The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-29
SCRAMBLE ALREADY FOR JUVENILE COURT Bill Regarded as Very Impor-
 tant in Birmingham PUT ON PROPER BASIS Measure Provides That Judge Shall Be Appointed By Governor and the
 Scramble for the Place Has
 Already Begun
PUT ON PROPER BASIS
BY BURR BLACKBURN

Much has been said and written about
 the juvenile court bill which has been in
 troduced in the state senate by Senator Hugh Morrow, and is now before the
 committee of the senate for consider ation. Few people seem to realize that it IS not simple effort to create another political job or a/sinecure, but is the work
 of some of the most prominent and patri- otic citizens of Birmingham, who are
 seeking in the most modern and advanced
 method to handle the great boy question for Birmingham
 the ladies who have so faithfully stood behind and financed the work of the Boys club. Two of the most competent lawyers in the city, Albert H. Bell and provisions. Their great ambition to broaden the boys work, to bring it in line with that of other cities who have been longer wrestling with the problem and to
 keep it out of politics.
 For this reason the bill provides that
 the judge of the juvenile court shall be
 appointed by the governor. and is so ar
 ranged that the judges term expires in the middle of each administration so that the chief executive may have time to investigate the work being done by the incumbent before considering the re- l appointment.
 These ladies and lawyers have pre-
 scented their bill to the legislature with
 out any intimation as to whom they would ask the governor to appoint. They
 want the bill passed on it's merits. But in this day no sooner is the rabbit trail scented than the political blood
 hounds go yelping in pursuit, and the politicians who have discovered that the bill creates job are scrambling after it already.
 This bill is undoubtedly charity. It is
 providing for the indigent, defective boy what his family cannot provide. There is always enough difficulty in persuad- ing a law-making body to subscribe to a charity without having it clouded by the dust of so many grasping politicians. Those who are most vitally interested in the bill insist that the politicians be at least hands off until the bill is passed
 and signed by the governor. They are willing to leave it to his judgment and discretion.
 T am for the bill," said Judge Bell yes-
 terday. T am eager to see it passed, be- cause think it will make an easier road for the boys of our community. I did
 not intend to take any part in the ques- ton of the incumbent That Is for the governor to decide. But I will say that
 when a man goes down or sends to Mont gomery to fight & bill simply on the
 ground that his name is not mentioned in i, I do not think he would be fit for the position at any time.'
 Nevertheless, even before the bill is
 passed, the scramble is on. One applicant Is religiously pushing his candidacy, and others are aiding him, because they want the job he now occupies. There is no doubt but that there will be bitter fight if the juvenile court is established. There may be lawyers in thes contest for a job that should be occupied by child speci- alist. There may be men of age in the race where there should be man who is young, and can be boy once in a while.
 Those who are most interested in the establishment of this court feel that the governor Is fully capable of making
 his appointment and that the man who
 will find homes for homeless boys and take steps to make homes more homelke
 need not be a political, office-seeking lawyer