The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 11, 1915, Page 5, Image 5

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

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
The First National Bank
of Birmingham, Ala.
Statement June 23, 1915
-i—
Resources
Loans and discounts.8 8,603,873.25
Overdrafts . 16117
XT. S. bonds (par) . 1,500,000.00'
State of Alabama bonds ... 281,000.00
Cther stocks and bonds ... 8C2.268.50
Banking house. 365,500.00
Cash
(n vault.J 894,887.11
With hanks . 2.457.491.53
With U. S.
Tr. 83,000.00
With Federal
Res. bank 224,495.28— 3,659,873 92
J15.275.676.84
Liabilities
Capital stock.8 1,500,000.00
Surplus and profits. 1,733,177.34
Reserved for taxes. 18.555.00
Circulation ... 1,352,600.00
Deposits
Individ
ual .J9,478,250.47
Bank . 1,068.094.03
U. S. 126.000.00— 10.671,344.50
J10,275,676.84
OVER 300 ATTEND
COAL OPERATORS
Demonstration of Use of
Permissible Explosives by
E. B. Sutton Is Fea
ture of Day
CHer 300 persons were In attendance
at the annual outing of the Alabama Coal
Operators’ association held yesterday at
Edgewater and Bayview. which proved
not only very enjoyable but highly in
structive as well. In addition to the
creature comforts, which were of the
(finest quality, an intellectual treat was
also provided in the shape of lectures
on scientific subjects, dealing with min
ing and mine welfare work. A feature
was a demonstration of a dust explosion
by black powder and the results from
the use of permissible explosives. There
Mere other demonstrations of an equally
interesting nature.
The party left Birmingham yesterday
morning at 9 o’clock from the Louisville
and Nashville station in a special train
over the Birmingham Southern Railway
to Edgewater mines of the Tennessee
Coal, Iron and Railroad company and re
turned iast night at •> o'clock. Included
in the party were the officials of the
Alabama, coal mines and a number of
guests. The programme as planned was
carried out to the letter and additional
features were added.
The morning sefesion was held in the
auditorium at Edgewater and Mas de
voted to moving picture lectures and the
reading of special papers. At noon the
party went to Bayview. where a big bar
becue dinner was spread, which included
three kinds of barbecued, meats, sliced
tomatoes, cold slaw, potato salad, butter
milk, lemonade and coffee. The beverage
that made Milwaukee famous was con
spicuous by its absence. The party did
ample justice to the choice viands and
seemingly thoroughly enjoyed the spread.
It was prepared and served by A1 Camp
bell.
The dust explosion test proved of great
Interest and was demonstrated by E.
B. Sutton of the West End station of
the United States bureau of mines. A
tunnel $5 feet long and six feet square
was constructed in the inside of which
shelves were placed at stated intervals
on which quantities of coal ‘dust M’ere
placed. By means of a wire these shelves
M'ere dropped just as a "cannon'' repre
senting a windy shot Mas fired into the
tunnel. The dropping of the shelves
caused the tunnel to he filled with coal
du^t The first demonstration was made
with the "permissible" explosive and
though the dust was thick there Mas no
explosion. The second test was made
with black powder and when the "windy"
shot Mas fired an explosion occurred. The
experiments were noted M'ith much in
terest by the mine officials and Mere
highly successful.
The programme for the day Mas as
follows:
Motion pictures. "Welfare Work in
Mining and Allied Industries,’’ United
States bureau of mines: lantern slides,
"Welfare." "The Fly 'Pest,** "War on
the Mosquito," United States bureau of
mines: "Coal Washing and the Prepar
ation of Coal for Market," H. S. Geis
mar. consulting mining engineer: "Factor
of Safety in Mine Electrical Installa
tions." A. F. Elliott, chief electrician,
mining department. Tennessee Coal. Iron
and Railroad company.
The trip to Bayview and the luncheon
followed. In the afternoon the programme
Included the inspection of the commis
sary, plant and town at EdgeMater and
then reassembled at the hall.
"Underground Safety Precautions." Mil
ton H. Fles, vice president DeBardeleben
Coal company; "The Use of Permissible
Explosives." Daniel Harrington, United
States bureau of mines; motion picture,
"Safe Methods of Bituminous Coal Min
ing." United States bureau of mines: lan
tern slides. "Testing and Use of Explo
sives." "Mining Methods Relating to Use
of Explosives," United States bureau of
mines..
