The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], January 25, 1915, Image 1

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE
BIRMINGHAM
AGE-HERALD
* VOLUME XXXXIV
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, MONDAY. JAN LAID
NTMBER -JG4
GERMAN CRUISER SENT TO OCEAN’S BOTTOM
IN NAVAL ENGAGEMENT IN THE NORTH SEA
SECOND ATTACK
ON BRITISH COAST
MEETS DISASTER
—
German Cruiser Squadron Is Inter
rupted By Superior Fleet and
Running Battle Follows
THE BLUECHER SUNK AND TWO
BATTLE CRUISERS ARE DAMAGED
Battle Lasts Four Hours Before Germans Escape
I j In Mine Protected Waters—Only 123 of
Bluecher's Crew of 885 Are Rescued
British Casualties Exceedingly Light
; *x 1
London, January 24.—(10 p .m.)—An attempt of a Ger
man cruiser squadron to repeat the recent attack on Scar
borough, the Hartlepools and other British coast towns, was
ifrustrated today by the British patrolling squadron, and in a
running fight the German armored cruiser Bluecher was sunk
and two German battle cruisers seriously damaged.
The Brltleh ships suffered only slight injury. So far as is known only
123 of the Bluecher’s crew of 885 were saved.
A battle also occurred between the light cruisers and destroyers accom
panying the bigger ships, but the result of that engagement has not yet reach
to me admiralty.
The British were superior in ships en
gaged, weight of armament and speed,
tnd the flight of the German ships into
the mine and submarine infested field
rpossibly saved them from further losses.
The Blueohed was a cruiser of 15,550 tons
Replacement, and although commissioned
n 1908, waa completely rerigged last year.
Bhe was not classed as a battle cruiser,
out was In the next class to those formld
ible fighters. With her were the Der
ftlnger, Germany’s latest battle cruiser,
■which had Just left the builders’ hands,
|:he battle cruisers Seydlltz and Moltke
i latter a sister ship of the Goeben,
erly of the German, but now of the
ish fleet, which was recently report
imaged by the Russians in the Black
Beatty In Command
e British squadron, commanded by
Admiral Sir David Beatty, who also
In command at the battle off Ilelgo
last August, consisted of the battle
ers Tiger, Dion, Princess Royal, New
iml and Indomitable. The first three
(lese cruisers mount eight 13.5-Inch
each, and even the New Zealand
Indomitable carry 12-incli guns, which
equal to those of tho Derfilnger, the
one of the German ships that had
rr than 11-inch guns,
nmodore Reginald Y. Tyrwhitt, who
took part In the battle off Helgo
, commanded the light cruisers and
•oyers which accompanied Vice Ad
1 Beatty’s battle cruisers.
B Germans .were observed sometime
- dawn proceeding In the direction of
British coast. When they sighted the
rior British fleet they turned and
b at full speed for home waters, and
as only after a stern cliase that the
ir British ships got within range of
i. The running battle lasted more
four hours, the firing being plainly
d in North Holland, where It was
ed the fight took place north of the
id of Amelando and Schlermonnlk.
Bluecher Slow
e Bluecher, which was slower than
other German cruisers, fell behind
succumbed to the heavier guns of
Dion, which was leading the British
dron. The other German ships got
In the mine and submarine area, two
hem in a badly damaged condition,
it was dangerous for the big British
e cruisers to follow,
e fact that only 11 men were wound
board the Lion, which led the line, in
to that the British casualties wers
. It is possible that more of the
* •
• REBELS DEFEATED *
♦ - ♦
$ Pretoria, January 24.— (Via *
$ London, January 25. 1:05 a. in.) •
• It is officially announced that •
t 200 rebels with four guns under 4
$ their leaders. Lieutenant Colonel •
t Maritz and Kemp, attacked Up- •
• ington, Bechuanaaud, today. ?
$ The rebels were repulsed, leav* f
$ ing behind 12 dead and 23 •
• wounded and 06 prisoners. •
$ The Union of South Afrioy ?
