The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-18
BATSON QUESTIONED
 ON MANY MATTERS
 BEFORE COMMITTEE
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 he thought he would make good po- lice court judge. Judge Abernethy made the point that he tried murder cases, all kinds of felonies and misdemeanors. besides civil cases of all kinds and character up to the limit of his 1ur- isdiction. He stated the court over which he presided had turned in over sS000 to the county treasury above all expenses and that he held court every week day in the year except Christ mas day, Thanksgiving and the day of the Auburn Vanderbilt game.
 Abernethy Looks Ahead
 Judge Abernethy was asked if given in- crea sed jurisdiction would he serve with out increase of salary. He replied that he would, for two reasons. First that as a citizen and taxpayer, he was interested in the cleaning out of the county jail. and second, that he had an ambition to make a record as judge In order that he might go before the people and ask them to promote him to a higher position on the bench of the criminal court.
 Solicitor Black stated that he could clean LID the criminal docket in a few months with four judges working nine months in the year. He gave figures on the number of prisoners confined in the county jail, stating that he visited the jail every week, to find if any of the prisoners wanted to plead guilty. He stated the arrests for craps shooting were comparatively small since small Jail sen | tences were given without fine being | imposed He further stated that he could clear the jail with an extra judge and could keep up with the docket if the court of common pleas was given increased l jurisdiction. He approved the charge Of the judge before the argument Of coun- sel. He favored generally the consoli- dated court.
 D. P. Inscho was the first layman to appear before the committee as the rep resentative of the plumbers who were seeking change in the mechanics lien law He suggested that the plumbers be required by law to file a lien on every subcontract undertaken m order to pro- tect them and enable them to get pay l for their labor.
 L. F. Bullion suggested that there be | an equalization of taxes placed on artf- sans He stated that there was tax of s3S. 50 on plumbers, but that no other artisans were taxed; not that he wanted them taxed, but that the plumbers tax be removed.
 Austin on Stand
 | c. W. Austin gave his ideas as to the conditions in Birmingham. He paid his respects to the lawyers first by stating | some of them in practice in Birmingham l were a disgrace to the legal fraternity. He said he knew of one law firm that had negroes of both sexes employed as runners. He said that the ambulance chaser was much in evidence and that in some instances they split fees with the llawyers He stated there was. much abuse in the county by the justice of peace and constable systems. In reference to the feeding of prisoners at the county jail Mir Austin stated 1t was good, and thai he did not believe that any sheriff could make S75,00O in four years on the feed ing of prisoners. He invited the commit
 tee to sample the food at the county jai during their stay in the city.
 B. Clay Jones of Bessemer stated tt
 the committee that the people of Besse
 mer generally were not in favor of 6 consolidated court unless it gave Bessemel as good court service as at present. IT answer to Senator Lusk he stated h' thought 1t would be good idea to sep
 arate the county jail and the prisoners from the sheriff and allow the board O. revenue to take charge of the prisoners He stated the Bessemer court had trans acted as much business in an equal tint as any court of the county.