Tornado in Illinois
Decatur. 111., July 10.—A tornado
swept this section of central Illinois
today, causing much damage to build
ings and crops.
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
The legislature reconvenes Tuesday
and if the programme is rigidly ad
hered to will quickly dispatch import
ant business on which already agree
ment has been reached and adjourn.
Governor Hendernon would have the
legislature nit throughout itn fiftieth
working day. The legislature will ad
journ, it In Indicated, nfter Itn thirty
fifth working day.
Governor Ileudernon in very anxious
that the legislature submit hls bond
Issue amendment for the people's ap
proval. The legislature. It is very
strongly iudicated, will destroy the bill
providing for the submission of that
amendment.
Governor Henderson Is hopeful flint
the legislature will not attempt to de
prive him of the appointive power. It
Is certain that tlie legislature will
consider the eleetlon of members of
a state tax board of equalisation, and
It Is highly probable that the legisla
ture will elect, furthermore, the mem
bers of a rejuvenated convict bureau.
The governor, It is probable, will con
tinue to smile. The legislature, it is cer
tain, will continue to issue formal state
ments to the end that it is endeavoring
to work in conjunction with the chief ex
ecutive.
Revolutionize Three Departments
In the above the features of the second
half of the session of the legislature,
which begins Tuesday, are presented.
Each has to do chiefly with the reports
and recommendations of the three recess
committees. The reports, if adopted, will
revolutionize at least three important de
partments of the government. The taxi
commission and board of assessment will
be abolished, and the board ol equaliza
tion created as a substitute. This board
will be represented in each of the coun
ties by a county board of equalization
consisting of three members, of which it
shall be the duty to inspect and assess
on a basis of equality every piece or prop
erty in the county.
The recess committee on the judiciary
will report 72 bills each consisting of more
than 50 sections. These bills will revolu
fonlze the judiciary of the state, will re
duce the number of judges from 56 to 36,
and will reduce the number of solicitors
tc 21. 'It is reported that the salary of a
judge will be fixed at $3600, and of a
solicitor at $2400. This committee will rec
ommend that any judge at the direction
of the chief justice of the supreme court,
may be transferred to any circuit other
than his own.
To Abolish Lease System
The recess investigating committee s re
port. according to a statement of Chair
man Merritt, will not be made public until
the legislature reconvenes. It is learned,
however, that the committee will recom
mend the abolition of the convict system,
and the combination of the convict bu
reau, the office of jail and prison inspec
tor, and the highway department. The
members of this board will be chosen by
the legislature, and it is learned that
there will be little objection to the elec
tion of Dr. W. H. Oateu, prison inspector,
and W. S. Keller, state highway engineer.
The chairman of the board may be P. J.
Rogers of Birmingham, who has been
appointed by the governor, chairman of
the convict bureau.
It is believed that in practically all re
spects the wheels are well greased, and
that there will be no material obstacles to
impede the progress of the prohibition
‘steam roller." If this belief is based
on fact, the legislature, working often as
a committee of the whole, will rapidly dis
patch this highly important business and
adjourn at the conclusion of the thirty
fifth working day. As is known, 20 work
ing days have already been consumed.
Hitches May O cur
Of course "hitches" may occur. It is
known that one or more members of the
dominant faction consider with disfavor
the plan of that faction to deprive Gov
ernor Henderson of the appointive power
conferred by the constitution. The gov
ernor has already appointed the members
of the convict bureau, the highway com
mission and the tax commission. If the
plan agreed upon is carried out, the leg
islature will so act that these appoint
ments will be nullified. If the '‘dis
gruntled" members are incensed to the
point of rebellion against the leaders,
delay may be the result, although It is
evident that the “nonmember lobby" is
as firmly entrenched In the saddle as when
the legislature adjourned last February.
Another possible check against the pro
gress of the machine lies in the fact
that there has been no peace during the
summer among the members of the recess
committee on judiciary. While the mem
bers of the other committees have unani
mously agreed on their report, It is un
derstood that from at least one mem
ber of the Judiciary committee a minority
report might ensue. And It is common
gossip that the subcommittee of the ju
diciary committee named for the purpose
of preparing a workingman’s compensa
tion act has failed to agree, and has re
ported back to the committee not one bill,
but two.
