The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-02


 to Judge Samuel E. Greene yesterday was as follows ITO the Hon. Samuel E. Greene, Judge 1
 of the Criminal Court of Jefferson Coun-
 ty. Alabama:
 I've, the grand jury of Jefferson coun- l ty, empaneled for the January. 1912, term, 1 having finished our deliberations beg leave to report as follows: We have been in consecutive session | for 26 days, sitting without recess except | for lunch from 9:So a. m. to 4:30 D. III. daily.
 We have tried si2 cases, have heard. l ll36 witnesses, have found 196 true bills, l have found 196 no bills, and continued for further investigation of the next grand jury 10 cases. Tn addition to the foregoing we have | labored earnestly as charged by your honor and in obedience to our oaths to per form the other duties devolving upon us.
 Public Buildings and Institutions
 We have inspected and examined the | following public buildings and institutions, | to-wit:
 1 Jail and Courthouse-So much has been said by the press and former grand juries on this subject that we can only repeat the distressing conditions as revealed ey 1 our Investigations.
 "The jail stands condemned by 1nsnec- tor Oates, and we confirm his statements that it is an unfit place for the confine- ment of human beings and a disgrace to | our boasted civilization, and a new sani- tary prison will have to be built in tite l immediate future. It is but fair to state 1 that the sheriff is doing the very best pos sible under present conditions to house, | feed and preserve the health of the pris- oners.
 "The only favorable thing that can be said of our courthouse is that it possesses an artistic exterior. It is totally made | auate for the proper conduct of the coun- | tvs business and not being a fireproof | building is a constant menace to lie ana property. lew people stop to consider | that it's destruction by fire would mean | a loss of records of courts and land tlties | that would run into millions ot dollarsi md steps should be taken at once to provide freproof safety vaults for the preservation of these valuable documents. 1 ''The courehouse is badly arranged on the interior and it is impossible for offi- eers and iuries to transact business under | comfortable and sanitary conditions. III | asmuch as both new jail and court house is needed, we recommend that the Board of Revenue begin at once to plan for a combination building of the modern | sxyscraper type to meet the county needs for the next 90 years
 "If the voters fail to appreciate the need by refusing an issue of bonds Tor the purpose, then the board should go | ahead and negotiate for the funds in some other manner We have an abiding faith | that our great financial institutions can arrange the matter satisfactorily, as they 1 have a vital interest in the prompt cree ton of such a building.
 .'Hilman Hospital-Our visit to this lh- stituton confirms the report Of the last | grand jury. and we most hearthy lhuoIse the building of the additional wing this l snring and summer We believe in and 1 have urged economy in the administration | of the county's affairs, but it is case or | saving at the spigot and wasting at tle bung' to continue this hospital Tn lts present inadequate shape.
 "Almshouse-This building is dis | grace to modern civilization ana shoaiu he replaced at once by a brick fireproot ! structure. We understand that the Board l of Revengs has this under adVisemeht and we recommend that speedy action ne l taken, so that our niggardliness to tpe FOOT unfortunate may not be exploited l to the world again as was the case III tho recent issue of tho Survey Magazine Examination of Public Accounts and
 Documents
 "Our committee reports that they have made a careful examination of the books cf the sheriff, judge of probate treasurer, and superlnlendent of education, as called for by the code, and ind them neatly anu accurately Aept
 | eve have examined the bonds of Nari- GUS officers filed with the judge of pro- bate, and believe they are good and sut' fcient security; but. like our predeces sors. we recommend that the law should | be changed SC to require all bonds 10 be given with some good security conl- rany as security, rather than personal | or private bond.
 "We wish 10 thank the auditor and treasurer for valuable assistance rendered ] our committee in making it's inVestlsa- tion.
 Board of Revenue An investg gation shows that the Board Of Revenue has disbursed over $G0a,9G0 during the year of 1911. We find that they have no ledger and keep no regular accounts except the stub of vouchers, and | that many records of expenditures or this vast sum of money including voueh- CTS, are not kept in a freproof safe in l the disbursement Of funds on account ol the public roads the vouchers inspected fy us fail 10 state where work was done, and the only receipt taken was from tho road overseer. It appears that very little l inspection of road work is done by the l members of the Board of Revenue.
 We recommend that they be empow- | cred to ouy an automobile Tor the 1olht use of the Board of Revenue and county foad surveyor for this purpose. We rec cmmend further that they employ an ex- pert accoln-annt to open up a modern sat | of books: and also employ enough deri- cal force to insure their being properly ! and clearly kept.
 we note that by the last contract of county convicts that the county stands to lose between $50t00 and Sl0OO00. We | suggest that the Board of Revenue take | proper steps six months before the expir- ation of the present contract 10 get as | favorable terms for our convicts as other | counties are now getting.
 | We consider the methods employed by | the board primitive and crude, and such lack of systtm would not be tolerated one moment in a private business of such i6agnltude.
 Justices of the Peace
 We found very few of the justices of the peace outside of the city of Br- mingham who kept their dockets in a clear and concise manner or complying with the statute requiring them to re- port all hard labor sentences imposed by them 10 the probate court.
 Attachments had to be issued by us on half of them before their dockets were brought before the grand jury as required by statute.
 "We find many state failed cases, in which the costs were taxed against the state: and, as they practically consumed N4