The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-06

..,....,.................. by the solicitor or foreman of the grand jury By so doing a great many frivolous cases would be dropped and an immense expense saved to the county.
 Prohibition.
 Great benefits of the prohibition law are apparent. Crime has been greatly reduced, and. while there are many violations of' this law, we are con fident that the reported violations are greatly exaggerated. Owing to the fact that 1t is almost impossible to procure evidence sufficient to convict, we have failed to indict some who no doubt are guilty We have investigated sev- eral clubs and the locker system, and believe it should be entirely abolished by the next legislature. Owing to the social prominence of the Southern and Country clubs, we believe that they are greatly in the way of the enforcement of the prohibition law, and that their charters should be revoked.
 Automobiles.
 We desire to call attention to sec tion e324 and the fragrant manner in which it is daily violated, both in the city and country The section reduces the speed of automobiles to eight miles per hour, and if observed would pre- vent many accidents and deaths. With the rapidly increasing numbers of auto- mobiles in our county and the con- stantly growing population the execu- tors of the law cannot afford to allow these open violations to continue.
 Cruelty to Animals.
 We also desire to call attention to the violations of the laws for the pre- vention of cruelty to animals, and ask the public to join in a proper enforce ment of these laws.
 As to Sheriff.
 Acting on the charge of the court and the request of the sheriff, we have eX- amined a number of witnesses as to the conduct of the sheriff in his official ca pacity. and that of his deputies. We find sufficient evidence to support the asser- tion maoc hl Mir. Hefiin that Curtis Shu- gart said that he received s250 for swear ing out tSe warrants for the women in the segregated district. but as to whether or not the money was actually paid by the sheriff, Law and Order league. or any other person. there was no evidence whatever except the above assertion.
 We find that the sheriff charged the corporations during the miners strike of 1908 s1 per day more than he paid his deputies, and that this profit was made on all men who served as deputies, whether old, regular or special deputies employed by the sheriff or by the com panies We also find that the corpora tions were required to furnish guns. am- fnunition, board etc, for said deputies, and guaranteed the sheriff against all damage suits that might be brought against him on account of any of said deputies by good and sufficient bonds. And while 1t was shown that former sheriffs had made extra charges for deputies during strike periods, 1t does not appear that they have been as ex- acting in the collection of fees as the present sheriff. Whatever may have been the precedent for such a practice this turI believes that 1t should cease. and we desire to stamp our dfsapproval on every semblance of graft in all public offices. We also find that the law which allows men to make bonds or pay fines has in some instances been abused and that men have been locked in jail who could have made bond or paid their fines in few minutes. This is unfair, and while the sheriff must exercise great care in preventing escapes, we believe that much care should be given to the conduct of the office above suspicion of humilia ting men for fees. We regret ex- ceedingly the unkind feelings existing be- tween our sheriff and solicitor and trust that our efforts to bring about recon ciliation will at least prevent any fur ther public criticisms or newspaper con- troversy.
 Feeling that our work has been conn pleted, we respectfully ask that we be discharged. Respectfully submitted.
 H. A. HAGLHR. Foreman.