But unless indications go awry, the leg
islature will put through legislation of a
revolutionary character with more rapid
ity and spectacular dash than any other
law-making body in- the history of the
nation.
To Serve Dinner
The ladies of the East Birmingham
Baptist church, of which the Rev. Wal
ter S. Brown is pastor, will serve din
ner and lunch on the fourth floor of the
Birmingham Railway, Bight and Power
company’s building every day this
week, beginning tomorrow and con
tinuing on until Saturday^ Everything
served will be home cooked and the
ladies bespeak a generous patronage.
k
PROPOSED ACTIVITIES OF JEFFERSON
, COUNTY DELEGATION WHEN SOLONS MEET
LEGISLATURE WILL
QUICKLY DISPOSE OF
ITS BUSINESS ANO
TAKE SECOND RECESS
Expected to Consume Only
15 Working Days in En
actment of Legislation of
Revolutionary Character
INDICATIONS ARE THAT
ROLLER WILL WORK AS
SMOOTHLY AS BEFORE
Only Possibility of Hitch
Comes in Failure of Judi
ciary Committee to Agree
and Opposition to Depriv
ing Henderson of Power
ARBITRARY INCREASES IN INSURANCE
RATES TO BE CURBED BY LEGISLATURE
Fire insurance companies, members of
the Southeastern Tariff association,
which, according to the general allega
tion, periodically increase^ their rates in
Alabama cities. Birmingham especially,
are to be dealt with by the legislature in
the second half of the session which will
begin Tuesday.
Senator Judge of Jefferson announced
yesterday that he had prepared a series
of bills which if enacted into law would
rectify a condition which he considers
highly unfavorable to thqf people.
Tiie most important of these bills follow:
1 Providing for the regulation of
rates hv the insurance commission of
the state.
2. Providing for the assessment of a
penalty of 25 per cent of the face of
the policy in the event of Are. provid
ing the company carrying the in
surance is a member of a tariff asso
ciation.
3. Providing ground for the forma
tion of mutual tire Insurance companies
In Alabama.
4. Providing means of forcing insur
ance companies to carry out their con
tracts with their policy holders.
5. Providing means of requiring com
panies to pay the face value of their
policies.
Before preparing these hills. Senator
Judge studied the insurance laws of the
“conservative-progressive” states of the
union. His first bill would prevent com
panies from arbitrarily increasing their
rates; would put the companies, as a mal
tei of fact, under the insurance com
mission of the state as the railroads are
under the railroad commission of the
state. This bill provides that the com
panies will have the right of appeal to
juries.
The second Mil simply renders void the
action of the legislature of 1911. From
time Immemorial. according to Senator
Judge, there had been an Alabama law
giving policy-holders the right to rolled
in the event of fire a penalty of 25 per
cent of the fact value of their policies in
the .event the companies carrying the In
surance were members of a tariff asso
ciation. The legislature of 1911 put this
law out of commission. Senator Judge
would restore it.
His third bill would remove the ob
stacles In the way of the formation of
, mutual fire Insurance companies In Ala
j b&nna. At the present time, no insur
' ance company can he organized with a
capital less than $100,000. Senator Judge
! takes the position that a handful of
friends should be permitted to organize
for their own protection if they should
desire to do so.
His fourth bill would prevent insurance
companies from declaring without cause
a policy null and void. He said yesterday
that at the present time Insurance com
panies notify policy-holders that their
policies are rescinded, ami that their
money will be returned. His position is
that when an insurance company enters
into a contract with a citizen, that com
pany should carry out its part of the
contract as long as the citizen carries out
his part.
Senator Judge's fifth bill would require
a fire insurance company to pay the face
value of its policies. At the present time,
he said, the companies settle for half, or
three-fourths of the face value. Such ac
tion he considers arbitrary nnd against
the best interests of the people.
He declared that the delegation from
Jefferson would give these bills vigorous
support, and that lie felt confident the
legislature as a whole would take posi
tlve action toward the rectification of
what he considers a serious evil.
