The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-30
CARTER SUGGESTS
 REMEDY AT JAIL Tells How Sheriff Cleans Up
 S1OOO a Month ASKS SOMETHING DEFINIl E Would Create Office of Jaler For Large Counties and Take Pris- oners Out of the Sheriff's
 Hands.
ASKS SOMETHING DEFINITE

To the Editor of The Age-Berald. I have been deeply interested in the recent discussion of the fee system In Alabama and especially in Jefferson coun- ty and have been hoping and expect ing that some of the learned gentlemen who have been discussing the matter would suggest something practicable, but l they all with one accord suggest some thing that may or may not be done in | the dim and distant future Why not 1 discuss the now" of the proposition in ! stead of chasing a will-o'- '-the-wisp? In what am going to say l do not I propose to make charges against any one, but simply state facts and offer some suggestions
 It is true that the law provides that the fees and emoluments of offices shall be uniform all over the state. It is also true that the fees of an officer shall not be changed during his incumbency of the office. But it is not true that the legislature is prohibited from taking any duty required of one officer and placing that duty on another; as witness the act of the present legislature taking the
 
 the city court out of the hands of the sheriff Neither is it true that gen eral law to apply to any county in the state under certain specified conditions is unconstitutional, although it may af- feet only three or four counties; as wit which fixes the price of feeding pris- oners at different prices in different coun- ties, depending on the number of pris- oners in Jail.
 Now, in view of the foregoing state ments why cannot the legislature, at Is special session. pass an act creating the office of tailer to take effect in any county when the average number of prls- oners for the preceding year reached a definite number-say 50, 75 or 100?
 The duties of this jailer should be to re- ceive all prisoners brought to him with proper commitment papers and keep them safely. The sheriffs duties and fees should cease when a prisoner is delivered to the taller and all jail fees would then go to the jailer-or better still-into the county treasury and let the county pay the jailer and all the necessary guards salaries.
 An arrangement of this kind would sen arate the sherffs of the large counties from the turnkey fees and remove all incentive to lock up prisoners for the sake of $2.30. 1t would also force officers to hold prisoners arrested without war rants long enough to get commitment pa pers and incidentally give the prisoners friends few minutes to make bond for them.
 A law of this kind could be passed to take effect as soon as signed by the governor and it would stand the test of the supreme court, too-provided, of course, some clerk didn't ball it up."
 Now, let's see what the effect would be in Jefferson county I am somewhat familiar with affairs of the county jail for the last three or four years I can not from memory give exact figures, but can only approximate, therefore, win try to be conservative. The average number of prisoners has been not less than 200 possibly more. The cost of keeping them, including groceries, meats, salaries of wardens, guards, etc., has varied from IS cents to .25 cents per day, per man. The state pays 90 cents a day. Taking the maximum figures of cost and they show a clear profit of $1O day or S3650 year. But this is only a small part of 1t. Much has been written about turn | key fees, but no one has mentioned the | "demnition total" for years business | During the last few years the commit | ments have averaged about S75 per month | and, of course, an equal number of re- | leases, or an average of S750 per month. | 5000 a year. This amount, plus the profit | on feed bill, makes total of SIP, ,65o a | year.
 This proposition Is not something that | may be done in 1915 or some later date. but something that can be done now | Why not do 1t?
 There is another small matter that af- fects every taxpayer in the county and