The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-19
-------------e---- MUCH CRITICISM OF THE FEE SYSTEM AT HEARING YESTERDAY
oContinued from Page Five)

warm and their seeming interest in this matter had died out. He told an incident Where case had been framed up on a number of negro servants near his home Efn which arrests had followed just after the clock had struck 12 on Saturday night.
 He stated that the people of Jefferson county had elected men of the highest reputation to the office of sheriff, but he had yet to see one who did not try to make all the money out of the office he could at the expense of the poor and un- fortunate. In reply to a question of Sen ator Lusk he stated he did not know of the upper ten' being raided. In refer ence to damage suits he stated that those litigants who had a meritorious case would have no difficulty in making bond fo. costs is required. He indorsed the workingmen's compensation act.
 County Treasurer Not Needed
 He told the committee that the office of county treasurer should be abolished as
 it was a useless expense to the county, and that several of the prominent banks had had a candidate in the field for the office. "Gentlemen, you will render great service to the state and this county if you rid us of the fee system and the dam- age suit lawyer he said in conclusion.
 J. R. Kennemer, president of the United Mine Workers union, was the last wit ness yesterday afternon and submitted a written statement in reference to the number of arrests made during the strike or 1908 by the sheriff. He stated that during the two months of the strike that 1000 arrests had been made, charging every crime in the calendar, from tres pass to murder, and that of this number less than 15 had been convicted, and that four of the convicted parties had been pardoned. He stated that the corpora tions engaged men who were sworn in as special deputies and that the sheriff re- ceived Sl per. day for each deputy above the amount paid them for their services. He stated he was informed that the sheriff cleared s4O,00O during the strike. He stated his organization favored the workmens compensation bill that had already been presented by Representative Isadore Shapiro
 The committee will reconvene this morning at S:30 o'clock and hold executive session until oclock, when the hearing will be continued. This will be the last day for the committee to sit in Birming- ham at this time, and tomorrow morning the members will leave for Jasper and hold one-day session at that point. On Monday they will go to Tuscumbia. It is understood that one of the witnesses summoned before the committee this morning is'"l<id Wonder" the negro for tune teller. The nature of his testimony was not stated.
 Gaston First Witness
 The committee met yesterday morning promptly at o'clock, Senator John A. Lusk presiding. Present were Senators Alto " Lee and ]. c. Miller and Repre- sentatives A. R. Brindley, Sam Will Johns and Ira A. Thompson. Judge Zell Gaston was the first witness and stated that he was familiar with the fee system in this county and that it was one of the causes of crime. He told the committee that deputy sheriffs had been told by their superiors that the jail was getting thin and to go out and get more prisoners. He stated that far too many frivolous ar rests were made by. the deputies and the policemen of the city. He declared that every member of the Jefferson delegation had been elected on the platform to aool- ish the system, but nothing tangible had been done toward it so far.
 He indorsed the consolidated courts and paid a tribute to Judge Abernathy, com- mending his rugged honesty and native l ability. He stated Judge Abernathy was held in fear by the criminal element. White Gibson denounced the present jury system, stating that corporations n- fiuenced the placing of names in the jury box to their advantage. He suggested that verdict by nine jurors in civil cases and better lien laws for the mechanic. HOwle Ordered Off Stand J. T. Howle stated that he had been done a great injustice in trial and that the city court of Gadsden was dirty and corrupt. While admitting that he Lad sold liquor he claimed he had been rail- roaded through the court and had been | convicted on perjured testimony. He was l ordered off the witness stand by Chair man LuslS when he began to abuse the | court.
 w. J. Wynn entered protest against the