TENTATIVELY AGREE
ON REMUNERATION
OF COUNTY OFFICIALS
Jefferson Delegation Would
Pay Sheriff $6000, Pro
bate Judge $5000, and
Others in Proportion
The Jefferson county delegation has
tentatively agreed to put the official* of
Jefferson county on a salary basis at the
conclusion of ttie present terms, and to
pay as follows:
Sheriff. $6000.
Probate judge, $5000.
Tax assessor. $4000.
Tax collector. $4000.
Clerks. $3600.
Senator Judge will introduce a bill put
ting Sheriff Batson on a salary basis im
mediately after the passage of the bill
He takes the ground that whereas he
would not make the proposed change re
troactive on officials elected prior to the
submission of the constitutional amend
ment regarding the fee system, he would
effect the sheriff because of the fact that '
he ran for and was elected to office fol- 1
lowing the people's action in overwhelm- ■
Ingjy voting the amendment into effect.
He will permit the senate committee on
judiciary to pass on the constitutionality
of such a proposed step, there being at
the time differences of opinion in this
respect on the part of several eminent
constitutional lawyers.
CALLS COMMITTEE
TO MEETTUESDAY
Further Preparations for
Merchants’ Convention
Will Be Made
Interest In the approaching merchants'
convention, which will be held In the city
next month, is growing rapidly and indica
tions point to a bigger gathering of the
Alabama merchants in Birmingham than
ever before. Murray Brown, general
chairman, has called a meeting of the
chairman of the several subcommittees,
which have in charge the preparations
for the convention, and the wholesale
trade committee for Tuesday at II o’clock
at the Chamber of Commerce, to discuss
plans for the entertainment and (tare of
the merchants who will come to Birming
ham to attend the convention. Mr. Brown
urges every one actively connected with
the movement to be on hand Tuesday as
some of the final arrangements will be
made.
In order to do more effective work In
ptesenting the value of the approaching
convention to the merchants of Alabama
Secretary Radcliffe of the Chamber of
Commerce is mailing to the members of
the trade extension bureau, composed of
shout 100 wholesale dealers of Birming
ham, a return slip on which they are
asked to write the name and address
of each of their customers in order to
eliminate the merchants who have re
tired from business or who have moved
away.
The committee is endeavoring to present
the benefits of the convention to the Ala
bama merchants. To do this requires
the sending out of much literature, and
It is to “make every shot tell” that the
committee desire the names of the mer
chants who are active in business, so
ns to inform them as to the convention
and its advantages.
ELECTION BOARD FOR
CITY ADVOCATED BY
COUNTY DELEGATION
Unanimous on Bill—AVould
Consist of Probate Judge,
Sheriff and Circuit
Court Clerk
An election commission for the city of
Birmingham will be created by the legis
lature if the Jefferson county delegation
has its way.
Certain of the members of the delegation
take the position that the city commis
sion should not be in charge of all elec
tions held in Birmingham, especially
those In which the fate of the commission
ers themselves are at stake.
As a result they have conceived the Idea
of an election commission. This com
mission would consist of the probate
judge, the sheriff, and the clerk of the cir
cuit court of the county. This commis
sion would serve without pay. would have
charge of every municipal election, would
name managers, clerks and returning of
fleers, and canvass the votes.
It Is said that the delegation is practi
cally a unit on this hill, and that its pas
sage is regarded as certain.
STILLFELT HERE
Bill for Uniform System
of Bookkeeping to be
Reintroduced
Although Col. H. T. Brooke Is dead, his
“spirit goes marching on.”
In the last legislature, at the instance
of the former state accountant, a meas
ure was Introduced requiring the state Jn
all of its departments and the several
counties to adopt for use a uniform sys
tem of bookkeeping, this system to require
books of uniform nature.
Despite what is considered the apparent
merits of the bill, it failed of passage.
The same bill will be Introduced next week
upon the legislature reconvening. The
local delegation will act as its sponsor,
and as it is supported by the several
examiners of public accounts, will, it is
thought, be favorably considered
Colonel Brooke was one of the best
known men of the state. He died some
weeks ago under an operation in St.
Louis.
TO RELIEVE ALL OF
Judge Will Introduce Bill
Providing for This at
Coming Session
Senator Judge will introduce in the legis
lature next week a bill relieving all per
sons in Jefferson county of the necessity
of road work.
