The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-07

l
 "4. Dealing in County Claims-By
 section 7430 of the code it is made | an offense for any public officer, dep | uty, assistant or clerk thereof either i directly or indirectly. by himself or | through another. to purchase, deal or l traffic in any manner whatever, in any l claim payable out of the county treas ury, or out of the fine and forfeiture funds of the county. The law re- | quires you to investigate every viola 1 tion of this law and to indict any one | guilty thereof, if the evidence justlfes
 the same.
 "5. Tax Assessors-Section 74S6 of | the code makes it a misdemean3
 for any tax assessor or deputy tax as-
 sessor to return the tax list of any tax 1 payer as having been sworn to by said | tax payer, when in fact 1t was not 1 sworn to. This law is intended to l prevent false returns of property and l to guard against unequal burdens on | the tax payer. It Is made your duty
 to investigate this matter and to indlct i whenever the evidence justifies it.
 "6. Trusts and Combinations to Fix ] Prices-Your attention is especially called to section 7579 of the code. You
 are thereby required to investigate all combinations or agreements designed to regulate or fix the price of any
 article or commodity to be sold or produced Tn lne Sldle. HIS IS d StIl-
 ous offense, because if men or cor
 porations are allowed to control the price of groceries and other articles of every day use, the great masses of our people must suffer hardships to
 enrich the few. If this law has been violated in Jefferson county, the grand
 jury should immediately indict the parties guilty thereof.
 Trusts and Combinations.
 Also section 75So of the code for bids all corporations and tn cir agents
 to enter into any combination with any other corporation or person for the purpose fo fixing the price or dimin- shing the production, sale, use or con sumption of any article of commerce. For the common good of all this mat ter should be closely investigated and
 the people be protected from high and
 unrea sonable prices. arbitrarily fixed
 for private gain. If you find any di-
 rect or indirect violation of this law you are required to indict if the evil
 dence Justifies it.
 v. Your attention is directed to the election laws as contained in chapter POT
 of the code. Illegal voting, fraudulent registration and every means of thwart- ing a free ballot and fair count should be suppressed with iron hand The will of the people must prevail and the grand jury Is required to indict for every vio- lation of the election law in this county am also required to call your attention specially to betting on elections and to charge you to indict all offenders. | 'S. Conviots and Prisoners-Thorough investigate should be had of the law regulating treatment of convicts and pris- oners. Humanity and common justice de- mand strict regulation of those in charge of prisoners, whether public officers or private persons, these prisoners are under the control of the state and must have enlightened treatment. They should not be degraded nor brutally mistreated. It matters not what officer, citizen or cor poration has violated this law, the grand jury must see that the lives, health and
 well being of county convicts are pro-
 tected. You will find the law in chapter 19l of the code. Article 5, page 416, etc g. Pure Food Regulations Section 70s1 of the code forbids the selling, giving away or keeping for sale of adulterated candies, and the legislature has just passed a pure food and drug law. which should receive your earnest consideration in order to preserve the health of our people. The sale of cocaine, except upon prescription of 8 physician, should be | strictly investigated and those guilty of 1 violating the law should be prosecuted TO. Gambling-We have always had l laws on the statute books against gamb- 1 ling and the legislature has just passed | additional laws. It Is not right that l young and hard working people | should be enticed into gambling houses and robbed of their earnings by profes- sional gamblers. This law ought to be strictly enforced. and the grand jury can do much to aid in the enforcement of the law.
 '11. Game and Fish LAw-All violators of the game and fish law should be in dicted.
 "12. Anti-Pass Law-Likewise it is your duty to investigate and bring indictments against all who violate the anti-pass law as contained in section 1891 of the code. and also to indct every corporation agent thereof who contributes money to aid any political party or candidate. The l-w on this subject is found in section 6630 of the code
 '13. Inspection of Jail and Aims House Section 72S7 of the code requires you to make a personal inspection of the con dtion In the county jafi. and aims house, to look into the accommodation. health and safekeeping of the inmates and to call on the Board of Revenue to remedy bad conditions there.
 '14 Examination Other Officials-By sections 72SS, 7289. 7291 and 72s2 you are required to examine the condition of the county treasury and the officials bonds of all county officers; to examine the
 sheriffs accounts for feeding prisoners; to examine the fee book of the probate judge; to examine the books and papers
 of the superintendent of education. and generally to inquire into any breach of
 duty by officers of the law. You are en-
 titled to free access to all books and
 records and should not hesitate to call public attention to any errors found. '15. There should be a strict examina- tion of the dockets of justices of the peace and careful inquiry into the con duct of those offices. remembering that every miscarriage of justice is a reflection