The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-21

~ 1Al'sii y, iSio. tefi0i bes 10 submit the following report;
 We have been in session ss days. have investigated 625 cases, examined 2295 wit nesses found 49o true bills, returned no bills in 209 cases, and have continued no cases to the next grand jury.
 Buildings and Institutions
 The county almshouse is we'll kept. clean, and in as good condition as the age of the building will permit The in- mates have the best of care. We desire, to compliment the superintendent Mr Ward, for his efficient management of this institution. We recommend that the board of revenue investigate the cost and advisability of installing a ram and mod- ern water supply for this institution as We feel this would supply sufficient water for the building. and also for irrigat ton purposes at low cost. We also recom- mend that the board of revenue investi- gate the cost and praeticability of in- stalling at this institution a laundry for the purpose of taking care of the laun- dry at the jail. the alnshouse and the Hillman hospital
 We suggest that the board of revenue erect new and modern brick buildings suitable for almshouse purposes on the county property near Ketona, and sell the valuable site of the present aims house. The buildings now used are old inadequate, poorly heated, and endanger the lives of the inmates through the likelihood of fire. The present site is valuable for city lots, and we believe, could be sold for a sum that would erect modern buildings suitable for the purpose.
 Hillman Hospital
 We cannot speak too highly of the splendid efficiency and condition of the Hillman hospital. The grand jury wishes to commend the efficiency and zeal shown by Dr. E. P. Hogan and staff in their management. This charity hospital compares favorably with any other hos pital in our city. We further say that the hospital is filled with patients, hav- ing few beds unoccupied. We wish to recommend that special wards be pro- vided for contagious and infectious dis eases, the institution now being greatly handicapped by the lack of such wards.
 Courthouse
 Although we are informed that the sheriff employs 10 janitors and a fore- man to clean and keep the courthouse grounds, still we do not believe that the courthouse building is kept as clean as it should be, coul6 be, with this force of men. While the addition of the new wing to the courthouse relieved the congested condition to some extent, we IlnQ that not even the new COuTtTOOIDs are properly ventilated. We recommend that ventilating fans be placed in the two criminal courtrooms especially, as these courts are almost constantly filled with both negroes and white people. We believe that the judges. officials, attor- neys and citizens who are called on to do jury duty should not be subjected to breathing foul air
 Duties of the Grand Jury
 We indorse the report of the previous grand jury in reference to the grand jury being burdened with large numbers of certain eases which should not come before that body. We believe that a, large percentage of the cases presented to the grand jury should not be handled by the grand jury.
 We also indorse the comments of the previous grand jurY'as to the hardships suffered by citizens in serving on the grand jury for a period of two months or more. Such a long term of service is a sacrifice that we feel that no man should be required to make, and the law should be changed to provide for shorter terms of the grand juries Under the present condition, not onls Is a member of the grand jury kept away from his business for eight hours day prac- tically during the entire session, but the compensation for his serv- ices is insufficient. We would strongly recommend that the law be amended to provide more pay for the grand jury, and a differential per diem provided for grand jurymen living over five miles from the courthouse or at such distance that they cannot spend the night at home. We feel that we can consistently make this recommendation, hoping that it will be many years be- fore the members of this jury are called on to again perform such service.
 It is a manifest fmpossiblity for the grand jury to perform the duties placed upon it under the laws, as to investigat- ing county officials. We are making our