$ forces lost three men killed 4
$ and 22 wounded. 4
X
Bluecher s crew were picked up by the
British destroyers.
All the other vessels named in the of
fiolal iTDc»i:Ljexgei>Ltbe BlMcaher art bat
Ho cruisers, all heavily armed and cap
able ol great speed.
The Bluecher was an armored cruiser
189 feet long and displaced 15.550 tons. Her
complement was 883 officers and men. She
was built at Kiel in 1908 at a cost of $6,
500,000. Her speed was a little more than
26 knots an hour. She was equipped with
twelve 8.2-inch, eight 6-ipch, sixteenth 24
pounders and three torpedo tubes.
The Derflinger is a 28,00-ton ship, com
pleted July 14. 1914. She has eight 12-inch
ind twelve 6-lnch guns, and twelve 24
pounders and live torpedo tubes. There is
no record available of her speed.
The Seydlltz Is somewhat smaller than ,
the Derflinger, her displacement being 25,- !
XK) tons. She carries ten 11-Inch guns
twelve 6-ineh guns, twelve 24-pounders ,
md foyr 14-pounder anti-aerial guns. She
bas four torpedo tubes. She also is a new
boat, having been completed in May, 1913.
Her speed is about 26 knots, although
in time trials she made 29 knots.
The Moltke is a 23,000-ton boat and has
i. speed of about 27 knots. She is a sis
ter to the famous cruiser Goeben, which
once belonged to Germany, but which now
flies the Turkish flag. The Moltke has
the same gun power as the Seydlltz, ex
cept that she is not equipped with anti
aerial rifles.
Sister Ships
The Lion and the Princess Royal are
sister ships of 30,415 tons, and each car
ries a complement of 1000 officers and
men. They are 680 feet long and have a
speed of about 28 knots, although in their
:ime trials the Lion bettered 31 knots and
the Princess Royal 32. The vessels are
irmed with eiglu 13-5-inch guns and six
teen 4-inch guns and three torpedo tubes,
rhe Lion was built in 1910 and the Prin
cess Royal In 011.
The Tiger is a 27-000 ton ship and was
built in 1913. Her armament is the same
is that of the Lion and Princess Royal.
Available naval records do not give her
(CMtlanci ob Page Two)
GREAT ENTHUSIASM
AROUSED IN ENGLAND
Naval Victory Overshadows Land Operations.
Fighting In West Confined Largely to Artillery
Duels —Desperate Battle Continues In Argonne
and Alsace
London, January 24.—(10:35 p. m.)—The naval battle in the North Sea, with
;ha oinking of the German cruiser Bluecher, has inspired the people with
jrsater confidence in the ability of the Britiah fleet to prevent a repetition of
he German raids on the east coast towns and has aroused greatest enthusiasm,
or thr moment diverting interest from the war on land, the political problems
if Austria-Hungary and the possible action of Romania.
I Land . fighting In the west has again been
onflned largelysto artillery engagements,
vtlch have been almost continuous from
he sea to the SwiSs frontier. All arms,
towever, still are engaged In the Argonne.
rhcre trenches have been lost and re
aken several times within two days, and
n Alsace, where both sides are putting
!orth desperate efforts.
In Poland also decisive results are lack
ng, but there are expectations that Rus
ila's new offensive nortl^ of the lower
fistula will briny, a change in the char
icter of the operations. It is believed
t certainly will tax Germany's resources
it the’moment when she is called upon to
lead additional troops t| assist In oppos
ite Russia’s threatened Invasion of Hun
tary and the menace arising from the pos
ilbillty of Roumania taking a hand In the
It Is unofficially reported from v lenna
that the Austrians have checked the Rue
sian advance In southern Bukowina,
which, If tnie, points to the arrival there
of fresh Austro-Germun forces.
Germany, It Is said, although she has not
delivered a note to Roumanla, hus sev
eral times inquired from that country the
meaning of her mobilisation, which should
soon bring the matter to a head. There
are all sorts of reports, chiefly from
Rome, of political changes In Austria
Hungary. It 1s said Germany has taken
entire charge of the military affairs of
the monarchy while the Hungarians un
der the guidance of the premier, Count
Tlssa, are In control of political affairs
under an arrangement made between the
Germans and the Hungarians.