A bill to the same effect was Introduced
last session by Walker Percy, but did not
get through the senate. Its purpose is
to protect the negro, practically the only
Individual who is compelled actually to
labor.
The amount of money secured by this
county from a provision making every
body subject to road duty Is comparative
ly little, and Is not needed by the county,
It is said, on account of the wealth of
the county.
The hill has the support of the delega
tion, and as it Is a local measure will
very probably, it is indicated, be enacted
Into law.
The convention crowd made a path for
her. cast admiring side glances. then
with longing eyes followed her to the
elevator It was at the Ponchartrain In
Detroit. The incident was recalled when
I chanced to sit across table from the
woman. What was It about her that
caused all that commotion? Her com
plexion. Really, I've never beheld its
equal. Venturing to pick up acquaint
anceshlp, I learned the secret.
"I've tried to make the most of my one
charm," she said. "I know men abhor
make-ups and artificiality. I bar cos
metics; there are two things I use to
promote natural loveliness and youthful
appearance. When my complexion begins
to age. 1 get an ounce of mercoltzed wax
at the drug store, apply at night like
cold cream, wash It off In the morning.
This gradually flakes off the outer skin ;
then I have a brand new complexion,
magnetically beautiful, as you see.
"Wrinkles never bother me. At their
Inception I bathe my face in a solution
made by dissolving an ounce of pow
dered saxolite In a half pint of witch
hazel. It works like magic. —Mona Mor
row In Tattler.
By His Bill, Jefferson, Mo
bile, Covington, Houston
and Jackson Counties
Will Gain
Senator Thomas J. Judge of Jefferson
will introduce next week in the legisla
ture a bill providing for the reapportion
ment of the representation of the several
counties nn<l senatorial districts In the
state.
Reapportionment is necessary in view of
the last report of the federal census. If
the bill is enacted Into law, Jefferson will
have four years hence 11 Instead of seven
representatives, as at present; Mobile will
have four instead of three, Covington will
gain one, Houston and Jackson will gain.
Montgomery will neither gain npr lose,
while Butler anil Elmore will lose one
representative.
Respecting the senate, the changes on
a basis of population will revert to the
interest of north Alabama. Several coun
ties of south Alabama have senators of j
their own. Under the reapportionment.,
their population will not justify that they j
be represented by a senator, and thus it
will bo necessary for two or more to com
bine in forming a district.
In north Alabama, where the counties
have grown in populatiton, several of the
districts now composed of more than one
county will be composed of only one.
Becauoe of the effect of the bill, it is
considered probable that a serious effort
will bn made to obviate the necessity of
reapportionment.
ASSOCIATION MEETS
IN CAPITAL MONDAY
Call for Meeting of Convict
Improvement Associa
tion Issued
\
Assured that the legislative recess com
mittee on investigation will recommend
the abolition of the convict lease sys
tem, the Alabama Convict Improvement
association will convene In Montgomery
Tuesday with great enthusiasm.
The ca.ll for the meeting was Issued
sometime ago. as is remembered. Yes
terday. however, Senator Frank S. White,
chairman of the committee, mailed let
ters to all members urging them to at
tend. One of the objects of the session
Is to give the probe committee assur
ances that behind Its recommendation la
the great bulk of the people of the state.
Captain White’s letter follows:
“The state at large and the executive
committee of the counties of the Ala
bama Convict Improvement association
will meet in Montgomery Tuesday, July
13. 1915, at the Exchange hotel. The un
dersigned requests that you as a mem
ber of this committee be present. We
believe this legislature will abolish the
convict lease system in this state and
adopt the Georgia and Colorado laws of
working the convicts on public roads. It
is important that you be present at this
meeting.”
To Introduce Measure Abol
ishing Body in Towns of
Less Than 1000
Superintendent of Education McNeil has
urged the Jefferson county legislative dele
gation to support a bill to be Introduced
having for Its object the abolition of
school boards in towns of less than 1000
inhabitants.
Towns of 1000 Inhabitants having school
boards are by law school districts. As
such, they cannot share in the benefit ac
cruing to other districts. Should one of
these small districts take advantage of
the right to be given to tax itself for edu
cational purposes, It would acquire only
a nominal and comparatively valueless
sum for school purposes.
