The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-23
GRAND JURY SCORES POLICE DEPART MENT Tribute Is Paid to Mayor Gull
 pepper Exunl RAMEY IS INDICTED no Alleged ViOIators of Prohibition Law IndIcted--Total Number of
 True Bills 1S5-some Are
 Not Made Public
RAMEY IS INDICTED

The total humber of true bills returned by the inquisitorial body was 1S6 Of these about 10 were for violators of the prohibition law. some 25 for violations of | the gaming laws and the remainder for sundry offenses.
 An indictment charging an attempt to aid felons in escape from the county jail was returned against Milton T. Ramey, Birmingham attorney. It will be re- | membered that Ramey was given a pre- liminary trial before Judge H. B. Aber- nethy on this charge last summer, and was bound over under bond. He is charged in the indictment with attempt ing to pass saws to William Bailey and William Nabors
 None of the indictments returned have been made public with the exception of those for parties alreadysin custody.
 The chief feature of the report rendered by the grand Jury was the declaration made that the police department of Bir- mingham Is lax in law enforcement. tribute is paid to Mayor Exum, to whom. l 1t is stated the recent effort to enforce I the law is due However" reads the report, we doubt his ability to accom- plish much without the assistance and cooperation of the police department, which has not heretofore manifested a very active desire to enforce these laws; and if their previous conduct along these | lines is an indication of their faithfulness in the enforcement of the laws, then they certainly do not believe in law enforce ment Immoral officers cannot be expect Cd to enforce our laws"
 Following is the report of the Septem- Der grand jury in full:
 ITO the Honorable Judges of the Crimi-
 nal Court of Jefferson County, Ala
 bama:
 We. the grand jury empaneled for l the criminal court of Jefferson county for the September. 1910. term thereof, having completed our labors, beg to re- port to your honors as follows
 We have been in session 32 days; we have considered 46O cases, examined 1192 witnesses, found BIO true bills, and 12o no bills Owing to our inability to secure witnesses we have found it necessary to continue a number of cases for the con- sideration of the next grand jury. County Officers. We have examined the books Of the sheriff, treasurer, and judge of probate, and have found them neatly and as far as we could see, cor rectly kept. The bonds on file in the pro- | bate office of the different county off, cials we have found to be adequate and correct
 Tn this connection we wish to call at- tention to the necessity of more com | T1- ords. While these records are public property and every one has a right to ex- anime them, there is no place properly fitted for this purpose. In case of fire, these records are in danger of being de- stroyed and the title of every piece of property in the county brought Into dis pute. We recommend that some arrange ment be made immediately for the pres eryation of the records.
 Public Buildings, In line with our pre- scribed duties, we have examined the public buildings of the county to the best of our ability, and herewith submit the findings:
 The Jail-We found the jail very much congested, emphasizing the urgent neces- sity of more adequate quarters for the better care of the unfortunates who are
 incarcerated therein. We respectfully request the Board of Revenue to take such steps as they can to relieve the sit uation. We realize that 1t Is difficult problem. but it is one that must be met, and we have every confidence in their ability and willingness to deal with the matter The sheriff has unquestionably done all in his power to keep the jail sanitary. and has given the best care possible to the prisoners, and we com mend him for the same.
 Almshouse-The almshouse is in a very good condition. The sanitary arrange ments are good, and an air of cleani- ness generally prevails We would sug- gest, however, that insane patients be sent to the asylum at Tuscaloosa as ex- peditiously as possible, as no adequate arrangements exist for their care. If 1t Is necessary to care for them at the alms- house better provisions should be made.
 Hillman Hosptal-This important eoun- ty institution Is well kept and a credit to the county and city There are sev- eral things, however, to which we desire to call attention. The elevator, which has been a source of danger and much , trouble, is, we understand, to be sup piled at once with a new engine which will restore it to usefulness again We would suggest that the clinical room be 7 kalsomined and the woodwork painted white ,and that minor repairs be made to the walls throughout the building. We recommend that the electrical installa- , ton of the entire building be overhauled, especial attention being called to the con- dition of the chandeliers and the casing of the sockets. A number of the chande. Heres are loose on the walls and also bent, and many of the sockets have no insulation or casing at all.
 . Courthouse-It comes to us from testi- mony and personal observation that the courthouse is entirely inadequate for the creasng each year.
 Since the people of the county have emphasized In two elections that they do not desire new courthouse, it ap- pears to us that the problem of provid- ing the necessary room devolves upon the Board of Revenue. We recommend that the board proceed to build the annex as outlined by plans already in hand or e more appropriate ones. as the case might ], be, provided, in their judgment, the ln- f creased room would be sufficient to take , care of the county's interests for 10 years U or longer.
 Houses of Vice-In the very heart of d our city houses of prostitution flourish e with impunity and without fear of mo. . lestation. Frequently these places are
 run In connection with blind tigers and
 gambling houses, and often all three Car