It also Is reported German troops will
be sent to Hungary Instead of into Ber
via. as qrlglnally Intended, and that Aus
trian troops will replace them In France.
For fear of another air raid, church ser
vices were not held In many towns of Nor
folk this evening and lights were dimmed.
_SENT TO BOTTOM BY BRITISH_
n 1 1
RAILR J TO HELP
NEW \ORK REDUCE
* THE COST OF LIVING
Great Market Terminal, First of a
Dozen, Planned For Receiving and
Distributing Foodstuffs In
City. To Be Erected
_
New York, January 21.*—A great Mar
ket terminal, costing $ 1.000,000, the
first of a dozen or more planned .or
receiving and distributing foodstuffs
in New York city to reduce the cost
of living, will be erected bv the New
York Central railroad company. The
project was announced today by John
J. Dillon, commissioner of the new state
department of foods and mark.-is.
Under Commissioner Dillon's i Ian.;,
this and similar market terminals will
be leased by co-operative companies
organized ami conducted under rules
laid down by his d^Jjartment. Tie
profits of those companies will he lim
ited to six per cent a >ear.
The first terminal will cover .1 whole
city block bounded by Eleventh and
Twelfth avenues and Thirty-fourth
and Thirty-fifth streets. Train loads
of* perishable farm products will be dis
charged there directly into dislribut
ing wagons.
Commissioner Dillon declares that
only 35 cents on each dollar spent in
New York city food finds its way to
tha Uiwner, LG*-r M ribistee much of t r,♦
waste to inadequate systems of hand
ling.
M A N Y U N E M P LOY EI)
ARE ANXIOUS TO WORK
New York, January 24.—Out of 1500 un
employed men at the municipal lodging
house here, four-fifths are employable;
and upwards of 50 per cent are anxious
to work, says a report issued tonight by
John A. Kingsbury, commissioner of
charities.
About one-fifth of the men were found
by investigators so broken in health from
various causes as to be unemployable,
while a few others admitted to being
vagrants by choice, and a third group
were temporarily unfitted for labor and
needed treatment to restore them to nor
mal health.
"More than half of the entire num
ber were physically able to work," the
report continues. "From their own state
ments and those of their former employ
ers, they were anxious to work. But tin*
lodging house had no work to offer them."
Regarding the cause of dependency.
Commissioner Kinsbury stated: "The only
thing that can be said with positive as
surance is that those who are most posi
tive in their explanations have probably
studied the question least. One exam
iner assigned drink as the major cause
of dependency, while another blamed in
dustrial conditions most."
Commissioner Kingsburg has appointed
a committee, of which John B. Andrews,
secretary of the American Association of
Labor Legislation is chairman, to help
devise a way whereby the men may re
ceive the work their special cases re
quire
DENY TAMPICO IS
BEING ATTACKED
I,,
Wasington, January 24.^-The Car
ranza agency here issued a statement
tonight denying that Tampico was be
ing attacked or that Zapata had
checked General Obregon's march on
Mexico City. in a battle yesterday
on the Mexican and lnteroceamc rail
way, it declared, Zapata forces were
defeated and throe locomotives and war
supplies captured. The following dis
patch from Vera Cruz also was given
out by the agency:
"When Gutierrez left Mexico CJty,
he was accompanied by Generals Rian/
co and Robles; Joseph Vasconcelos,
Carlos Dominguez, Felicitos Villareal
and Almanza. After reaching Paohti
cah, Roblez and Almanza >vere put un
der arest as Villa spies." i
Enrique C. LIorente, Washington rep
resentative of the convention govern
ment. declared that both Dominguez
and Vilarcal still were in Mexico City.
George C. Caruthers, American con
sular agent with Villa, telegraphed the
state department today denying reports
that he had been executed. Up said
his relations with Villa were entirely
cordial. 1
ZAPATA FOLLOWERS
ARE DEFEATED
Vera Cruz, January 24.-jZapata follow
ers opposing the advance of the consti
tutionalists on Mexico City wer6 defeated
today by General Gonzales of General
Obregon's command at Irolo, a town not
far from the capital.
