The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-04

receipts. It must have a legislatur, of that sort in January, 1915, if thc states credit is to be maintained. -----------
 Recommendations of the Grand Jur,
 The grand jury of the county com mends to the voters of the entir, state the constitutional amendment that is to be submitted to them ir November, 1912, segragating Jeffer- son county in the matter of fees anc costs, thus enabling the legislature to do justice in this county without interfering with affairs in, say, Win ston county.
 The grand jury says the fee sys- tenn in Jefferson county should be abolished root and branch. It is iniquitous in principle and deeply vicious in practice. It goes on to say that its study of the county since it's first meeting in September has con- firmed its opinion that the fee sys- l tenn operates to increase criminal cases and to crowd the jail, and the courthouse also. The records show that in the past 12 months 2539 ar rests were made that were acquitted, abated or withdrawn, and that these 2539 cases took from the overdrawn | fine and forfeiture fund 3,673 09i This sum came in the shape of fees from 2539 cases that should not have been brought into court at all. Out of 1881 criminal cases docketed in the last fiscal year only 799 convic- tions were secured. In other words, five men out of every six that were arrested last year should not have been gathered in by officials.
 The fee system keeps the fine and forfeiture fund in depleted condition, and witnesses are compelled in many cases to accept the harsh conditions of the scrip buyers.
 There is but one remedy, and that consists in the ratification of the constitutional proposition to be voted on next November. Every voter should keep this in mind. Every man who desires to see the princely incomes of the courthouse officials abolished should spread among his neighbors the nature of the coming vote on the constitutional amend ment. ...5 ..
 In all parts of the state the good roads cause is gaining strength. County after county is swelling the movement, and the hope is strong 1 that the state will build a north and south road between Decatur and Mo- bile. Surely Jefferson county will not be backward in this great move ment, for every mile of hard modern roads will promote the prosperity of the states chief city and commercial center.
 No doubt objections can be found to the use of county convicts on the county roads, but no objections can be raised that will overweight the value of good roads in this populous county. Georgia uses her convicts of all sorts, state as well as county, on her roads, and she has no intention of returning to the lease system. The Georgia counties continue to call for more convicts than the state can supply. What is considered desirable and satisfactory in Georgia surely cannot be wholly bad in this state.
 The Board of Revenue has more than a year in which to formulate 1 plans ln dccOTudIlCe Wllll CIle IeCOIl- mendations of the recent grand jury, and The Age-Herald has full faith that it will be a6le to overcome all objections that may arise, and that the convict situation will be adjusted so that it will bring to the people of Jefferson county hard, modern roads at a reasonable cost. The experience of Georgia in this matter should be studied. When Georgia has good roads from Habersham to Glynn, Alabama cannot afford to continue to wallow in mud roads. This is un- thinkable, and the Board of Revenue will surely meet the expectations of the people in this matter and the ex- cellent recommendations of the grand jury. that has. just finished close study of county affairs
 |
 Reign of Terror at Lewisburg
 The grand jury of the criminal