The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-23
Extra Session Could Turn
Stream of Fat Fees Into.
Golfers of County
WITNESSES SUFFER
UNDER PRESENT PLAN
Working of Convicts on Roads Will
Be Continued in Order to Make
Compete Test of
the System

Jefferson eounty's need of an extra ses-
sion is almost as pressing as that of the
city of Birmingham.
Financial troubles, in some respects, are
at the door of the county. AS to whether
any special legislation for the relief of
the county will be attempted, is unknown.
But it is certainty that county officials
Will insist on an extra session in order
that the fee system might be abolished.
The purpose is to dump into the Golfers
of the county the fat fees which now go
into the pockets of officials. 1t is esti-
mated that with the officials of the
county on salary basis, the sum saved
to the county itself would Approximate
more than 100000 annually.
Hard on Witnesses
The fine and forfeiture fund of the coun-
ty, out of which witnesses are paid for
their services, is more than three years
behind The fund is running behind at the
rate of $4,000 quarterly. A few months
ago, when there were indications that
s'S SSohse might SdtCll up Ill IflS respect,
witnesses We're paid so to 80 cents on the
dollar in return for the script issued them
for service. At the present time they are
offered from 10 to Is cents. Only one firm
is buying script, and it is stated that that
firm is not unduely anxious to acquire the
paper at even a nominal figure.
Jefferson county is paying the judges
and jurors in cash. The sheriff the
clerks and the witnesses must wait until a
defendant is convicted, fined and SEN
fenced, and has discharged his sentence
by hard work for the county. Within the
last nine months more than $4,000 in
claims against the fine and forfeiture fund
have been placed on file. During that
time the fund has been augmented by not
more than $4,000.
Road Building Responsible
Jefferson county wants an extra session
in order that it might receive the fees
which are now paid to officials.
The board of revenue is determined to
prove success of the innovation of
working convicts on the road. There are
at present $50 convicts on the highways
of Jefferson. They are bringing in no
tangible revenue and are causing heavy
expenditure for upkeep on the part of
the county.
DR.. Il. f. Lovelady, president of the
board, stated yesterday that there was no
way at the present time of estimating the
cost of working convicts on the road He
is determined to continue this work and
to make a success of the scheme despite
the fact that there is a drain on the
strong box of the county, and an apparent
impossibility, due to the loss of revenue
from leasing convicts, on the part of the
fine and forfeiture fund to reach such a
condition that witnesses summoned from
all parts of the county may be remuner-
ated for their services in coming to Bir-
mingham, spending days here at court, re-
turning and possibly being called back
again.
Making Plan Unpopular
lnasmuch as the loss of revenue from
leasing convicts is in great measure re-
sponsible for the slump in the fine and
forfeiture fund, and non-payment of men
called to Birmingham from all sections
of the county to serve as witnesses, 1t is
well understood by county authorities that
methods to remedy this condition are
opposed by those who oppose working
convicts on the road. They figure that
nothing could make the innovation more
unpopular with the people than for the
people to know that the innovation is in
a measure responsible for the withhold
ing of money due them, and makes it
necessary for. them to part with a dollar
in script for 10 cents in cash.
The county would like to be empowered
to pay witnesses in cash. At any rate, the
county desires its Golfers refunded by fees
which now go to officials in order that
unjust criticism of the innovation of
working convicts on the roads might be
obviated.
Dr. Lovelady states that the Innovation
will be continued at all cost until it has
been given just trial.