Obregon’s forces also are reported to
have repulsed wdth ease a Zapata force
that attempted to recapture Puebla. A
brisk engagement took place at Oholuja,
about seven miles northwest of Puebla,
where the Zapata troops wef*e routed.
Reports from the capital indicate that
there is only a small garrison there and
that Villa and virtually all his forces
are. in the north. Gutierrez is at some
point nort hof Mexico City. It Is said
that he again has made overtures to Obe
gon. who replied that he must refer him
to Carranza
- .v r . • ' I ' V
A f* / / .[ .
American Consular Agent
Reported Injured By Bomb
Benjamin Morel Hurt At Dunkirk When Germans Drop Bombs
On City. Says Paris Report—State Department Has No
Confirmation of Report
Paris, January 24—*>14:28 a. in.) — Ben
jamin Morel, United States comvilar
agent at Dunkirk, France, was Injured
when the American consulate was dam
aged by a bomb during tho German air
raid Friday, according to the? Dunkirk
correspondent of the Figaro.
Tin- correspondent adds that the con
sulates of Uruguay and Norway also were
damaged.
Mr. Morel is a French lawyer, who has
represented the United States at Dunkirk
since 1883.
Washington, January 21.—The statu
department tonight had received no
confirmation of the reported Injury of
American Consular Agent Morel. Offi
cials indicated that there probably
would be no ground for protest as Mo
tel Is a French citizen conducting
American consular interests along with
his private business.
The American government early in
the war advised its consuls to use their
own discretion about remaining In dan
gerous localities. Several American con
sulates have been in the line of fir*
and the consulates at Odessa, Kheims
and Warsaw have been more or less
seriously damaged. In each case the
i state department has entered the usual
request for payment of damages.
THE WAR SITUATION
Berlin. Januax? 24,—(By wflrcir.-s via London. 3:05 p. m.)—An official state
wit issued today by the army headquarters, said:
‘ In the west January 23, passed generally without special incidents. Two
French attacks were repulsed In the forest of Argonne without difficulty. In
the Vosges on the summit of Hartmanns-Wellerkopf, northeast of Steinbach,
we took 50 French mountain chasseurs prisoners."
Vienna. January 23.—(Via London, 8:25 p. m.)—Correspondents of the
Vienna papers telegraph from the front that the Russian attempt to outflank
the Austrian right wing in southern Bokiwina has been frustrated and that the
Russians have been thrown back near Kirlibaba. The Austrians, according
to these dispatches, have captured a number of prisoners and quantities of
war material.
Vienna, January 24.— (Via London. January 25. 1:22 a. m.)—An official com
munication issued today reports that there has been no important change on
any front but that the Austrian artillery fire compelled the Russians to
evacuate some trenches south of Tarnow, Galicia. •
Paris, January 24.— (11:05 p. m.)—The following official communication was
issued by the war office tonight:
“There has been an intense bombardment by the Germans in the region to
the north of Zillebeke (Flanders) and lively rifle firing near the Chateau
d'Herenag, but no infantry attacks- Some shells have fallen on Arras and fir
ing has occurred to the north of the town.
“In the region of Albert the enemy has discharged a number of bombs
against La Boiselle, but our artillery forced him to cease this attack. Active
skirmishing has occurred near Carnoy."
TO PROBE INCREASE
OF WHEAT PRICES
Chicago. January 24.—Inquiry into the
increase In wheat prices is believed re
sponsible for bringing to trial the fed
eral suit against the Chicago Board of
Trade filed seven years ago and to be
heard here beginning tomorrow. Janies A.
Patten and Adolph J. IJchstern, brokers
and members of the “call committee”
of the board, when the suit was filed, will
be the jtirst. witnesses.
The suit was started pnder the Sher
man law’. It sought abolition of the call
committee, which, according to the gov
ernment’s allegations, was composed of
members of the hoard. The members of
the committees. it is said, would meet
every afternoon when tlie hoard had ad
journed and lix the price of all grgiii. At
taches of the government say the call
committee has been abolished for two
years.
