The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-17

his efforts to enforce the law, ua- less the opportunity be given for the trial of the cases placed upon tha docket. With the trial of only about 10 per cent of the entire number os cases placed upon the criminal court docket. this can only result in mockery of law enforcement; and we submit that there are not any two judges in the world who can take their places on the criminal court bench of this county and try the number of cases coming before them for trial. If there were placed on the bench in this division of the court the proportionate share of judges that the situation now demands, there would be eight judges now in service in the trial of criminal eases. We cannot conceive that the pubic will remain silent and see this ie- plorable condition continue further, without a protest being made fer proper machinery and equipment for a prompt and speedy trial of cases. in order to insure to the people that they are protected under the gov- ernmcnt in which they live.
 Tt is the trial of a case and con- v.ction of the guilty that deter peo- pie from committing crime. No coun- try is safe unless the citizens of that country are willing to see every dol | lar that goes into the treasury spent If necessary, in order that the peo- ple's lives and the peoples property are properly protected, And we , hereby call upon the citizens of this county not to vote for a single can didate for the legislature. unless that individual candidate makes a solemn pledge that he or she will lend his or her support that a proper number of judges and other officials are thrown into this work, in order 10 clear the docket, and to guarantee. in the future, to the people Of this county, speedy trial of all de- fendants."
 SchooIhouses and Other Buildings The grand jury made a limited in- quiry concerning the construction of school building and architectural struction. We desire to call atten- tion both to the city and county authorities. also to the city and coun- | ty school boards of education. that sometimes contracts and specifica- ] tlons for building are shutting out competition for a lot of equipment that is to go into the construction of the building; sometimes by expressed stipUlations a certain thing, naming
 
 of that thing required to be used at other times a certain kind of a thing is to be used, where in fact only one manufacturer makes that kind of thing; at other times the architectural plan requires the build- ing to be so constructed that only one manufacturers goods can be used, all of which has a tendency to de- stroy competition and to shut off hiddinV nd Tanntrec hn | of large price for the equipment when in fact, a similar piece of goods could be used just as well as the one required. at greatly less money. We desire to call the attention of these boards to this fact and to request that the architects attention be called to 1t. and that the practice now Tn vogue In this regard be abandoned so that the people and manufacturers, who desire to bid for the furnishings or the equipment in construction of public buildings, be not shut off and deprived of bidding thereon. We think that every piece of equipment such as piping, valves. strais. radi- ators. furnishings used in the con struction, cooling, ventilating or heating of these buildings. should be left open to the general public and every manufacturer to bid thereon, and that no one, because of the speci- fication, should be deprived thereof, and we are Of the opinion that a large sum of money would be saved to the city and county letting the contract on material used If this is done; and if it is done. then there will be no opportunity for graft or accusation of graft growing out of the letting of such contracts.
 We desire to thank all officials whose duty 1t has been to aid us in the procurement of witnesses and in the handling of the work coming be- fore us, and In the preparation of all indictments and other papers connect ed with our work
 Now, having concluded our work. we ask to be discharged
 tSigned) A. C. SWINDALI.
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