The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 14, 1915, Image 1

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

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THE BIRMINGHAM AGE-HERALD
»_ _ _ _ _ ___
VOLUME XXXXV BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1915 14 PAGES NUMBER 69
GEORGIA MILITIA IS
' HELD IN READINESS
TO PROCEED AT ONCE.
TO FRANKS PRISON
Rumored That Effort Will
Be Made to Liberate Man
Serving Sentence for
Mary Phagan Murder
ALL ROADS TO STATE
PRISON FARM ARE
GUARDED BY POLICE
Warden at Milledgeville Has
Heard Nothing of Report,
', ’bit Is Prepared for Any
»
Ik
to»
ordem fro...
N an h to hold hlM
readlneNH to proceed to the ataiv
prison form nt Milledgeville, where
Leo M. Frank Is serving a life «en
tenee. There were reports that an
effort would he made tonight to
obtain the release of Frank liy
foree.
Atlanta, July 13.—Governor Harris said
tonight that Adjutant General Nash had ,
ordered the three companies of militia a*
Macon held in readiness at their armory
to proceed to Milledgeville. This action
was taken upon receipt of reports of an
effort on foot to liberate Frank. The ad
jutant general, the governor explained,
had blanket orders to cal out troops when
he deemed it necessary to protect state
a property.
' All roads to Milledgeville from Atlanta. |
Marietta and other near-by tow-ns w*ere
guarded by county police tonight, so that
in the event crowds started from those
places for the prison farm advance no
tice could be given the state and prison
authorities there. All was quiet both here
and at Marietta early tonight.
No Reports Heard
■> Milledgeville, Ga., July 13.—V’arden
Smith of the state prison farm, said to
night he had not heard of any reports of
efforts to* be made to lib rate Leo M.
' Frank tonight and that he had riot asked
. the governor for troops to protect the
* prisoner. “We are w'ell prepared here in
the event any effort is made to get
Frank.” the warden declared. Extra
guards still are on duty at the farm. The
warden said that their number would not
be increased.
According to reports received by
both the military authorities and the
police, the proposed attacks on the
prison was for the purpose of lynching
Frank.
Reports Denied
Ottawa, Ont., July 13.—Official denial
given here tonight To reports that
Sir Robert Borden, premier of Canada,
now in England, will make arrange
ments for the British government to
take over the Canadian grain crop. It
was reported that such a step would
be taken in view of the delay in forc
ing the Dardanelles and the failure to
provide an outlet for the Russian crop.
••••••••••■•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••at
TODAY’S AGE-HERALD
1— Georgia militia to protect Frank.
, English war loan raised.
Indications point to Henderson vic
tory.
, Frobe committee report not sensa
tional.
2— 18 billion dollar country In more
than one item.
■% 4—Editorial comment.
6—Will not abandon the xoo.
People apparently agree with com
mission.
Grave and gay before recorder.
6— Society.
7— State rests case against Thaw.
^ 8—Sports.
9—Urge sweeping changes in judiciary.
10— Approve advisory board of inventive
geniuses.
11— Mexican capital cleared of Zapata
troops.
13—Markets.
li—Woman accidentally killed by con
vict guard.
MIMHihohmumm,,,,,,,,,..
CHILI) LABOR LAWS
MAY DIE IF PROBE
COMMITTEE WINS |
Report Contains No Provision for in
spector to Enforce Child Wel
fare Acts, Is Claim
'lonteiunfry, July 18.—< Special.)
Should the report of the probe com
mittee he made effective, who would
enforce the provision* of the recently
enacted child labor blllf
Thom* who have been n*ked I 111*
question today have nhnken their
head*. It la not generally thought,
however, that If any blow I* prepared
for the wtntutea of ln*t winter that
blow w a* premeditated.
The probe committee would combine
the office of prison Inspector with their
convict nnd highway department*. Un
der the child labor lawn, the prison
inspector la named the official to au
pervhe these statutes and nee to their
enforcement. If the prlaon Innpcctor
la eliminated the child labor lawa. It
la pointed out. may die through lack
of attention.
It la anticipated that Instant Invea
tigallon into thla situation will be or
dered nnd that If the error In a* egreg
ious na on ftrat appearance It aeems.
It will be rectified.
NORMAL CONDITION
EXPECTED IN MEXICO
CITY IMMEDIATELY
rarranza Authorities in Charge of
in Restoring Order, Say
"’ashington
or
was repo,.
the news that aiis.
been resumed.
