The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-29
COURT HOUSE PLAN AUTHORITY LIMIT
Not Authorized To Pass On Site Or Other Phases, Says
 Judge Smith

Declaring that they could not prom ise in advance to approve architects plans and specifications which have not yet been drawn and asserting that they had no authority under the law to object to the selection of H. B. Wheelock as architect, Judge c. B. Smith and Solicitor Jim Davis ap- peared before the board of revenue at Fridays meeting and explained to Its members their position on the new Jefferson county court house.
 There has been some confusion in the public mind about the duty of the presiding judge and solicitor in regard to the proposed new court house." Judge Smith said. '"fhe last legislature passed an act which in substance provided that in this coun- ty whenever the architects plans and specifications for new court house, or any other county building, have been prepared, the same must be sub mitted by the board of revenue to the. presiding judge and solicitor for their approval, and that the contract for the construction of such public building shall likewise be submitted by the board to the same officials for, their approval.
 The presiding judge and solicitor have nothing to do with determining whether or not a new court house will be built, nor with financing the building of same, nor with the se lection and purchase of a lot or lots to build same on, now with the se- lection and hiring of an architect, nor with determining whether or not a joint city and county building will be built, nor with whether any or all of these matters shall be sub mitted to the people for determfna- tion. All of these things must be decided by the board of revenue alone, as the presiding judge and solicitor have no more duty or authority on these subjects than any other citi- zen, except as set out in the above quoted act of the legislature"
 Both the presiding judge and so- lcitor are heartily in favor Of new court house." he continued, pro- vided the county is financially able to build one, as no county in the coun- try is in greater need of a new and modern building. However, neith- CT of these officials has stated that he would approve of the plans or the board of revenue, as the only plans with which the presiding judge and solicitor have officially anything to do are the architects plans and specifications, which have not been prepared and which will not be ready for several weeks. When the archi- lect s plans TOT u court HouSS die sup mitted to them, the presiding judge and solicitor will pass on same and at that time either approve or dis approve them. If any difference arises over these plans, it is assumed that all concerned will make an earnest and conscientious effort to adjust such differences in such a way as to best serve the public interest
 Solicitor Davis accompanied Judge Smith to the meeting of the board of revenue and when the judge had finished speaking merely stated that the position taken by Judge Smith was also his own.
 President D. c. Ball raised the ques tion of the boards ability to pay the architect for drawing the plans in the event that they are disapproved by Judge Smith and Solicitor Davis. In reply Judge Smith said he thought the board of revenue would have full authority to do so.