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

recommendation in regard to this under a separate heading.
 County Auditor
 The county auditor should be required to audit the books of every official of Jefferson county at regular intervals and Jury at each term.
 County Jail e
 The county jail is, as has been the cas-. for many years, badly crowded The ventilation is very bad. When We in speeted the jail last we found 64 men confined in the basement with sanitary facilities entirely inadequate The mat tresses are, apparently, never cleaned, but the blankets are washed asfonally.
 place should be provided for tho con finement of prisoners suffering from in fectious or contagious diseases. nder the present conditions. this jail has q number of tuberculosis patients. In- stances have been shown us where men were confined in jail in apparently sound health, and contracted tuberculosis while Sc confined. Jefferson county needs a new and modern jail, but provision should be made, until the same is built for dis eased prisoners We learn with favor that they are trySlg to reduce the numper of prisoners by . ving them a speedy trial. Every man h entitled to a speedy trial under the constitution of the state Of Alabama, and under the constitution of the United States.
 We find that the food provided for the prisoners is wholesome and adequate as to quantity, but could be served better. We recommend that granite pans made with partition as to separate the vari- ous kinds of food served rhoud be pro- xrf6 6nd fn1. ha of ,.fr The prisoners should be provided with coffee once a day.
 We recommend that the 90 cents per day provided by the state for the feeding of prisoners be used in full for this purpose after deducting the actual overhead ex- penses. That is, the sheriff is not en- titled to any profit on feeding prisoners.
 Solicitors Office
 We desire to commend the manner in which the affairs of the solicllor's office are handled. The county is to be con- graduated on having as solicitor a man of the high personal character ability and energy of MT. Black. His assistants and office force are competent, energetic, courteous and obiging to the public.
 Municipal Courts
 In the partial report previously made by this grand jury we recommended the abolishment of the office of justice of the peace within the city limits of Greater Birmingham. and in all municipalities having a population of over 2000 inhabi- tants We recommended that there be established a sufficient number of munich pal courts for the convenience or the pub lie. This recommendation was not in tended as an indorsement of the Judge municipal court bill recently passed by the legislature providing for only two n nntf t.. Ix. l. 4 T heart of the city. saf
 We do not feel that the convenience of the public is seyced by compelling litigants or witnesses from the extreme eastern or western part of the city, or from North Birmingham, to have to come to the heart of the city on minor cases. We respectfully petition tho governor not to sign the Judge municipal court bill We would request our senator and county representatives to draw new bill, providing for the establish- ment of municipal courts as follows:
 Two in the heart of the city. one in WoodlaWn, one at West End, one at Ensley, one at North Birmingham.
 The city of Birmingham already has in each of these suburban places build ings formerly used as city halls We recognize the expense of the mair- tenance of six judges. We do not think it will be necessary to have one judge for each court We believe q bill could be prepared providing for four judges of the municipal courts One of these judges hold court one day at Woodlawn; one day at West End; one day at North Birmingham providing for a court at least twice d week in each of these sections.
 We feel that 1t would be an abuse of the executive power for the gov- ernor to appoint as judge of one of these courts any man who has been re- gently defeated at the polls for the same or similar office We feel that the will of the people should have a greater weight than the recommends tion of any individual or body.
 Regarding the office of justice Of the