The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
Jefferson County Delega- tion Divided as to Consti- nationality of Law Chang ing Officials Salaries
ANTIFEE MEASURE
 WILL BE PASSED
 AT JULY SESSION
Highly Probable That Bill Will Not Be Made Ap- plicable to Officials Now Holding Office
py HUGH ". ROBERTS

trentgomery, February 1S.-(special) From lime immemorial the people of reReruon county have mathematical Hhe siniauitous" fee system. Four xears aeo. through the insistence of the peo- pls of Jefferson county. the legisla- xuze submitted an amendment to the uualifled voters of the state providing fhat the imperial subdivision might he excepted from the constitutional inhi- pyition against changing the basis of an omlcaars remuneration. The quail aned voters of the state. In a power- eul voice, declared in favor of tho amendment
 All that then remained to be done was action by the legislature making elective that amendment. The people of Jefferson desired an extra session of tae legislature in order that such aosien might be had prior to the eleo- ton last November of new officials The extra session was not obtained and as & result officials were elected and qualified. It was the natural pre- sumption, however. that the legisla- ture when it did convene-in regular session--would immediately put the sntifee amendment into effect. And yet the first half of the session has to all practical purposes elapsed and nothing has even been attempted. The Situation Presented The situation in nutshell is as fol- lows:
 N In the second half of the session the antifee amendment will be made enective; so-called salary bill will be enacted into law; but it is highly probable that the salary bill will not be made applicable to officials who ' now hold office, not even to Sheriff \ Batson, who made his race in full knowledge of the fact that the people l had declared that he should not have advantage of the fee system, but should be remunerated by a fixed salary The members of the Jefferson county delegation are divided on various ] phases of constitutional law relating to this subject. Some of them hold that the basis of an officials salary can not be changed during his term of of flee. Others adhere to the contrary view. Some who hold the consrary view are nevertheless of the opinion that it is not the sentiment Of the people of Jefferson county that present ! officials be affected. Others hold that j the people not only want recently elected officials put on a salary basis, P but want all officials, even those olect ed prior to the submission of the anti fee amendment put on salary basis. Tn this connection 1t is highly in- ] tcresting to note that those members of the delegation who hold that an officials remuneration cannot be changed during his term of office are rendered practically without arGu- Hnent when it is remembered that re- gently . bill was put through the Icg- jslature, with the support of the en- tire delegation, increasing the salary of the members of the board of rev- euue-nOt eventually, but effective on the passage of the biIl.
 Position of Delegation
 The correspondent of The Age Herald obtained this morning brief express sions from members of the delegation as to their positions.
 The question propounded was this:
 ssIn your opinion. can this Iegislr- JeMerson county officials who now held offices"
 The interviews follows:
 MT. Judge: "I do not believe that
 such can constiutionally be done.
 However, in the July session, will in
 troduce a salary bill and will endeavor
 to have it effect the pay of the sheriff.
 do not intend to try to make the bill
 retroactive-that is, effect the officials
 who were elected prior to the submis-
 sion of the amendment
 "Mr. Weakley: T do not think that
 (Continued on Page Two)