The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-12

HERALD, TUESDAY, APRl
self or through another. to purchase, deal
or traffic in any manner whatever in
any claims payable out of the county
treasury, or out of the fine and forfeiture
funds of the county. The law requires
you to investigate every violation of this
law, and to indict any one guilty there
of, If the evidence justifies the same.
Tax Assessors
Section 74S6 of the code makes it
misdemeanor for any tax assessor or
deputy tax assessor to return the TAX
list of any taxpayer as having been sworn
10 by any taxpayer. when in fact 1t was
not sworn to by such taxpayer rms
law is intended to prevent false returns
of property and to guard against UNI
equal burdens on the taxpayers. The law
makes 1t your duty to investigate TINS
matter and to indict whenever the evil
dence justifes it.
Trusts and Combinations to Fix Prices
1.-The law requires me to call your at
tention especially to section 1913 of the
code. You are thereby required to IN
vestigate all combinations or agreements
intended to regulate or fix the price OF
any article or commodity to be sold or
produced in this state. This is serious
offense. because il men or corporations
are allowed to control the price of meats,
groceries and other articles of everyday
use the great masses of our people must
suffer great hardships to enrich the rev.
The price of our daily food is already
too high and if this law has been vio-
lated in Jefferson county the grand jury
should idiot the parties guilty thereof
| also call your attention to section ioSo
of the code, which forbids all corpor-
atoms and their agents to enter into any
combination for the purpose of fixing the
price or diminishing the production SAFE
use or consumption of any article OF
commerce For the common good of all
this matter should be closely investigated
and the people protected from high ana
unreasonable prices arbitrarily fixed for
private gain. | am required by law TO
call your attention to this section and 10
advise you that you are required to IN
dict for any direct or indirect violation
of this law il the evidence justities II.
Election Laws
"Your attention is directed to the cleo
ton laws as contained in chapter POI of
the code. Illegal voting, repeating, frau
dulent registration, and every means of
thwarting a free ballot and fair count
should be suppressed with iron hand.
This is a serious offense against the
popular will, and the grand jury is re-
auired. to indict for every violation of the
election law in this county. This law ap-
plies to primary elections as well as TO
general elections. The law also requires
met call your attention speciaiy 10 oe.-
ting on elections, and to charge you TO
indict all Offenders. 1t is a violation of
law to bet on the result of either pri-
mary or a general election.
Convicts and Prisons
II am required TO call your attention
especially to article 5, page 49, ct cetera,
OF the code Thorough investigation
should be had of the treatment of con-
yicts and prisoners. Humanity and COM
mon Justice demand strict regulation OF
those in charge of prisoners, whether
public officers or private persons. These
prisoners are under the charge or me
county and must have humane ana
proper treatment. 1t matters not what
officer, citizen or corporation vlolates TINS
law. it is the duty of the grand jury to
indict in order that the lives health and
well-being of county convicts may be
secured.
Pure Food Regulations
Your attention is especially called 10
section 1851 of the code, and to the pure
food and drug acts of the last legislature,
to be found upon page 2S7 of the special
session of 1909. Nothing is more lmpor-
tant than to preserve the health OF the
people. The sale of cocaine, except upon
the prescription of a physician, is forbid
den by law, and the grand jury should
indict for any violations of this law.
Gambling
"XYe have stringent laws on our statute
books against gambling, and these laws
should be enforced. No evil is more de-
structive to young men, and our grand
tury should make diligent effort TO rld
this county of professional gamblers, VINO
prey upon our people and rob them or
their earnings in so-called games or
chance.
Game and Fish Laws
''AlI violators of the game and fish laws
should be indicted if the evidence is suf-
ficient
Anti-Pass Law
81 am required to call your attention
10 the anti-pass law, as contained in Sec
ton 1851 of the code, and also to the con-
tribution of money by corporations to AID
any political party or candidate, as con-
tanned in section $500 of the code. If these
laws have been violated in this county 1t
is your duty to fndict.
Inspection of Jail and Aims House
you are required by section 1887 of the
code TO make a personal inspection of the
county Jail and almshouse. to look into
the accommodations, health and safe
keeping of the inmates and to call upon
the Board of Revenue to remedy any bad
conditions therein found.
Examination of other officials
Sections 72ss, 1893, 7ls1 and 1892 require
you to examine into the condition of the
county treasury and the official bonds
| of all county officers; to examine the
sheriff S accounts for feeding prisoners;
| to examine the fee book of the probate
fudge: TO examine the books and papers
of the county superintendent of educa-
ton. and generally to inquire into any
breach of duty by county officers. You
are entitled to free access to all books
and papers, end should fearlessly call
public attention to any errors or defaults.
Justices of the Peace
1.-THE law requires you to make a strict.
/ examination of the dockets and accounts
of justices of the peace in this county.
A careful inquiry should be made into
the conduct of these Offices remember
| ing that every miscarriage of justice is
| reflection upon the whole administration
| of the law.
| Now gentlemen of the grand jury
| your oath of office requires you diligently
to inquire and true presentments make
| of all offenses against the law committed
| within this county; to keep secret the
states counsel, your fellows, and your
| own, and to leave no man unindicted on
account of fear, affection. reward or the
hope thereof; but present all things truly
as they come to your knowledge to the
best of your understa nding. / feel sure
that you will discharge your high public
trust with credit to yourselves and to the