The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-30
BILL FOR MERGER OF COURT |NDORSED BY BAR Lengthy Discussion on Se- lection of Judges by the
 Lawyers of County EFFORT MADE TO
 STRIKE OUT CLAUSE Fails By One Vote-Favor Enactment of Bill to Increase Jurisdiction of
 Court of Common Pleas.
 Abolish Justice Courts

After a lengthy discussion in which strong opposition developed as to the manner of selecting judges the draft of the proposed consolidated court bill was indorsed at the meeting of the Bir- mingham bar yesterday at the court house With the exception of a few mil TOT changes the bill was indorsed as presented by the committed 1 Resou- tions were adopted condemning the jury commission law and urging the abolition of the jury commission and placing the matter of drawing the jurors in the hands of the probate judge, the sheriff and one of the clerks of the courts.
 A resolution was adopted favoring the enactment of a bill to increase the juris- diction of the Birmingham court of com mon pleas, giving it Jurisdiction over all nisdemeanors and in all civil cases wher- in the amount does not exceed $500, and that the court shall be in lieu of all other inferior courts and Justice of the peace courts in Greater Birmingham.
 The bill provides for the selection of judges of the consolidat ted court by the lawyers of the county. This feature was much opposed and arguments were made as to the constitutionaity of the meas ure. It was also declared it would tend to create a political machine within the bar and that the people would not stand for lawyers selecting the judges. A mo- tion to strike this feature from the bill was lost by vote of 25 to 26 and the clause was retained.
 The proposed bill is entitled: An act to
 Al At.z rps. the circuit court of the Tenth judicial circuit of Alabama. the criminal court of Jefferson county and the chancery court of the Fifth district of the Northwestern chancery division of Alabama into one court, to be known as the circuit cour. of Jefferson county, with a sufficient number of judges for the transaction of the business of such consolidated court.
 Sims Named Chairman
 The meeting was held in the first di- vision of the city court of Birmingham, at the courthouse, yesterday morning.
 The meeting was called to order by Chairman H. U. Sims, who was made permanent chairman. On motion, T. w.. McRae was made acting secretary.
 It was moved and seconded that the portions of the proposed bill for the con Oolidation of certain courts of Jefferson county providing that the candidates for judgeship of this court must be nomi- mated by the bar of Jefferson county be stricken out.
 After discussion vote was taken and the motion was lost 25 voting in favor of the motion, and 26 against it.
 It was moved and seconded that section of the proposed bill be amended so as to provide that six judges shall be a quorum. The motion crried.
 A resolution was passed, that 1t was the sense of this meeting that the committee in charge of the drafting of the proposed bill consider the dvsability of amending section g so as to provide for an addi- tional minute book to be used for actions of the court where such actions were taken by the court as whole.
 It was moved and seconded that ths provision in reference to the clerks sal ary be stricken out and the bill be amend ed so as to allow the clerk the same fees as he now receives. The motion was lost
 It was moved and seconded that the provision fixing the clerks salary be
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