If school boards In small towns were
wiped out, the towns would become in
tegral parts of other districts, and as such
would be rewarded handsomely in the
i event that local taxation for educational
j purposes be voted.
I The bill will be introduced by Senator
Judge, and will be enacted into law if the
Iocai delegation's support counts for any
thin®'
I
i _
Forty Birmingham Lumber
Dealers and Users Enter
tained at Kaulton
NO LOST MOTION IS
FOUND ANYWHERE
Every Conceivable Machine Makes*
for Greatest Possible Efficiency.
Visitors Are Served Delight
ful Barbecue Dinner
Forty lumber dealers and lumber users
went to Kaulton. near Tuscaloosa, yester
day and saw the model plant where
the Kaul Lumber company dally converts
B1 carloads of logs Into C00.000 feet of fin
ished lumber.
The plant was a revelation to the visi
tors who with J. H. Eddy, manager of
the Haul company as host, where shown
every feature of the process of turning
out finished lumber as well as what the
company Is doing for the welfare and
happiness of its employes.
A barbecue dinner was served In the
grove adjoining the inn at Knulton and
the ladies at Kaulton as wTelI as the men
who.reside there the year round combined
to make this one of the most successful
features of the entire trip.
A special car on the Alabama threat
Southern carrying the visitors was met
at Tuscaloosa by automobiles which ear
ned the party to Kaulton and before din
ner n drive was taken over the attrac
tive eurvalinear streets of Kaulton. The
city is laid off beautifully with an eye
to landseape effects, no street being
straight and all are lined with attractive,
well kept homes. The negro section of ,
the little city is some distance away and
ihe houses here ar * also exceptionally nt
tra ctlve.
BIG PLANT IS THE PREMIER
ATTRACTION FOR VISITORS
Hut the visit to the big plant itself was I
the premier attrac tion. The party saw _»• ]
(arloads of logs ranged around the log i
pond dumped Into the water by gravity
They saw the huge conveyor take the
logs from the water Into the saws. They
saw how four sides are taken from a log
In less time than it takes to tell it; saw
the rectangle sent through a series of
saws which cut a dozen hoards at the
?ame time: saw the boards carried by
mysterious belts, arms and conveyors in
all sorts of directions where each hoard
could be made to yield a maximum of
finished product.
If an end Is cut off, the short piece
may go to the lath mill, the shingle ma
chine or wherever it can he made the
most of. Sawdust, hark and refuse are
taken by conveyors to the furnace to be
burned.
FOLLOW THE LUMBER
THROUGH THE PLANT
The visitors followed the lumber along
its entire route—to the stacking sheds or
the rough stuff, to the dry kilns for se
lected pieces, then to the planning mid
where it is dressed into all Hurts of forms,
caught by other conveyors which carry
it to the sorting shedB where sorters shove
the pierces Into boxes which look like* a
huge postoffiee, then take them out on
the other side and tie them ready for
shipment.
Everyone was Impressed with the ef
ficiency shown everywhere. Not a lost
motion, not an Idle moment was apparent
anywhere.
They were also taken through the
machine shop where repairs on cars
and engines of the company's logging
road are made; to the holler rooms; to
the engine rooms where the big en
gines made by the Hardie-Tynes com
pany of Birmingham generate tin* pow
er for the entire plant.
They were shown the company com
missary. a model of neatness and clean
liness; the Kaulton club building with
its assembly hall, moving picture ap
paratus, blllard tables, reading looms
and all the things that help to make
a contented and happy people.
UNEXPECTED FIRE DRILL
BRINGS NO CONFUSION
.Just as the party was returning to
the Inn from the plant a tire alarm was
turned In without warning from one of
tlie big lumber sheds. Everything sud
denly stopped, every man knew- his
place and duty, hose wagons were
manned and within 60 seconds the big
streams of water were pluying on the
roof of the great shed.
Examples of efficiency wrere appar
ent everywhere.
"Safety first” directions are found
around every piece of machinery.
A machine with an emery whet 1
3harpens the big hand saws w'hile the
attendant is doing something else
These saws can run but four hours
when they are resluirpened.
All lumber is automatically stacked
with mathematical exactness to pre
vent warping.
The saw'yers make all signals to the
men with their fingers to save time.
A contraption called a ‘'steam nig
ger” turns the logs as they are be
ing cut, doing work that used to re
quire three men. They turn logs over
bo quickly the eye can scarcely follow
them.
