The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
BOARD OF REVENUE
 ISSUES ITS REPLY
Cannot Understand Why Such Mis- representation Should Be Made
 Concerning Office

The several members of the board of revenue feel that, not only were they unfairly dealt with by the committee from the recent grand jury. but that fragrant injustice was done them by the report submitted to Judge Greene Thursday aft ernoon.
 They emphatically deny the statement that 'they have no ledger and keep no regular accounts except the stubs of vouchers" and state they cannot under stand why such a gross misrepresenta- ton should have been made. They state that every item of expenditure has its separate account. and point out tho va rious dockets and ledgers wherein tho accounts were entered which appear 10 be carefully and neatly kept.
 They invite the citizens of the county to call and investigate the system desig- mated by the grand jury as 'crude and primitive" The books are open for in- spection to the public and the gentlemen who composed the board ask at the hands of the citizenship of the county sus- pension of criticism until the true facts are known. The members of the board issued the following statement:
 Statement in Full
 eve note with regret the criticism of the grand jury on the methods of book- keeping employed by the board of reVF nue. We think they intended to be lair in their criticism, but think perhaps the brief time they were employed III hl- spectng our boks gives them a very lln- perfect knowledge of the merits Of our system. Every claim against the county f.. f,,ts n tyall l{gDt books, and every claim is sworn to by the claim ant and audited by the county auditor and passed on by the treasurer and record kept in his office. Our books and sys- tenn of keeping them has been passed on by three state examiners within the last 12 months, who have officially reported to the governor that they were correct and well kept These records are open to the public for inspection at all times, and we solicit the careful scrutiny of all who may be interested.
 AS to the contract made with the Pratt Consolidated company for the use of the county convicts, we can offer no stronger suggestion of the sincerity and efficiency of our efforts than to quote that portion of the report of the previous grand jury which said, Under the circumstances. tbt, board of revenue did the best they cni'id in the matter of making a con tract ltftilJINNH
 eve give very careful attention to Jnt road work throughout the county and flat ter ourselves that we have accomplished a great deal in the advancement of road and bridge building throughout. the coun- ty We have an engineering corps and q road supervisor on the roads continuously. also engineering corps on the county san itary sewer system. The money expended on county roads during the year 1911 does not begin 10 reach the figure mentioned in the report. nor even 9 per cent of it.
 We regret very much that the grand jury did not more fully inform itself as body about the expenditures ana methods used in this line of work. We believe them honest in intention, but they shot very far from the mark.
 With regard to the almshouse, We Will say that we have good plastered. sealed throughout framed buildings, equipped with city water under q high pressure, with a fire fighting apparatus fully equipped. and sanitary sewer connections throughout the plant that insure the reas- onabe comfort Of all occupants. That Is a great deal better than a great many of our good citizens enjoy throughout the country. The almshouse and it's manage ment was specially commended by the state prison inspector. Dr. Oates, few months ago.
 We have given an honest, and we natter ourselves. reasonable fntelli- gent administration Of the affairs of the ~------~-----------------
 CONTINUED ON LAST FACED