The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-15

CTS, according to the sliding scale
 from 30 tN 50 cents da. -er prison-
 er, was paid to the sheriff upon de-
 mand and no accounting whatever
 was required or made as to how the
 money was dispensed, but only an affaidavit stating the amount due for feeding a given number of prisoners for so many days during the month.
 The amount allowed w1 ge.erally
 interpreted as fee granted the sheriff for performing; an act, while, of course the clear intent of the law was that it should be used for food for the prisoners. It has been custo- mary and accepted for the sheriffs to make money from the allowance for feeding prisoners, and while the for mer law was extremely loose in it's provisions, still If the prisoners throughout the state had been proper ly cared for. probably there would have been no change made.
 However, frequent complaints often borne out by the investigations and observations of the food from time to time in different jails led to.an endeayor to enact a law which
 would clearly define how the money should be spent, ana further requir- ing an accurate accounting of Its expenditure.
 "A few of the sheriffs compiled
 
 revised statute, some partially and
 others have failed to carry out It's | plain mandates.
 "The contention has been made tna. the present sheriffs elected under the old law, and that, the new statute was | not applicable at that time, since 1t would reduce the remuneration as
 provided for at the time the sheriff | took office. There Is, of course,
 nothing in this claim. The former
 law invited abuse and it was gem erously accorded.
 The present stAeure sets out spe- officially how the money appropriated
 by the state shall be expended and requires an accounting therefor. O O O
 Advise Accounting.
 There is nothing either novel or
 new in the latter provision except as
 regards the so-calleo sheriff's feed bill. since the state required every department to give a rigid accounting of all moneys appropriated to be used by it. State officials and employees are required to obtain receipts for all
 money spent in travelling, while on duty for the government, and are not reimbursed unless such proof is given and it is incomprehensible why the state should appropriate $150,000
 annually to be handled by 67 men and require no adequate accounting there for.
 The incoming legislature will ap- propriate not less than $150,000 an- nually or $600,00o to be spent for food for prisoners in the county jails during the next four years. This is princely sum to be allowed by the legislature for a specific purpose and there can be no reasonable cause given why It's expenditure should not be hedged about by ordinary safe guards in order to show that the money is properly used. Such re- quirement is both just to those into whose hands the money will be com mitted for expenditure, the unfor- tunate prisoners, who are intended to be its beneficiaries, and the tax pay
 CTS and is economically sound.
 '"The chief object of the present statute is to provide adequate and wholesome food for the prisoners and the full amount is to be used, if neces- sary to gain this end. However, if less amount Is sufficient then the balance is to remain in the state treasury. This seemingly Is both reasonable and wise."