Genera! Carranza telegraphed his v» -
ington agents tonight that lie had sent
to the capital by special train all the per
sonnel for the departments of treasury,
interior and postoffice; that his govern
ment was sending provisions to the city,
and that "ample guarantees would be
given to everybody, whether native or
V . eign.’’
With the reopening of the cable de
tails of the fighting around Mexico City
and its evacuation by the Zapata forces
are beginning to be received. A dispatch
from the Brazilian minister says the
Zapata forces heeded the appeals of the
diplomatic corps not to carry out their
threats of fighting in the streets.
While Carranza's soldiers control the
capital, reports from northern Mexico say
Villa is pressing southward.
SERIOUS CONFUSION
IN SHIPPING TRADE
Washington, July 13.—Serious con
fusion in the entire shipping trade of
the far east has resulted. Consul Gen
eral George E. Anderson, at Hong
kong. reported today, from an order
of the Japanese government reserving
for Japanese shippers all space on ships
operated by the Japanese subsidised
transpacific lines.
Under this order, the consul general
said, all space in Japanese ships here
tofore alotted shippers at Hongkong.
Shanghai. Kelung and Formosa, having
merchandise for the United States, now
is withheld. All contracts and agree
ments made with non-Japanese shippers
for space during June and July, are re
voked, and arrangements for space in
August are being ma<je with the posel
bility of extension of the order in
v i e w.
The consul general explains the or
der by asserting that it is of extreme
importance to Japanese manufacturers
and exporters that Japanese products
pass more freely and promptly to th^
United States at this time, and that
the Japanese government is using the
advantage It has in possessing a large
subsidized merchant marine to serve
the interests of its own producers.
Chauffeur Killed
Richmond, Va.. July 13.—Thomas H.
F’egram, chauffeur, was killed and Fir*^
Chief W. H. Joyner and Fire Commis
sioner John Mann. Jr., were injured
tonight when the chief's oar, to avoid
collision with a jitney bus, was run
into an iron pole and cut in two. The
car was answering an alarm.
FOREIGNERS SPARED
Washington, July 13.—A delayed
cablegram from the Brazilian min
ister at Mexico City, received by
the state department late today,
stated that in evacuating the capi
tal, after resisting as lonf? as their
ammunition lasted, the Zapata
forces had departed quickly, heed- i
ing the appeals of the diplomatic
corps not to carry out threats of
fiprhtinpr in the streets and ven
geance on foreigners.
____.... i
PLOT TO ASSASSINATE
MERRITT FRUSTRATED
Anonymous Letter to Sheriff Contains Threat to Put Bomb
Under Recess Committee Chairman’s Desk.
Merritt Undisturbed
By HUGH W. ROBERTS
4
Montgomery, July 13.—(Special.)—A diabolical plot, formed to aesaeainate
* Henry P. Merritt of Macon, chairman of the recess committee on Investigation,
^was fortunately nipped in the bud this morning. Some considerate and anony
mous individual telephoned early to the sheriff and chief of police to be on the
alert, because anarchists (local optlonists, no doubt) were prepared to put a
bomb under the desk of Mr. Merritt. The constabulary, faithful to oaths of
office, reported at the capital, informed Mr. Merritt, and remained with bayo
nets fixed, on guard, as determined, in fact, as the remarkable Horatlus at the
bridge.
The bomb, of course, did not explode.
But who can tell what might have
happened had the constabulary been
less alert? And in this connection it
Is interesting to recite that a report
has it that the dark conspirators, hav
ing learned their their plot was known,
quietly retired like an Arab in the
night and, cursing dismally, departed
to reap their vengeance elsewhere.
An afternoon newspaper of this city
at the hour of 12 o’clock circulated an
extra edition across the front page of
which in startling type was flashed:
“Plot to Assassinate Merritt.” Under
neath the headline was told the facts
' a8 above related and Mr. Merritt was
, made to exclaim in dramatic style: “I
‘‘ViU do my duty irrespective of what
might occur."
The ordinary Individual put no cre
dence In the report of the Intended
assassination. Mr. Merritt himself
smiled when Informed of what the
constabulary had heard. He did not re
quest that the ofTIcers hang around.
But others did amuse themselves with
serious contemplation and It Is said
that some of the prohibition leiders
whlspjred that the Intended scheme
was the work either of Emmet O'Neal,
John Wallace or Theodore L*cy.
