The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-05
TO MAKE CRIMINAL
 CLERK ELECTIVE
BILL HAS BEEN DRAWN WITH THIS OBJECT IN VIEW AND WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE APPROACH ING LEGISLATURE

AS a result of much agitation regarding the matter, bill has been drawn up to be introduced in the legislature making the office of the clerk of the criminal court elective like that of the clerk of the circuit court.
 The question of making the criminal clerkship elective has been brought up be- fore but bill to that end has never been introduced. It is believed there will be little opposition to the present bill and it will in all probability be adopted by the legislature, which meets this month.
 Many citizens have expressed them selves as being favorable to making the office elective. The position is one of the most lucrative in the county, paying in fees and emoluments less only than the offices of sheriff and probate judge It is pointed out that the office pays more than that of judge of the criminal court, whereas 1t is the judges themselves that appoint the clerk.
 The bill which has been drawn up pro- vides that the clerkship be made elective like the clerkship of the circuit court, and that the bond of the clerk be fixed at s10,000.
 The bill is as follows:
 "A bill 10 tbe entitled an act to amend an act entitled An act to amend an act entitled, An act to establish the crimi- nal court of Jefferson county" approved December z, 1900.
 Section 1. Be it enacted by the legis- lature of Alabama, that section of an act entitled An act to amend an act en- titled An act to establish the criminal court of Jefferson county" approved De- cember [, 1900, be and the same is hereby amended so that said section shall read as follows:
 Sec. I. At the general election to be held in this state in the year 1912 and every six years thereafter there shall be clerk of said court elected by the quail fled electors of the county of Jefferson,
 whose term of office shall be six years. and until his successor is elected and qualified. Such clerk may be removed from office for such causes and in sucn manner as is or may hereafter be pro- vided by law for the removal of clerks of the circuit court, or for any cause which in the opinion of the judges of said court may be sufficient for his removal; in case of his removal the cause thereof must be specified in the order removing him. Be- fore entering upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to his office, such clerk shall give bond with sureties to be ap- proved by the judge of probate, In a sum of not less than $10.000, to be fixed by the senior judge of said court which bond must be payable and conditioned, filed ana recorded as required Dy law as IT case of bonds for clerks of the circuit court. Such clerk shall have all the powers and perform all the duties which may be lawfully exercised and performed by clerks of the circuit court in criminal cases. His fees shall be the same as those allowed by law in like cases to clerks o1 l the circuit court and he shall be sub- | ject to the same liabilities and penalties in like cases provided by law for circuit | clerks. He shall reside in Jefferson coun- | ty during his continuance in office, and | be a qualified elector of said county. Said court shall adopt and keep a seal which | shall. be in the custody Of said clerk. The sheriff is required to appoint two bailiffs whose compensation shall be the same as | now received by the bailiffs of the pres ent criminal court of Jefferson county and that they be paid in like manner | The coroner and solicitor of Jefferson county shall perform in and for said cour1 | the like duties as is now required o1 them, and receive the same compensation and fees now allowed them by law, ant be responsible upon their official bondt | for the discharge of thefr respective dutiet | as such officers are or may be required I by law to perform for the circuit court o' 1 Jefferson county, or the city court of Bir
 mingham. or said criminal court of Jener | son county, and the judges of said crimi nal court shall have the authority to ap point solicitor pro tempore in cases o
 the absence or disqualification of the reg
 ular solicitor of the court