The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-07-23

pose of building good roads? The ex- pense to the county in such case would be the food, clothing and sheltering of the convicts, and the cost of guards, which would probably altogether not be in excess of s15 per month per convict, taking the experience of other communi- ties which have used convicts on their roads. How would this expense com pare with the hire of free labor. paid (as is now the case) from the general fund of the county. or by special taxation of the people, which is the same thing? Even a blind man can see the diff ference.
 Then there is something else to be considered Where did this suggestion for a million-douar bond issue emanate? Did it not emanate among the main ben eficaries of the fee system-that system which gobbles up practically all of the many thousands of dollars realized each year from the hire of our county con- victs? Is it small wonder that they want bond issue?
 We need a county courthouse, and need it very bad. and it may be that we should issue bonds for that purpose, but even that is doubtful if the finances of the county were properly handled. It Is not contended that all this can be done without action of the legislature, but that meets soon.
 We cannot blame the benefciaries of the fee system that they utilize every means to keep the grist flowing to the mill as it has been for many years. We should rather applaud their sagacity and tact in corralling all this money up to this good day; but, at the same time we should not always see as through a glass darkly," when our interests are at stake.
 good deal has been said by the press lately regarding the best method of handling the liquor problem. However the legislature may hahdle 1t, 1t seems to be the consensus of opinion that most any method would be better than the method now In vogue. There has been some expression to the effect that the legislature should license the sale of beer and wine in cafes and restaurants. I certainly hope that the pendulum will not swing that far hack It should be re- membered that our women and children are necessarily frequenters of these places and the effect of a sale of in- toxicating liouors in them would with out doubt be iniquitous. It occurs to me that while the intemperance induced by intoxicating liquors is a serious one, as ever. we have other matters of in- temperance confronting us with an aspect almost as serious, and among these are the incorporate acts of the individuals operating machines and vehicles propelled by motors and machines of like kind Which is the more deadly and dangerous to the public, a drunken man staggering along his way in the open streets or a fast-1ying motor car or cycle? For an swer to this question we should look at the record of almost daily accidents caused by the speed maniac, and com pare them to the acts of the intoxicated individuals as to seriousness To be struck by a drunken man would prob ably mean no more than a bruised nose while to be struck by a fast-fying car generally means death. The law takes cognizance of all incorporate acts of in- dividuals which result in danger to the public, and in these two instances the punishment provided for the drunken man and the speed maniac Is about the same. This is certainly unjust to the walking public The next legislature should enact the most rigid penal statutes on the subject of the horseless carriage and its regulation as to speed, as well as statutes regulating the civil liability of those who exceed the limit to the injury of the individual.
 It seems that the Humane society and the dog catcher, or rather the City Council is al war and the Humane society is right. It is the general law
  to animals. and any city ordinance which conflicts with the general law would be of no force or effect. For every act of cruelty of this kind, which can be proven, warrants should be sworn out, return able to the higher courts of the county It Is true that the statute gives the city the right to destroy. dogs in certain in stances, and no doubt this Is necessary. but the law does not permit the un- lawful infiction of pain and suffering upon the dumb brutes. and it should not be permitted-the law being in some respects more humane toward the help less dumb brute than to the helpless human being-but that's another story. Many little CUTS twithout their fault are born into the world to be kicked and cuffed by some of the human kind and bitten bt their own kind. destined to wander about the world, half-starved, mangy homeless and ownerless. Doubt less life as to them is not all one bed of roses and to shuffle off it's coil not matter so much to be regretted as to be desired Even they may at times dream of kind masters and soft kennels, of never wavering loyalty under all cir cumstances, and of the many pleasures which must be those of the aristocratio dogs But to be awakened by a brute of a dog catcher who has slipped about his neck wire moose which chokes and cuts into the flesh. to be dragged, jerked about. beaten, ll-treated, cruelty used and put to d cath, this gnominy is pro- hibited by the laws of Alabama-even to a dog. Yours very truly.
 R. l.. WILLIAMS,
 Birmingham. July 21, 1910.