The bulk of the people, despite the
sensational newspapers and sentiment
al prohibitionists, knew that the re
port wos a hoax and knew, too, that
the telephone message to the police de
partment was the work of some "fun
maker" and not that of Mr. Merritt or
the detective of his Investigating com
mittee.
SUBSCRIPTIONS TO
NEW ENGLISH WAN
LOAN NOW NEARLY
3 BILLION DOLLARS
McKenna Announces That
Huge Proportions Are Be
ing Reached—Small Sums
Not Included
_
LABOR TROUBLES
TO BE DEALT WITH
BY MUNITIONS ACT
Miners and Coal Operators
Fail to Agree—Germans
Claim Further Progress
Against the Fren ?r.
- Cft Z
r *»
I .notion, Jnlr IS.— < —To
day** ne**lon of Par C ^ it wu
marked liy a aeries of O t*»*t ■*
'•oent*» '^<Q
• of f Qs irheqser,
^ eed tbat
oan hud
Igore of
Including
^oafof fleea.
d of Trade,
Waltei the house
to further cheeio atement that
In view of the failure u. Bouth Wales
coal owners and miners to agree on
a wage scale, the government had de
cided to apply to the mining industry
the munitions of war act. This makes
it an offense to take part in a strike
or lockout unless differences have been
reported to the Board of Trade and the
board has referred the matter for set
tlement tjy one of the methods pre
scribed by the act.
A serious view is taken of the re
fusal of the miners to accept a com
promise, for even in the face of the
government's decision they threaten
defiance.
Most of the navy coal comes from
South Wales and even before the trou
ble arose the supply was affected by
the enlistment in the army of 50,000
miners, which eventually made it nec
essary for the government to stop re
cruiting in the mining district of
Wales.
When Trouble Started
The crisis lirst threatened three
months ago when tflV miners gave no
tice to terminate existing agreements
on July 1 and, in lieu of these, they
proposed a national programme giv
ing an all-round wage increase. The
owners objected to consideration of the
new terms during the war and asked
the miners to accept the existing agree
ments plus a war bonus. After con
ferences union officials agreed to rec
ommend a compromise, which was ar
ranged through the Board of Trade.
The miners, however, voted yesterday
against this and the government had
to take action.
The miners assert that their demands
would mean no more than K pence (12
cents) a ton and argue that as the
owners are receiving much more foi
their coal than previously they could
wrell pay it. As a matter of fact, Mr
Runclman today also introduced a bill
in the house to regulate the price of
coal.
In the House of T^ords, the Marquis
of Hnnsdowne. a member of the cabinet
without portfolio, stated that 22 or 23
British divisions were in France and
Belgium and expressed the opinion that
although recruits were flowing in, the
country would not much longer toler
ate the anomalies and injustices of
the voluntary system, which was tak
ing unusual proportions of married
men. A national register. he said,
would be useful, should It be found
necessary to introduce compulsory mil
itary service. He intimated also that
the munitions question was being
handled satisfactorily.
Germans Claim Progress
Beyond the German claim that they
have mad** further progress in their
attacks near Bouchez, the French air
raid on the German lines of commun
ications serving their front in the
Woevre and repulses by both sides of
the usual dally attacks, little has hap
pened on the western front.
In the east operations are entering
a new phase, the Russians having been
successful In their counter offensive
against the Austrians in the region of
Krasnlk. They have taken new posi
tions In the hills north of that town
and apparently are waiting for the
Austro-Germans to move. It Is hot ex
pected that this will he long delayed
for General Von Mackensen has had
time to receive reinforoemenl s and
supplies.
The Balkan situation again is in
the limelight as a result of disclosures
that the Austro-Germans have offered
Roumanla alternative concessions,
either to continue neutral or join with
the Germanic allies.
CAN MANUFACTURE
DYESTUFFS HERE
Philadelphia, July 1*.—It la entirely
feasible and practicable to manufac
ture dyestuffs in this country and
American financiers stand ready to
furnish the capital for its production,
"provided sufficient protection is af
forded to guarantee their investment
against foreign competition after the
termination of the European war." This
statement was sat forth In a resolu
tion adopted at a special meeting of
officers of the National Association of
Hosiery end Underwear Manufac
turers here today.
The meeting was ealled to consider
"acute conditions In the knit goods
Industry, due to a cessation In the im
portation of dyestuffs."
The resolution said that the dye
stuffs situation Is becoming more se
rious dally and that nearly all
branches of the textile Industry are
suffering.
