The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-24
Judge Fort Thinks Wit nesses Should Be Paid
 In Cash
CHANGE IN HIGHWAY
 LAW IS SUGGESTED
Dr. Lovelady Points Out Why There Are Gaps in Highways-County Not Allowed to Build Through
 Small Municipalities

Additional opinions on what Birming- ham should seek from the incoming leg islature were expressed yesterday by citi- zens here. All of them agreed that the equalization of taxes was a matter of paramount interest to the city. Of par ticular interest was the opinion of Judge W. E. Fort of the criminal court
 Among the opinions expressed yesterday were the following:
 criminal court: There are so many badly needed reforms in the practice and pro- cedure of our criminal courts that I hardly know where to begin
 As matter of fact, during this week am taking advantage of recess of the criminal court to review the criminal code With the view at a later date to sug- gest some changes that in my opinion are not only necessary but imperative.
 There is one suggestion that I am going to make Athat in my opinion will not only help the cause of justice, but will relieve a situation that is almost intolerable, and that is the payment in cash of witnesses that attend the crimi. nal court and grand jury. To compel the attendance of witnesses and then issue them certificate that only realizes 20 to 25 cents on the dollar is both an imposition and a rank injustice on the people that are forced by law to leave their work and attend the sessions of the court This county is big enough. rich enough and should be broad enough to eliminate such custom that has en- riched a few to the detriment of the many.
 Then I think something should be lone to stop the indiscriminate issuance Of warrants. At every session of the criminal court numbers of warrants are are very crudely drawn, others are cop jed from obsolete forms and nearly all are defective. The fee system is pro- life cause of abuses in criminal pro- cedure.
 '"The elimination of the petty trival cases from the criminal court would be decided advantage, as it would give the court so much more time to devote to the more serious cases.
 At this time I am not ready to sug- gest remedial plans. but am working on the different propositions, and at a later date will present such suggestions that occur to me as might help the situa- tion."
 Dr. R. F. Lovelady, president of the beard of revenue: "A law that would prove of great benefit to the travel irg public would be that of empower ing the board of revenue to build and work public highways through the several small municipalities of the county.
 Tt frequently happens that a coun- ty road will pass through one of the sr.a aller incorporated towns of the county. Under the present laws the county must discontinue its work of building a highway the moment it reaches the limits ,f these towns and pass through to the other limit to re- sume work. The consequence Is that fl om mile to a half mile of county highway is not worked and leaves a break In the road
 "As a matter of fact there are sev- eral such stretches on some of the county's best highways which are in had condition for the reason that the amount these towns receive from the division of the road tax Is too small for the town to keep the roads in re- poir. A law that instead of paying this small amount of road money to these towns would permit the board t. work the roads through the mu- inequalities would prove of great ben eft to the travelling public and to ev- eryone concerned"
 W. w. Robertson: 'sThe fight that is being waged by Eugene L. Brown and his associates in regard to the tax sit uat.on has impressed me favorably. T am sure that any question that engages the attention of men of the type of MT. Brown must be pressing. have concluded, therefore, that the nest absorbing proposition for this city and district as revision of the tax laws and an equalization of all tax matters. From what I can gather the people of this city and county are con trlbuting more than their share of taxes to the state at large and I do not think that is quite fair
 Charles s. Simmons said: 'rhe most interesting thing for the lawmakers to do in my opinion Is a regulation of cur taxes. This county is taxed too he eavily and the distribution Is too great compared to other sections. I tribute the taxes more equitably and more justly I also believe that the leg | islature should see to it that all spe- | cial taxes are applied to the localities that pay them"
 Wallace c. Johns said: q favor local option and do not believe the legisla- l ture should tamper with that question
 at this time. The legislature should