The Mena weekly star., 1911-07-06
GRAND JURY RAPS
THE FEE SYSTEM
Declares That II Leads to Great
Abuses and Makes Courts Farce
--Criticises Weigei Prison Labor
Contract in Little Rock.

grand jury yesterday nied report
in which il severely criticises the
methods of the Justices of the
peace for the manner in which
they keep their records and in
creasing costs by summoning an
unnecessary number of witnesses
in many cases and complains of the
bad management of the county con-
vict camp from business stand
point, especially of the loose man.
ner of settlement for the labor of
the convicts. The jury suggests
that many Investigations could be
completed and money saved if pro-
vision was made for a fund with
which to assist the prosecuting at
torney in securing evidence for the
body. The same, it states, was
true in its investigation of the al
legged legislative irregularities, so
far as the expense incurred in con-
cerned. What evidence is secured
in this line is passed up TO the next
grand jury. To facilitate the work
of the grand jury it recommends
the employment of stenographer.
II also recommends that the Pu-
laski county Jail be enlarged and
that the United States government
be requested to build a Jail for the
care of federal prisoners.
One of the strongest recommen-
dations of the grand jury is the
adjustment of the fee system as
prevails in the courts of the coun-
ty. 1t declares that the system leads
TO great abuses and makes the
courts in many instances a farce
and encourages the officers TO
practice injustice upon The unfor-
Inmates.
With reference to the contract
between Judge Asher and K. N.
Weigel by which the latter works
the prisoners of Pulaski county,
the abuses of which created sem
sation in the state, the jury says:
I'VE beg to report that the con-
tract and some of the features of
its operation have come to the OBJ
servation of this jury. The only
recommendation for the existence
or continuance of which is the saw
ing of cost bills to the county. The
contract as now operated, does not
pay any amount whatever TO the
county. 1t is presumed to pay
three-fourths of the costs in cases
only where the prisoner has worked
for the contractor at least 60 days.
The sheriff of the county, by vir-
tue of his Office, cepts the money
and report submitted by ibs r,n-
tractor and distributes it among
the county officers to whom 1t is
due. No special provision is made
for an audit of the records cover
ing the working of the prisoners,
other than the desire to secure
their fees, which is materially les
sened by the very small amounts
paid in by the contractor. We have
not discovered any record made by
county officers showing the date or
manner of discharging prisoners
or setting authoritative dates for
their liberation, except cases where
physicians certificate issued by the
physician in the employ OF the con-
tractor, were filed and approved by
the county judge.
I'VE note with satisfaction the re-
cent movement started by Judge
Asher for a proper accounting OF
funds due from the contractor prior
to this date, the payment of which
has been defaulted by the contrac-
tor, clearly in violation of his con-
tract, by having failed TO pay for
several months work of the con-
victs. The last report Of the con-
tractor shows that he worked all
or part of the month SIS convlcts
and for various reasons the pay
ment of rs per cent of the cost was
paid on only ii of them. Presenting
an average cost per man, the only
payment made by the contractor
for the use of So men during the
month was ~ per cent of the cost
Of conviction. This is not only
working serious injustice on the
officers of the county but is also
an incentive for them to punish
with light fines cases where is
shown an indication to pay the fine
and costs and endeavor to lniilct
at least 60 days labor upon the UNI
fortunate who indicates no cash,
TO avoid losing their compensation,
regardless of the crime committed
or the reputation of the criminal.
The incentive to the contractor
TO promote the release OF prison
ers shortly before the tenure nee
essary TO the payment OF part OF
the costs, is also very noticeable.
1t has been necessary TO release
many criminals before the expira--
ton of their sentences on account
of disease, thus defeating the pur-
pose of their conviction. Cases
have come TO the notice OF TINS
jury where prisoners at this camp
have been arrested and tried by
Justice Meisner during their scr
vice for alleged crimes at the con-
Wet camp, this justice leaving MS
regular place of business and mold