The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03
Treasurer Rogers Comments
on Right of Witnesses
to Be Paid Promptly
for Their Services
CONSIDERABLE SUM
HAS BEEN REMITTED
BY GOVERNOR O'NEAL
Present System Plays Into Hands of
Script Buyers and Causes, the
Claims Against Fund to
i. Increase Every
Year

For the elimination of the fixed Gus
tom of issuing script TO witnesses there
will soon be a movemeTt on foot III
jefferson county which will result, In
all probability in legislative enact
ment 1t is contended that witness
should be paid for his services-should
be- in other words, elevated to the rank
of a Juror. At the present time as Is
known, it is the most infrequent oc-
currence when a witness, it matters
not the trouble to which he has gone,
ever receives pay for his time and la
Dor
According to an estimate made yes
terday by Cleon B. Rogers, county
treasurer, jefferson admits outstand-
ing claims against the fine and forfei-
ture fund of $2220O0 in the payment
of which the county is now three years
behind. The claims annually grow
larger and, as consequence, further
and further behind goes the county.
SO uncertain is the payment of wit
nesses during their lifetime that, as II
rule, they dispose of their script for
pittances. Script BUYERS, in accordance
with the low ebb of the fine and for
feiture fund, decrease the pittance
which they pay.
Unjust to Witness
1T is not in accord with my idea
of Justice" stated Treasurer Rogers
yesterday, for the county to force a
witness to leave his crops, come to
town from any distance and return
again and again until the case is set
tied, and then not pay him for his
work. He should be paid as promptly
as a juror The services of the witness
is as necessary, if not moreso, than
those of the juror.
There is no question but that the
provisions of law in this regard are un-
just. To the casual observer one would
think that the provisions were framed
at the instance and in the behalf of
the script buyer. While, of course, this
is scarcely true, nevertheless 1t is ad-
mittedly certain that witnesses, when
confronted by a term in jail unless
they attend the sessions of court should
be remunerated."
This idea of Mr.. Rogers obtains gen
serally throughout the city and for that
reason it is considered probable that
the matter will be carried to the Leg
islature in its next regular session.
Governor O'Neal Active
In this regard it is claimed that Gov
ernor O'Neal has remitted fines and
forfeitures in more instances than any
other governor. 1t is estimated that
during his term he has remitted fines
or forfetures in jefferson in more than
IS instances and for amounts approx
imating $4,000. Inasmueh as but for the
exercise of the executive clemency this
sum would have been added to that
which goes to witnesses, considerable
interest has been aroused.
On November IL, 1912, the governor
remitted fine or forfeiture in Is cases
and for sums amounting to $105O. The
charge against the defendants in 10 of
these cases was gaming or Sunday
gaming, in two vagrancy, in two being
intoxicated. and in one violating the
prohibition laws. The bondsmen in four
of these cases were T. 5. and F. w.
Smith, in three T. s. Smith and J. p
Long, in two T. s. Smith and w w
Long, in two ]. P. Long and f. w.
smith, in two Lucy r.. Smith and j. p
Long, in one Baxter Rittenberry and
+. w. Smith, and in the other V. E
Werthheimer, w r. Venable, Il. W
and 7. S. Smith.