At the oftioe of ■ thrf district attorney
n» reason- was given for the seyen years.'
delay Hr bringing the spit to trial.
ATTEMPT MADE ON
VON DER GOLTZ’ LIFE
London, January 2».—30 a:,m.)—A
Cairo dispatch to the Dally Kew« says
an attempt has bean made upon the
life, of Flpld Marshal Baron Kolmar
Von Der- Holt/, of the Herman army,
said to have left Constantinople re
cently to take command of the Turks
on the Caucasian front.
The report emanated from the Ger
man consulate at Jaffa. It was that the
Held marshal had been fired at anq
that It was believed he had been hit
Other officers werr attacked at the
same time.
In a disturbance In a cafe In Da
mascus recently, according: to the cor
respondent, a Turkish captain was killed
and a German colonel wounded.
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1— German cruiser sunk by British.
American consular agent.shot.
United Btates defends neutrality
rights.
But two state offices to be cut.
2— Hard fighting on Lorraine frontlor.
S~Approaching . point w^ero .no more
wheat <*Ui be spared. r
4—Kdltorlal comment. ;
6— Important rise made In cotton.
Crop campaign workers arrive.
Jitney autos springing up.
8—With the traveling men. f*.
7— Markets. /
ft—No appointments durlng-tht legisla
tive session.
SHIP PURCHASE BILL
WILL BE PRESSED AS
A PARTY MEASURE
Bill Will Be Passed If Night Sessions
Are Necessary to Purpose, De
clares Majority Leader Kern
Washington. January 24.—When the
Senate convenes tomorrow the govern
ment ship purchase bill as amended and
unanimously approved by the demo
cratic caucus Saturday, will be vigor
ously pressed ns a party measure.
“The bill will be urged with all the
vigor at our command," declared Majori
ty Reader Kern today. 'Republican sen
ators insist they have not been fili
bustering and they will be given plentv
of opportunity to express their views.
It may be necessary to bold night s s
klolis. It is o'Ur purpose to pass the bill,
and, ill iny judgment. It will be passtd
baforo many weeks."
Republican leaders do not like the 1)111
us amended any better than they did
the original measure, although some
progressive republicans are Inclined to
look with more favor on It than for
merly.
Although the democratic caucus voled
to mukc the bill a party measure, sev
eral democrats who were not present
do not feel hound by the rule, and there
Is a probability that they may offer
amendments from tile Senate iloor.
Among the democrats most outspoken
against the measure are Senators Var
danian, Hardwick, Camden, Hankhcad
and Hltohcock.
Senator Root served notice that he
would speak on the bill tomorrow.
ONOFREBETBEDER
dies in new York
New York, January 24—Onofre Betbeder,
vice admiral of the Argentine navy, and
president of the Argentine naval com
mission. which has been In Mils country
since 1911. died here tonight from heart
disease. Ho was stricken last Friday.
Dr. Roinulo Naon, Argentine ambassador,
was notified of the admiral's critical con
dition and readier here from Washing
ton shortly before his death. His body
■probably will be -sent to Buenos Aires,
tie was 53 yeurs old.
Dr. Naon tonight paid high tribute to
the dead officer, who virtually had com
pleted the work that brought him to the
United States. The cipnmisslon was ap
pointed to supervise construction of two
dreadnaughts for the Argentine navy, the
second of which Is nearing completion.
Wilson and Bryan Issue a
Long Statement Outlining !
i
Trade Condition as Result
of War and Pronounce I
Policy on Question of
Neutrality
M Muhina ton. January -t.— I lie I lil
ted Staten government today Issued a
lengthy defense of It* Interpretation
of the right* nnd dutle* of a neutral
In Hie Kiiropenn war.
A document, W»0O words long, pre
pared by President M I l*nn, Seeretnry
Rryan and t'ounnellor Robert I,aiming
of the state department, after several
day* of consultation. w«» made puh
j lie In the form of a letter from the
Secretary off State to Senator Stone of
Missouri, chairman of the Senate com
mittee on foreign relations.
