The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-23

shalt receive.
 Approved September %, 1915.
 JOHN PuR1FoY.
 Secretary of State.
 AN ACT
 No. 655.) 6S. S74. Denson. To further prescribe the authority and duties of the attorney general and of solicitors acting under his authority. . and to provide for the employment of special assistants to the attorney general: to provide for the conduct Of the office of attorney general. to make an appropriation therefor and to prescribe the method of its ex- penditure.
 Be it enacted by the legislature of Ala bama.
 Section l. That the attorney general
 shall have the authority. either in per- son or by assistant, to appear before any grand jury in this state and to present any matter or charge to them for investigation, and to prepare and present to the grand jury indictments for any violation of the laws of this state, and issue subpoenas for sub poenas for witnesses to appear in the
 same manner and to the same extent as solicitors are now. or may hereafter be authorized by law to do
 Sec. ?. That the attorney general, either in person of by one of his assist ants. shall have the authority at any time he sees proper, either before or after indictment to superintend and direct the prosecution of any criminal cause in any of the courts of this state and il shall be the duty Of the solicitor prosecuting in such court, to assist and act in connection with the attorney general. or his assistant in such cause. Sec. 8. That the attorney general h.xr ft his duty to give the solicitors of the several circuits any opinion, instruc- tion, advice necessary or proper to aid them in the proper discharge of their duties, either by circular or per- sona1 letter, and may direct any solici- tor to aid and assist in the investiga- ton, or prosecution of any cause in which the state Is interested. in any other circuit or county than that of the solicitor so directed. Such soici- tors shall have and exercise in such other county, or circuit all the powers and authority imposed by law upon the l solicitor of such other county, or cir cult. Provided, that the authority con tained in this section shall not be held to conflict with or abridge any authori- ty which may have been or which may be vested in the chief justice of the supreme court. Provided further that nothing herein contained shall be con strued to authorize the attorney gen eral, any assistant of the attorney gem eral, or other person at the instance l or request of the attorney general to appear or in any way act in the name l of the state in any civil suit or pro ceeding by or against any county or county officer in which the state of Alabama has no direct financial inter- l est
 Sec. 4. That whenever in his opinion f1,A 1f1 t..fA son of the volume of the work in his office and the importance of the busi- ness and the interest of the state in the matter, Nwhether civil criminal, the attorney general, with the approval of I the governor. or the governor himself. may retain and employ, in the name of the state of Alabama such attorneys and counselors at law as he thinks nec- | essary to the proper conduct of the pub 1 lie business. and shall stipulate in writing with such attorneys and coun- selors the amount of their compensation 1 to be approved by the governor before | employing them and shall have super vision of their conduct and proceedings. Every attorney or counselor who is l specially retained under the authority l of the attorney general or the gov ernor, to assist in the trial of any case, or in any other matter in which ! the state is interested. shall receive | a commission from the secretary of state as a special assistant to the att torney general; and shall take the oath required by law to be taken by the attorney general, and shall be subject to all the liabilies imposed upon them I by law. The special assistants to the at I torney general herein authorized shall be paid upon the warrant of the audi l tor drawn upon the certificate of the attorney general, approved by the gov .tt,..I I rendered, that they were necessary for the efficient conduct of the public busi-
 ness, and could not be performed by the officers regularly provided by law. l Sec. 5. He shall employ such clerical assistants in his office may be nec- essary for the conduct thereof and l such employees shall be paid a compen- sation to be fixed by the attorney gen- eral. and approved by the governor The | salaries of such clerical help shall be paid out of the treasury as the salaries of other state employees are paid. I Sec. 6. The attorney general is au- thorized to incur such expenses as may be necessary In the investigation of l violations of the criminal law. in the prosecution of crime, and in the con duct, investigation and prosecution of any civil cause in which the state is | interested or the states revenues in volved. Authority is herein contained for the attorney general and his as- sistants to incur such travelling ex- penses in the performance of their duties as may be necessary; and the like expenses of solicitors travelling in obedience to the directions of the at torney general as herein prescribed | shall be paid; and such other incidental expenses of the office as may be nee essary. All such expenses shall be paid by warrant drawn by the state auditor upon the certificate of the attorney general of accounts properly itemized and sworn to, such certificate to be ap- proved by the governor.
 Sec. '. During the absence of the at torney general from the seat of gov renment, or when directed by him. the assistant attorneys general shall have the authority to render official opinions to such officers as the attor- ney general is required to advise, and to perform such other duties may be directed by the attorney general; pro- vided, that during such absence such authority shall be vested in the senior assistant, to be designated by the at torney general, and in the absence of the later also. in the next ranking as- sistant. The performance of such duties | by such assistants shall have the same force and effect as if performed by the attorney general
 Sec. S. There is hereby appropriated out of the state treasury a sum of money sufficient to meet the expenses incurred under tho provisions of this act.
 Section 9. That. if for any reason any section, provision, clause or part of this act shall be held to be unconstitu- tional or invalid, then that fact shall loc ct bn ty <r