Wife of Bishop Dead
Boston, July II.—Mrs. Emma Battelle
Hamilton, wife of Bishop John W. Ham
ilton of the Methodist Episcopal church,
died last night At a private hospital at
Hull. She was widely known throughout
the denomination for her lntereet In mis
sionary work, both at home and abroad..
She was born In Virginia In 1866.
j«---— I
Central Figures in
Struggle for Power
At the State Capitol
i
I_i_1
GOV. CHARLES HENDERSON
CHAIRMAN MERRITT
Of the probe committee
SPEAKER CARMICHAEL
Of (he house
THffHREElCESS
COMMITTEES- PAID
$8474.26 BY STATE
Amount Covers Per Diem
Wages and Mileage.
More Expenses Yet
to Come
By HI GH W. ROBERT!!
Montgomery, July 13.—(Special.)—The
members of the three recess legislative
committees have been paid by the state
up to the present time the sum of $S474.L’6. !
This amount consists simply of the per j
diem wages of the several members and!
their mileage to and from Montgomery. I
rated at 10 cents per mile.
The committee will probably tomorrow
ask the legislature to appropriate a sum
covering the additional expenses of the
members of the committee, their traveling
expenses, hoard and lodging and certain
legitimate Incidentals.
It is estimated, therefore, that the state
will have been put to an expense of
more than $10,000 in maintaining tlie three
committees, the work of which has been
so assiduously followed by the interested
populace.
New Appropriation Neccasary
It is interesting in this connection to
note that the expenses <»f the legislature
in the 20-day part session last winter
added to the expenses of the recess com
mittees amounts to a sum exceeding the
appropriation of InU.OOO made to withstand
the cost to the state of having its legis
lature in session.
It will he necessary, therefore, for the
legislature In the second part session to
appropriate an additional sum to with
stand the expenses of the legislature.
Until such action is taken the lawmakers
cannot draw their “per diem’’ or mile
age.
There is no question hut that this will
be done, and there is no question but
that the request of the committees that
the legislature, by formal action, author
ize the payment of the expense accounts
of the members, will he granted.
The Detective’s Wages
One of the most interesting features
connected with the expense accounts of
the members of the committees la the
wages drawn by B. Abraham, the ballifT
and detective of the investigating com
mittee. For his work he received the neat
sum of 1348.66. L/t was he, according to a
statement of ex-Governor O’Neal, who
was commiseioned to spy into the private
and home life in Florence of the former
chief executive.
The investigating and Judiciary com
mitt see have already srawn from the
state a sum in excess of $3000 each. The
expenses to date of the committee on
finance and taxation have amounted to
considerably less, $1796.60.
The following amounts have already
been paid to members, the figures hav
(Conttsaed os Face Nisei
Indications Point To
Henderson Victory
Over Powerful Lobby
Believed the Rank and File of Prohibition Faction
Hold Lobby’s Plan to Strip Governor of Appoint
ive Power Is Too Radical -Prohibitionists Not 1
United As Formerly In Promoting the Ideas of
the Machine
B j HIGH W. ROBERTS
Montgomery. July 13.—(Special.)—The indications today:,
point to the defeat of the prohibition lobby and the victory of
Governor Henderson.
It is believed that the rank and file of the prohibition party
has reached the conclusion that the lobby, in planning to de
prive the chief executive of his appointive power, dreamed a 1
dream of empire too vast of sway, too extensive.
It is said that more than 20 members of the senate will oppose the effort of
the lobby to transfer from the governor to the legislature the right to name
members of the tax commission and the convict bureau—that before the bills
of the recess committees can be enacted into law. they will have to be
emasculated as to the features directed against the governor.
It is believed that the members of the
lobby have noted the handwriting on the
wall. Tt Is reported that they are pre
paring to "Ret from under." Last night,
the prohibition caucus, in which forthcom
ing legislation was scheduled to he In
effect enacted, did not materialise. The
smell of mutiny In the ranks had per
meated the entire city, and the lobby.
It is said, rearhed a conclusion to aban
don its programme. As a result, the doors,
figuratively, were thrown open, invita
tions extended to local optionists, and
members of the lobby, as if to say they
had nothing to do with wrhat was occur
ring. too conspicuously displayed them
selves In the lobby.
The prohibitionists have fallen apart,
it is believed, and are determined now,
rather than follow blindly certain non
members. to do for the good of the state.
'Phe report of the Judiciary committee,
as is known, was not unanimous, and that
report will have to stand on its merits
not on the "machine." The report of the
finance and taxation commission will not
l « rushed through on wheels of legisla
tion well oiled. If it contains faulty fea
tures. those features will he eliminated.
