The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-08-02
CONSTABLE'S FEES
 VERSUS SALARY
To the Editor of the Age-Heraid:

To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 -rThe legislature of Alabama, some
 years ago passed one of the best local laws ever enacted for this county. It
 put all county officials on salaries. ex-
 stables, who remain now on the fee
 system
 This wise legislation was but fol-
 lowing the splendid example of the
 most progressive states In this republic.
 1t has been felt for good throughout
 the country by all our people. Chang
 ing the fee system into salaries has
 It appeals to the pride and patriotism
 of officers to become more efficient
 in serving the public.
 This fact is strickingly exemplified
 by our present sheriff, now on a salary
 of $6,000 a year.. some former sheriffs
 are said to have made from $50,000 to
 $75.000 year. Yet Jefferson county
 is said never to have had better sher- if than now. He is held in high esteem for his efficiency with no suspicion of debauch- ing his office for personal profit, no sus- picion of making frivolous arrest for fees His record is luminous with com
 mendable conduct in enforcing the law for the good of the community. CONSTABLES ON SALARY This legislature should go a step farther and put constables in Birming- l ham on salaries. Justices of the peace office in Birmingham. have been abol- ished years ago by reason of their abuse l of the fee system for personal profit We have in their stead judges of muni- cipal and inferior courts on salaries Their decisions are now never question ed by the, suspicion of bias for fees. "Yet some of the constables of Bir- 1 ingham, like some of our former 1 sheriffs, are making enormous profits | by pilaging the poor in frivolous ar rest One of these constables has been | heard to say lately that he would not l give his office for that of the sheriff | because he makes three times as much as the present sheriff gets. If this i be true then he (the constable) makes
 $1S,o0o a year on the fee system out of his office since the law now gives 1 the sheriff $6,0oo a year. | This fee system offers too great a temptation for employing pimps to I drum up crap games, and to round up l women suspected of lewdness, and hosts l of vagrants to filch fees from the l ignorant, the poor and the needy, to fill the plethoric purses of not over ! scrupulous officers. The temptation for wrong doing should be removed so 1 the poor can not be plundered for prof | it. This can be done by abolishing the | office of constable in the city of Bir- l mingham. s ELECTION LAW
 l "Section 168 of the Alabama consti- i tuition reads: In each precinct not ly | ing within. or partly within, any city l or incorporated town of more than | 1900 inhabitants. there shall be elected | by the qualified electors of such pre-
 cinct not exceeding two justices of the peace, and one constable. Where one 1 or more precincts lie within, or partly
 within. city or incorporated town of
 more than 1900 inhabitants the legis- ] lature may provide by law for the election of not more than two justices ! of the peace and one constable for each l of such precinct, or an inferior court | for such precinct or precincts, in lieu of all justice of the peace therein. Tt will be seen that the words shall
 and may in the above quotations have l clear meanings--no doubtful construc- tion can be given them.
 The word shall is used as to pre- l cincts lying entirely outside of cities, I etc. The word may is used as to pre- cincts lying within or partly within cities, etc.. as to the elections of con l stables.
 "A careful reading of this constitu- tional provision puts the election of con-
 stables, in cities entirely in the hands l of the legislature to abolish the of
 flee or not. or make laws for constables as they deem best
 This cruel curse to the community should be cured-cut out of the body l polite now and for ever, our citizens are waking up to the demoralising dangers. the damnable disgrace of the pernicious fee system and are demand l ing the change
 M PINK LICETTE." | Birmingham, August 1, 1919.
 Gold Brick Schemes Exnosed