While the letter is a reply to :i 11 in
quiry from Senator Stone for infoi tna
tion as a result of complaints made
in the press and in letters from various
ports of the country charging the
Washington government with unfair
ness to Germany and Austria, it also
is intended as a pronouncement of pol
icy on some questions of neutrality
previously unexplained.
After answering 19 separate and spo
eiflc charges and calling attention to
the fact that the United States has
promptly taken to task Great Jtritain
as well as Germany and every govern
ment. which in any way has infringed
upon the rights of this eoutnry, tin
letter concludes with the following j
declaration on the much discussed ques
tion of exportation of war munitions:
Cause of Keeling
"If any American citizens, partisans!
of Germany and Austria-Hungary, feel
that tills administration is acting in
a way injurious to tlie cause of those
countries, tills feeling results from tin*
fact that on tlie high sens tlie German
and Austro-Hungarian naval power is
thus far inferior to tlie British. It is
the business of a belligerent operat
ing on the high seas, not tin- duly oC
a neutral, to prevent contraband from
reaching an enemy. Thom* In this coun
try who sympathize with Germany and'
Austria-Hungary appear to assume
that some obligation rests upon this
government, In the performance of its
neutral duty, to prevent all trade in
contraband, and thus to equalize the
difference due to the relative naval
strength of the belligerents. No such
obligation exists; it would lie on un
neutral act, an act of partiality on the
part of tliis government, to adopt such
a policy, if the executive had the power
to do so.
"If Germany and Austria-Hiiugar *
cannot import contraband from this
country it is not. because of this fact,
the duty of the United States to lose
its market.-! to the allies. The markets
of this country arc open upon equal
terms to all the world, to every na
tion. belligerent or neutral."
During the course of the letters dis
mission of the various charges made
the following facts hitherto undisclosed
were revealed for tlie first time:
That the Uanadtan government re
cently asked the United States for per
mission to ship "war equipment" across
Alaska to the sea and the request was
refused.
That the United States lias brought
to tiie attention of an "offending gov
ernment" the searching of an American
vessel for German and Austrian tub
jects. "with a declaration tliuf vuch
procedure, if true, is an unwarranted
exercise of jurisdiction over American
vessels in which tlie government will
not acquiesce."
The government to whom this dec
cleclaralioii has been made is not stated
in tin* letter but tlie incident is known
to relate to the search by a boarding
crew from a French cruiser of an
American ship plying between two
ports in Columbia, when it is alleged
some German passengers were forced
to sign a promise not to partlelpu'e in
the war. It was this occurrence which
led to a warning speech by Senator
Stone to the belligerents against such
searches of American ships.
That sharp representations also were
made to another of the allied govern
ments because search; was conducted
on the high seas on an American uhi;>
for German and Austrian pussm ;*-rs.
The name of the vessel or offendin'.',
government was not revealed.
That on December 16, last, the Ger
man ambassador by directiou of his
(Continued on Page Three)
Harry K. Thaw Again
Rests In New York Prison
Matteawan Fugitive Brought From New Hampshire and Placed
In the Tombs—Will Be Arranged to Plead to Indict
ment Charging Conspiracy Today
"
New York, January 24,—Harry K.
Thaw Is again In the Tombs. Drought
here this morning from Doston. his
only stop-over on the why from New
Hampshire, he was locked up in the
prison from which lie was transferred
almost seven years ago to the state
asylum for the criminal Insane at Mat
tea wall, ufter his acquittal of the mur
der of Stanford White on the ground
of insanity.
Tomorrow, it Is expected, Thaw will
be arraigned to plead to the indictment
charging conspiracy, based on his sen
sational escape from Matteawuu 17
months ago.
When th'£ train drew Into the sta
tion Thaw greeted the newspaper met.
genially, but refused to discuss his
plans. William Travers Jerome, apo
dal counsel for the state, and Deputy
Attorney General Kennedy arrived on
the satue train..
