The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-06
Herbert Harley of Chicago Appears Before Legisla-
 tive Recess Committee
COMMITTEE VISITS
 THE COURTHOUSE
Also Looks Over the Jail-B. NJ. Allen Presents His Views at Length. Embezzlement Statutes Are
 Nonsensical, He Says

Application of common sense and busi- ness principles in the administration of justice was the main topic of the address of Herbert Harley. secretary of the American Judicature society, made yester- day afternon before the joint legislative recess committee on judicial reform which Is in session at the Motion hotel. MT. Harley came to Birmingham at the sug- gestion of local members of the society and was given a hearing before the com mittee at the conclusion of the state ments of several attorneys who appeared before the committee. MT. Harley did not complete the presentation of his cause to the committee yesterday, although the eommittee remained in session until nearly E o'clock, and will conclude this morning. As the committee will hold an investiga- tion in Bessemer this morning it will meet at o'clock in order to hear MT. Harley. Visits County Jail
 The committee met yesterday morning ht 9 o'clock with all the members present es follows: w. c. Davis, chairman; Sena- tors Alto " Lee, John c. Lusk, J. c. Mill Ter, Representatives A. R. Brndley, Sam Will John, D. c. Blackwell and Ira B. Thompson. An adjournment was immed- ately taken and the committee visited the county Jail and count courthouse. They were shown through the county jail by Sheriff Batson and members of the com nittee expressed themselves as being fav- orably impressed with the general con- 1itions of the jail. The committee also visited the courthouse and inspected the several court rooms which were very crowded yesterday morning. Chairman Davis stated after the visitation of the jail and courts that it would seem that new courthouse rather than new jail was the pressing need of Jefferson county. The committee will leave for Bessemer about 10 o'clock this morning, and will again convene at the Motion hotel this afternoon for the further examination of witnesses.
 Allen First Witness
 B. M. Allen was the first witness before the committee yesterday afternoon and testified at length on his views on judicial reform. He declared the present laws garding land titles were as bad as could be and suggested that all transfers of land should be made under competent su- pervision He also suggested the grouping of tax sales advertisements where the property was adjoining. MT. Allen sug gested change in the motion practice and stated it should be served like other
 
 ing the transcripts of cases in the place of bills of exceptions.
 In referring to the judiciary of Jeffer- son county he stated that his observation as that all the judges performed the as required of them and that all were ary to dispatch the volume of busi- 's-county. He stated large per ers confined in the county
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