Deadline for Tobacco
A dead llDe” before the plant is
reached shows the point beyond which
no smoking or matches are allowed.
The 350 men at the plant never smoke
on duty.
j Logs are dumped Into the water be
(Contluued ou page Eleven*
OVER CITY HNANCES
Prohibition Deprives City of
$140,000—Revenue Bill
Cuts Off $50,000
OPPOSITION TO
CITY’S TAX BIIA
Two Mfmlwni of I/Oeal Delegation
Oppoiie Measure Allowing Cities
to Increaae Rate of
Taxation
The silver lining behind (he cloud
which hangs over the municipal gov
ernment is not apparent to the naked
eye.
The commissioners make the above
admission, and declare further, that
the most serious problem which has
ever confronted them is standing out
at the present time insisting on solu
tion.
The problem Is one of finances, and la
presented In the following manner:
The government spends $1000 per day
more than It accumulates.
The legislature, by eliminating the
saloon, has deprived the municipal
treasury of approximately $140,000.
The legislative recess committee on
finance ami taxation is preparing to
recommend the adoption by tlie legisla
ture of a license schedule which will
reduce the municipal income from local
corporations between $40,000 and $60,000.
Two members of the local delegation
have failed to espouse the city's cause
ns expressed in its effort to obtain
the right to Increase Its rate of taxa
tion.
MUST REDUCE EXPENSES
HALF MILLION PER ANNUM
Should the legislature concur In the
report of the Weakley committee on
finance, and fail at the srtme time to
gri.nt the city’s petition that It be given
the right to increase Its rate of taxation,
th© income of the next ensuing year will
be approximately $200,000 less than the cur
rent Aural year.
The municipal authorities estimate,
therefore, that Instead of running heblnd
at the rate of $3on.ooo per annum as cus
tomary, the city, unless granted relief,
will run behind In a sum approximating
$600,000.
The subcommittee of the special com
mittee of 100 prominent citizens which in
quired Into the status of municipal af
fairs, reported that the government was
being conducted honestly and economical
ly and recommended that the legislature
give Birmingham the right to increase Its
rate of taxation, haa demanded In formal
resolution that the expenditures of the
ensuing fiscal year be decreased to such
an extent that the "outgo” will not ex
ceed the income
The problem Is, therefore, according to
the members of the commission:
"How can we reduce our expenditures
in tlie sum of $500,000 and stil maintain
a government worthy of the name?"
The commissioners have not as yet been
able to solve the riddle.
INCREASE OF RATES TO
FOLLOW TWO ELECTIONS
While It Is the Information of the com
missioners that Representative Weakley,
chairman of the committee which pro
duced the revenue bill and deprived the
city, according to the comissioners, of
$40,000 or $60,000 heretofore received from
public utility corporations, and Repre
sentative Copeland, opposes strenuously
the effort of the city to increase Its rate
of taxation, it is believed generally that
the legislature will take a step which
the governments of a score of cities have
declared to be necessary.
The legislature is asked by Birmingham
and other municipalities to permit the peo
ple. first, of tlie state to pass judgment
on ei proposed constitutional amendment
giving cities authority to increase their
rate of taxation, and the people, second
ly, of the cities in a special election to
adopt or reject such amendment as 1*
would apply to them.
Because of the fact that before Birtning
ham could increase Its rate of taxatioi*
the people of the state and the people
the city must first express tnelr wiiiin*
ness, it is generally thought that no
strenuous effort will be thrown in the
way of tlie passage of the city's bill.
And there, the commissioners ugree, is
the one single ray which indicates that
behind the clouds which lour is tlie pro
verbial lining of silver.
PERSONAL
The Rev. Dwight S. Bayley, who re
cently came to Birmingham from one of
the suburbs of St. Louis to be the
pastor of tlie Pilgrim Congregational
church, has taken a house at 1412 Fii
teenth street, south. Mr. Bayley and his
family will move Into the house as
soon as their household g'-odt arrive.
They are at present being entertained
at the home of Mr. and Mrs. D. B
Dimick, 1313 Fourteenth avenue, south.
Grover Tilden Davis, the well known
com-ert pianist and teacher, has font
to Cincinnati for a visit of a few