Thaw and his guard went to a ho*
tel lor breakfast and then the pris
oner was taken to the Tombs whore ho
was assigned a cell on the second Hoc.
latter he attended religious servlets in
tile prison chupel.
Efforts by Thaw’s counsel to sen
their client w.erj fruitless* They were
told that If they wished to consult with
Itiin they must get an order from a
supreme court justice. Abel I. Smith,
one of Thaw's attorneys, suid tonight:
‘‘Even though ball should bo fixed
for Thaw. It is possible we will malt*
no effort to furbish it. The case has
been left iii tho hands of his attor
neys, John B. Stanch field. Morgan .1.
O'Brien and myself. Just what our next
stop will he We have not decided.”
Thaw s mother, who is in this city,
refused to say anything regarding her
son's case and Jerome and Kennedy
likewise declined to discuss the 11 al
ter.
■
LIKELY 10 ABOLISH
STATEJDFFICES
Bureau of Cotton Statistics
Doomed and Immigration
Department Likely To
Be Destroyed
COURT OF APPEALS
AND TAX COMMISSION
WILL BE RETAINED
Talk of Creating Convict
Commission Losing Enthu
siasm—Wholesale Aboli
tion Not Probable As
Reported
Hy L. S. BETTY
Montgomery, .Inniinry 24.—(Special.)
\\ Itti tl»e exception of the bureau of
cotton NtntlNticN mill the I ni mi g rut ton
deportment, it is lt|ghl> Improhnbie
thnt the leglNlnturc n III ^hhollah any
other state office*. The llrst of these
oIVIc^n Is already doomed, the hill to
abolish thnt department having passed
the senate several days ago. It has
had one rending In the house nod will .
he passed hy that body during the pres- /
eut week, unless nil Indications fall.
Thu immigration department ia alro
likely to l>e abolished, though progress
toward thnt end has not been ho rapli
as in the first ease. The bill seeking to
eut off that office has not yet passed
either house, but. unless there should
be an untiro reversal of legislative sen
timent, its days are surely numbered.
There has been some talk of intro
ducing a substitute measure to that
seeking its abolishment. This bill, it is
said, will propose the creation of a de
partment A»f Immigration and publicity,
to be presided over by a commission of
three, with the director at tho head.
The contemplated measure further pro
poses an appropriation of $15,000 or $20,
000 annually, an amount which i«
deemed sufficient to run the depart
ment along successful and progressive
lines Hut th bill TuiS not. > et been iu
irodneed.
Will Retain Court of Appeals
The court of appeals, created by tho
legislature of 1011, will in all proba
bility be retained. Two bills to abolish
this court have been Introduced, one tn
the senate and the oilier in the house,
but neither measure has been reported.
Tho senate meusure went to the ju
diciary committee, and at first there
were rumors that tho majority of that
committee favored tho bill, later It
whs learned that the committee wag in
clined to make an rtAlver.se report, and
there is now every indication that this
course will be tuken. The house com
mittee on judiciary is expected to make
a similar report.
Since the legislature convened there
has been a considerable reversal of sen
timent relative to the court of appeals,
ilnd tho members of the two house*
been able to vote on tho question of
abolishing tho court on the first day of
the session, it is more than likely that
the tribunal would have been cut off
as a part of the state government. Hut
since coming ta> Montgomery the ma
jority a if the legislators have famil
iarised themselves with the work of the
court of appeals during tho past four
years, with the result, it is declared,
that most of them now favor retaining
11 as a permanent statu institution.
Tax Commission Safe
'l*Iie state tax commission Is also safe.
According io indii-ations. The bill to
abolish tliHt department lias been ad
versed by the senate committee on
finance and taxation, and It is expected
that similar action will bo taken by that
committee in thi: house, before which
body a companion measure was intro
duced.
But the county tax commissioners
will not be retained during the pres
ent administration. Sentiment in favor
of abolishing tio back tax commission
er is almost jis unanimous us that fa
voring the abolish mem of the bureau
of cotton statistics. if the back tux
commissioner is not discontinued by
(Continued ou Page Might.)