The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-17

| l amount is 30 cents day for each pris- l oner, this means an average. of n pris- | oners less for each of the 10 months
 counted. This we believe is entirely due 1 to prohibition. We find that crime is largely on the decrease reports to the contrary notwithstanding. It is true that
 this law is being violated as are all oth- CTS. We have been compelled to no bill
 number of cases, because We could not tndict on hearsay evidence. We enjoin the officers of the county, and the off cers of the cities and towns of this coun-
 ty, to exercise more vigilance in ferret ing out violators of this law, and urge them to procure evidence that will justly indict violators of this law. We respect fully ask the judges having jurisdiction in prohibition cases to impose a jail sen
 tence in every case where 1t Is possible to do so. It is said they carry the amount
 of fines in their vest pockets, but they
 would have more trouble with a jail sen- tence.
 Justices of the Peace. We regret to report that there is a l laxness of business methods employed among our justices of the peace in this county, and In some cases we find them
 to be absolutely incompetent to discharge the duties imposed upon justice of the peace. Especially does this appear to ba true where case after case Is sent before the grand jury for investigation
 which contains no merit whatever. As We understand it the law is that before a
 warrant Is issued the justice of the peace is required to examine the witnesses to determine whether or not there is proba- ble cause for the issuance of warrant, but it is too often the case that war
 rants are issued alone on the statement of an affiant or prosecutor without any examination Into the merits of the case. We feel that this practice among the iIGffa of fha claa t,, esfA. Case after case has been no billed by this grand jury owing to the fact that from the evidence no offense against the law has been committed, which Is a use less and expensive practice. We recom- mend that every justice of the peace in the county have his at 1 tention called to this matter either by
 printed instructions or appointing day | for the attendance of every justice of l the peace in the county before some court or judge and have him instructed i as to his duties in this matter. We further recommend that the judges 1 of the inferior courts try and determine
 all cases in which they have final juris- 1 diction, thereby relieving the congested i condition of the dockets of the criminal 1 courts
 Fine and Forfeiture Fund. :. We recommend that the county attor- l ney be directed to institute such pro- l ceedings as may be necessary to deter l mine what claims are legal and what l Illegal registered agaiGst this fund. and where illegal to proceed to cancel same. l We further recommend that two clerks 1 be appointed by the board of revenue, 1 one to be placed in the auditors office and one in the treasurers office. We feel that the employment of these two clerks
 will expedite the business of these two offices, thereby relieving the congested condition of affairs in their respective of fces compensation for these two addi-
 tional clerks be paid by the county. We further recommend that all attor- neys fees made necessary by proceedings instituted for the benefit of the county growing out of the auditors and treas ] urers offices in the discharge of the l duties of these officials, be borne by the i county, and we further recommend that
 all fees heretofore paid by the auditor i and treasurer in protecting the county's l interest as attorneys fees be repaid these officials as we feel where the county's
 interest is at stake, 1t is their duty to
 protect it, and that they should not be
 made to bear the burden of the expense
 attached thereto
 County Roads.
 We note with pleasure the great im-
 provements made on our county roads. 1 With the amount of money now set aside ] for road building the people have right l to expect that Jefferson county will have
 one of the best systems of county roads 1 in the United States.
 l County Officials. It has come to the attention of the ] grand jury that there is considerable
 friction and disagreement among our county officials, and we think this is a detriment to the proper administration i of their respective offices, and stum- bling block to the proper enforcement of i the law, and tends to put the county 1 to needless expense, matter that con- cerns all the people, we therefore earn
 estly request that they bury all past diff
 ferences and in the future work together 1 with that spirit of harmony and friendly | cooperation that insures proper results 1 and the proper discharge of the duties
 of their respective offices.
 Hllman Hospital.
 The grand jury visited in a body this
 most excellent institution of the county.
 and found it well kept and doing a great
 good for the unfortunates in their charge. Mercy Home.
 The grand jury also went in body to
 the Mercy Home We found 1t in spen-
 did condition, and the 70 inmates well
 cared for. As this institution cares for
 great many that would otherwise be
 an expense to the county, we recom-
 interest as attorneys fees, be repaid these
 ty appropriation to this worthy insti-
 tuition De doubled
 i We also went in body to the city
 prison and found that the city prison is
 in a deplorabe condition, and that the prisoners are not furnished with suffi-
 cient bed clothing, and that a vast amount 1 of good can be done with the use of soap l and water.
 Fee System.
 ] We recommend that the fee system of
 the payment of public officials be abol-
 ished. It is our belief that this system
 causes not only friction among our pub i lie officials but that it also tends to 1 lead to corruption in office.
 Purchasing Agent.
 We also recommend purchasing agent
 for the county whose duty it shall be to look after and make all purchases for
 the county and O. K. bills payable l by the county. F. B. DANIELS, Foreman. |