The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-05-24
HOPE ID INCREASE COURT EFFICIENCY
Chairman Recess Judiciary Committee Discusses
 Its Work

| Montgomery, May 22.-(Special ] ''We hope to increase the efficiency of
 the courts of Alabama at a material
 decrease of cost" said W. C. Davis of
 Jasper, chairman of the recess com
 mittee on the judiciary. when asked
 today what would be some of the rec
 concentrations his committee would
 make to the legislature.
 Chairman Davis would impart no other information. When called from
 the committee room he was in his shirt sleeves and a glance through the , half closed doors revealed the other
 members of the committee similarly attired
 We are busy writing our report" said Mir. Davis. "and I do not believe | 1t would be eXpedient to discuss what probable recommendations the commit
 tee may make until We have completed
 that document We are working hard to finish our 1abors, and have not yet
 had time to take up great many ques-
 ton of Jaw reform that have been sug- Sested to us"
 Chairman Davis indicated that his committee was deeply interested in tie
 question of simplified procedure ard stated that he thought this would be che of the leading points contained
 in the committees report to the leg stature. He declined to say what ac- ton would be taken by the committee regarding the court of appeals, indi- l eating that that question had not been discussed at any length.
 It is known that there have been various suggestions made regarding
 that tribunal by the bar of the state. Some of tie members favor the reten- | tion of this court, while others favor | increasing, If pecessary the number | of Justices of the supreme court. How | ever. it is understood that the prepon-
 derance of sentiment favor the reter- tion of the court of appeals.
 Work of Committee | The finance and taxation and the in | Vestigating committees are also work
 '"~ 0" their reports to the legisla-
 ture. The latter committee will return l lo .lontgomery on next Monday and il | is understood that it will spend the
 entire week at the capitol
 l This committee began it's report sev-
 eral weeks ago and it is declared that | 1t will be completed by the end of | the first week in June. Among the rec | concentrations which this committee will make are those contemplating the l abolition of several state departments
 and the reduction of expenditures to | the level of the states revenues.
 The committee on finance and tax alton Is at present concerned with l writing a revenue bill. probably a | more difficult task than that which confronts either of the other two com ! mittees Just what methods looking | to an increase in the states revenues will be proposed are not known. Nor 1 is it known how the committee will l attempt to give the state a better-s sys- | tenn of taxation.
 | It has been suggested to the com-
 mittee on finance and taxation that it l place a tax on oca-cola and other soft drinks sold in the state. and 1t Is
 known that the committee has given | this suggestion much serious thought. The committee has also considered the | question of taxing moving picture i, houses on the basis of the yearly at | tendance The jitney lines have also l come under the committees consider
 ation as property on which tax should 1 be placed.
 | However. it is more or less a mat | ter of speculation as to what the leg l islative recess committee will recom- mend in their reports to the 1egisla- | ture It is only safe to say that the | three reports will contemplate revised | systems of law reform. finance and i taxation. and methods looking to a
 more efficient administration of the
 states affairs.