomas of Montgomery who will incidentally. 1t Is said discuss the question of techni- cality in the G<rape of criminals rom punishment. The restoration of the old English or orthodox rule w.l regard to the presumption of error in the tiral of cases is sought by many in the jurispru- dence of the state, the impression be- ing that it will be much safer to society than the American rule which presumes injury to the defense in every error on the part of the court.
 An enterprlsing young lawyer said yes terday in talking of the question of pre- sumption of injury as a result of error, that most any great criminal lawyer can tangle up the average judge and make 1t possible to secure exceptions. 'rhe law yer in a given case is thoroughly studied by the lawyer and in this way he has the advantage of even the best of the judges A bill is pending in the lfSIs- lature which will in measure remove some of the objections along this llne. Ii has been favorably reported.
 As result of the movement for swiftcr work on the improvements being made on the capitol things are beginning to assume permanent shape and before many days assignments may be made of rooms which are finished and in good shape for the comfort of the officers One of the first moves is that of the state tax commission, which has comfortable )ons i in the annex, across the hall from the private office of pr. Thomas M owen, director of the department Of archives and history.
 Governor Conner has been out of the city all the week and as q consequence things have been a little quiet. Talk has been largely of the prospec! of q , fight on Senator John II. Bankhead in opinion seems to be that there will be no contest made. Many of the leading members of the party as well as the legislature have expressei themselves to the effect that there Is nothing else for the legislature to do put elec- him, hold ing that the instruction Uf the primary are not to be disregarded.
 Walter D. Seed, state treasurer, takes the report that he may announce for governor somewhat as a joke just now, though it is by no means certain that he will not enter the running within the next two years. Tt is too soon to talk about that now, said MT. Seed to the writer one day this week. "I have no way of telling what l want to do for some