The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-25
ns R. L. WILLIAMS

II mas DttH SQkktSttu l1dI where fife sentence has been inflicted and the time for. appeal has expired. there may be a removal of the generative organs of the convict This. according to the view of prominent surgeons, is entirely practicable It would, in any event, pre- vent the propagation of the particular species. would tend, In a great measure, to escape, and would not affect his earn ing capacity.
 Grand Juries
 | Grand juries constitute a useless cog in the wheels of justice and should be abolished. Under the present law and fractice person is arrested on war rant usually issued by a justice of the peace, and if he fall to make bond is imprisoned in the county jail there to await for sometime for preliminary ex- animation. After this is held. if sufficient cause be shown. he Is bound over to await the action of the grand jury. which is only fin session during the term of the court by which it is organized. If he is un- able to make another bond, he, must re- main In jail for a long period, usually several months, awaiting the action of this body when organized. Grand juries
  ly. Their action is ex parte, hearing only the evidence for the state, and thus giv- ing ample room for many errors and mis- takes. That this system Is unwieldly and cumbersome and by reason of delay prov ooative of great injustice to those wrong fully accused of crime, cannot be re- futed.
 It Is suggested that in the place and stead of grand juries that a board of examiners be established in each county, to consist of not more than three mem- bers, which may be termed the "prelim- irary and presentment board;" that this board be given exclusive Jurisdiction to issue warrants and examine into felony cases and. when justified by the evi- dence, to make presentment of such cases in due legal form directly to the court having Jurisdiction to try the cause This board should be required to sit for Il months in each year. It should have no Jurisdiction to inquire into cases of misdemeanor, but these cases should be handled, without preliminary examination, by the justices of the peace and other courts now having Jurisdiction of the same. This board could be established in each county at no greater expense than now required for grand juries. The board would examine witnesses for both the state and the accused, and would be far less likely than a grand jury to make an error in presenting cause to the trial court. for this reason. The only secrecy which would be required of such a board would be in the issue of war rants of arrest. as there would be no need of any secrecy after the arrest had been effected. Thus could be eliminated a useless part of the machinery of the law. and the whole move on with greater ease and rapidity.
 Cumulative Poll Tax
 The cumulative poll tax should be abolished. It is a hard matter for most men to see why their right to vote should be taxed, and it is to be doubt ed whether any sound reason can be advanced for it. The taxation imposed by Alabama in this respect has been specially prohibited by constitutional enactment in some of the states of the union as oppressive. This tax goes 10 the schools. The effect of it has been to disfranchise many good cit- izens. and to cut down, in direct pro- portion, the school revenue. If this tax is needed for the schools. it's payment right of the citizen to vote should be made to depend upon whether he fs qualified to take part in the govern ment of his country and not upon whether he sts willing sor5 able to pay a penalty for that right in the shape of "a tax. The two should be divorced.
 Fee System
 It seems we are on the verge of akolishing this nefarious system by which men live and thrive upon the misfortunes, of the poor and friendless and by taking advantage of enacted law tc impose upon them. As this system is bad in one county. 1t is like wise bad in every county of the state. and the right of every county to abo1- ish it by popular vote should be placed in the constitution. There will then be no doubt of Its elimination.
 Woman Suffrage
 The right of equal suffrage for men and women should be placed in the constitution. I was opposed to this when the idea was first advanced. The idea that woman should presume so far as to want to vote seemed propos- terous. It appeared as though the women were endeavoring to oust man from his divine prerogative and to de- part entirely from their proper sphere in life. But upon mature thought this does not now seem necessarily so. The militant suffragist is not in evidence in the United States, and it does not follow as a matter of course that wom- en intend to do more than to assemble together to discuss the questions of the day and to then repair to the polls on election day and register their will as other intelligent human beings. They may do this at separate polling places where there will be no danger of con tnmination. This may be provided by law. f,s
 In considering this question there appears no lucid reason why the issue Is or ought to be greater than the source. the created greater than that mhirh bringa him forth and bears the labor and burdens of the day. But aside from these questions and what has greater weight. is the abiding corvic- tion that when women vote. many Of the evils which are now with us will take their flight. This latter consid- erat;on outbalances all imaginary bug abocs which probably have. in fact no real existence. Let the women vote.
 Parole System
 Every trial court should be given the right to parole prisoners under cer tain conditions. It often happens that persons are technically guilty of of-. lenses against the laws. but where the infliction of the lawful penalties would do more harm than good. This is 90 some times in the cases of youthful first are so situated that helpless and inno- cent members of the family would be made to suffer and become a burden on the public.- Wise trial Judges could he relied on to use the power with dis. erection. and even If mistakes were made HORR|blE!~ +