The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-14
SHAPIRO TELLS WHY REFORM IS NECESSARY IN COUNTY JUDICIARY
Courts Should Consolidated and Should Sit Continuously Present System Unnecessarily Costing Thousands of Dol lars Annually Submits Formal Recommendation
 to Recess Judiciary Committee

Representative Isadore Shapiro has
 formally written his recommendation
 to the recess judiciary committee for
 improvements in the administration
 of justice in Jefferson county. His
 communication is as follows
 sTo the Recess Judiciary Committee:
 .Gentlemen-In accordance with the re- quest of the committee to propose rec concentrations thereto relative to the reformation and revision of .he judicial system of this state, l desire to submit several suggestions pertaining to Jeffer- son county.
 Alabama maintains a judicial system replete with extravagance and ineffi- .ciency. From time to time we have added patches to our judicial crazy quilt. Even now, at tremendous cost and a top-heavy number of judges and solici- tors, the results are lot commensurate with the quantity and expenditures. The system Is too cumbersome. The machin- cry is clogged.' The judicial wheel has too many insecure spokes, which impair it's circumlocution.
 "A readjustment of this maladjusted scheme is not only desirable, but abso- lutely imperative. The commonweal de- mands it.
 So, it would be utterly impossible to exaggerate the profund significance or the task undertaken by this committee.
 My long observation and short expe- rience have been that the greatest ob- stacle in effecting any reform is not so much the question of what ought to be done, but a disinclination to interfere with the freedom and emoluments of office holders. Officials and their friends are powerful and plenty. If this committee withstand their pressure and solicitude, it will be manifesting heroism. To over come their opposition requires the exer- else of the highest patriotism. The in- terests of the whole people are entitled to more paramount consideration than the interests of office-holders. When this principle is adhered to, the common welfare will be incidentally advanced.
 Jefferson county according to the last Federal census, had population of 226,- GOO. We have, exclusive of the probate court, the following courts sitting exclu- sively in this county, circuit court two judges, each drawing an annual salary of s45O0; city court, four judges, each drawing an annual salary of $500; crim- inal court, two judges, each drawing an annual salary of $4500. This makes a total of ss6,O0O paid annually to judges of courts of record who hold court only in this county.
 Besides we have a chancellor devoting most of his time to the dispatch of busi- ness in this county. He draws an annual salary of $500
 Attached to our criminal court is a solicitor who draws an annual salary of $45O0. Under an act passed " the pres- ent legislature the sum of 5000 annually was appropriated out of the general fund for the payment of his assistants, making the total for the solicitors office S95Oo.
 'The constitution makes it mandatory that solicitor for each judicial circuit be elected by the qualified electors of such circuit. This provision makes the election of circuit solicitor in Jefferson county compulsory, although the local circuit court ceased to exercise it's criminal jur- isdiction years ago. Every four years this unnecessary office must be filled, at a large annual expense. It Is true that the present circuit solicitor has been as- sisting the solicitor of the criminal court, and he has virtually been serving in the capacity of assistant solicitor of the crim- inal court But to pay an assistant all most as much as his chief is the grossest sort Of extravaganza. The offices of solicitor of the criminal court and soic- itor of the circuit court are duplicatory. One or the other should be eliminated.
 Terms of Courts S
 "Bcth tic city and circuit courts con vene the first Monday in October and ad- journ tht last of June. During that pe- riod each court recesses for two weeks each time Jefferson countys cases are called in tho supreme court. This is twice year, SC that each court has an addi- ti,sAal months vacation each year by virtue of this, provision. Including the Christmas vacation and the days in Oc-