The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-12
EXPLAINS ABUSES
OF THE FEE SYSTEM
Attorney Asks Pledges From
Legislative Candidates
NOW rs THE TIME TO ACT
Points Ont That Unless Something Is
Done by Next Legislature II VIII
BE Twelve Years Before Re-
lief Can Come
NOW rs THE TIME TO ACT

10 the Edltor of the Age-Herald:
Herewith I beg to hand you an open
letter to the democrats of Jefferson
county, which will explain itself. l will
be pleased If you will publish it.
am not a candidate for office and my
motive for writing the same will be APP
parent.
Yours very truly,
r. l.. WILLIAMS.
Birmingham, Ala, April II, 1910.
To the Democrats of jefferson County;
l take the liberty of addressing you re-
sardins the fee system as it exists in
Jefferson county today, and for this [
make no apology nor offer any excuse
unless it be that, having resided among
you for a period of more than % years
l feel deep interest in the welfare of
the people of the county. both present
and future, and take a pride in the
proper conduct of it's government
will take it for granted that after
50 much has been said by the press of
this county, and notably the Age-Herald,
against the evils of the fee system, that
you are now fully advised of it's iniquity,
and | will not go far into the particu-
larS of that phase of the question. biIt
will endeayor TO show you how the
system operates in Jefferson county, UNI
der existing laws, and to make plain
how it affects YOU from a moral and
financial standpoint
My object in addressing Won ar this
time is. that we. are noro soo,, - 49,,
mate representatives to our legislature
(Which means their election), and among
the more important matters to come be-
ulation. or total aboIition % ,,,is rs
tenn. That heinz the case 70 ,,,a ~. das;, -
see anvthine dopa oIonr this H. W
must seIect ,,,on rIadna5 -
thew arc AGAINST ~ Eco ~ s 10y la Ia.
mai tbev viii te1,a rsit;,, ,S ~.
Stems towards its reo,,Ia.ia 80 a.s.ee
DC n,ov he ad1',so ~ ,S' a. a. aoolillon'
sta,cas Ttat ''a aa,, snue' VIZ cticuiii.
bo is a,,,,,.rt ~, Sa..'. may say tndl
essari1,1 ,n1o,,nt e. 1890, VIZ no' Nc
,,,a-. ~ ar.ai,sst ~ - Inns, LII hi1i,
yet 70 no saas ,si,,,S. ~ ue.' aiiu
ard tai,o 49, oeiiis peI a,eu
,,rofass,o,,z Lii ,, ~ pieVen. IT. ms
sbo,,1d saIoot -, - -. - -, no'.i',6'
,,,u 49, .,n,-.., 80 si'se oiils' "no
So srt,s 10. 60 IA mri.lns' anu
i,,,r,ortaa. 49,. eApse. ~ 10 III thlS
49,, al,- au siiou,u seiec. men
go .i NJ WI, 10 "nat they pro-
A. 80, Wy iioFe tio ooii''y "
"a 80
IL .o .@ye eiecteu Two men
~ -, " o'solIeIy pleuseu 10 40
ailo,it,o,. ee ~ ~ olIms aoout .ne
go ~ ~ ms ssS'e'i.' rrst' the non.
-, ,S.," III eoou man anu rus
80, 80 paaseu ~ e.'si' noui ne
49, sassion 80 80 io..,I,s.,, Duilns
stric,xen a,d NOS uns1,In 20 t,,e,, nis
nr,,nisae vbici, NJ 49,, ,,,,,o -, IT.,
do,,hts tbat ba would bava dona !, ha
had lived and been within his nower
Next, We elected the Hon. Jere King
the father of Greater Rirminphan NJ
King achieved success in his latter I'm
dertaking. but in the humble opinion of
the writer. nothing like the monument
which would have been erected to him
by grateful people IL he had brought
about the abolition of the fee system in
Alabama.
Under the constitution of Alabama the
compensation of those of our officers
who go into office after the next general
election in this state. cannot be in
creased or diminished during their terms
of office; So that you will see, that any
law which may be enacted by our next
legislature on this subject will not go
into effect until probably six years
hence. and unless some legislation along
this line is enacted by our next legis-
lature. it will be about y years from
now before any such law could go into
erect, II succeeding legislature should
take the matter M hence the impof-
lance OF prompt action at TINS time.
Under the general law OF Alabama, IN
county matters. whenever person Is
convicted OF crime II becomes the duty
OF the clerk of the court to issue an exc
cution against his estate Tor the COSTS
incurred by the state in his prosecution.