And the programme of ignoring the
governor of Alabama will be abandoned,
it is Indicated. The chances are. as a
matter of fact, that his bond Issue amend
ment will be submitted. His recommenda
tions will, in part, at least, be considered,
and his voi»e permitted to tall on cars
other than those deaf.
The above is Indicated. Within a day
or two. it will be known of a certainty
whether the power of the •powerful"
lobby Is irreparably shattered.
r :
ON GERMAN CRISIS
I
Will Retlrn to Washington j
Soon and Lay Whole
Problem Before
Cabinet
Washington. July 131.—The first ofTI
elnl announcement of President " II
son's Immediate plans for dealing with
the situation that has arisen between
Germany and the United States oh me
tonight In n telegram from < ornlsh,
II., to Secretary Tumulty, stating
that the President would return to
Washington soon to lay the entire
subject before the enbinct. The mes
sage Indicated that the President hno
arrived at no decision as to the Amer
ican policy. A White House statement
said t
“Referring to statement* appearing In
certain morning newspaper* with refer
ence to the attitude of the President to
ward the reply of the German govern
ment, Secretary Tumulty thin evening
gave out the following telegram which he
had received from the President:
“ 'Please say that from the moment of j
the arrival of the official text of the
German note I have given the matter the
closeat attention, keeping constantly In
touch with the Secretary of State and
with every source that would throw light
on the situation; that so soon as the Sec
retary of State and l have both maturely
considered the situation. I shall go to
Washington to get into personal confer
ence with him and with the cabinet, and ,
that there will lie a* prompt an announce- j
ment as possible of the purposes of the
government.’
The statement set at rest reports that
the President already had made up his
mind on the German reply, and that he
did not view' the situation as seriously
as did high officials in Washington. Word
from the President was sought by of
ficials here, It Is understood, as a result
of the spread of varying interpretations
of reports from Cornish of the execu
tive's intentions.
Official opinion here continued to re.
gard the situation as grave. Secretary
I^anslng and other members of the cabi
net who are here, hold his view, but are
giving no Intimations of how they think
the problem should he dealt with. Mr.
I^ansing and his assistant* have been
canvassing the entire field of law and
policy presented by the German note,
and the President already ha* received
some of the memoranda bearing on Im
portant points.
Will Not Summon Lansing
Today's statement from the White
House made it apparent that the Presi
dent ha* definitely abandoned the idea
of summoning Mr. Lansing to the sum
mer capital. This program conforms to
the secretary'* desire to study the prob
lem carefully and form his own conclu
sion* before exchanging views with the
President. It is assumed, however, that
Mr. Wilson will return here the last of
the week, and that the subject will be
laid before the cabinet next Tuesday.
Emphasis has been laid In official quar
ters on the fact that the issues involved
are of such seriousness and Importance
that consideration for a week or mors
of the kind of reply that should be made
ought not to be construed a* meaning
that the nece*sltv for a firm definition
of American policy wa« under esti
mated.
So far a* can be gathered here, the
President will find bis advisers practi
cally unanimous In the belief that the
crucial point In the correspondence with
Germany over submarine warfare has ar
rived. and that If the American govern
ment Is not to recede from its previously
announced position on the principles In
olved, the next note must convey more
or less pointedly the purposes of the Uni
ted Rtates in the event of further viola
tion* of American rights In the war son*,
.lust what the United Rtates should nay
with reference to Germany's refusal to
disavow the Intention to destroy Ameri
can lives on the Lusitania has not crys
(Continued on Pigs Fourteen)
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Legislative Committees in
Interim Will Consider the
Recommendations of
Recess Committees
nr L. 8. BKTTV
Montgomery, July 13.—(Special.)
By joint resolution the two houses of
the legislature adjourned at fl O'clock
this afternoon until Saturday morn
ing. In the Interim the various leg
islntive committees will consider the
numerous recommendations of the re
c» Sr committees and will probably de
termine upon some definite legisla
live programme for the present ses
sion. The recess committees also will
hold dally sesslonR.
The sessions of the two houses this
afternoon were fentureless. In the
house the entire afternoon was con
sumed In hearing the report of the
Investigation committee and in the
senate the passage of local hills, left
over from last session, and the Intro
duction of resolutions were the prin
cipal subjects under consideration.
Resolutions* Introduced
Several resolutions were Introduced
in the two houses today bearing on
the cotton situation in the south and
on the English blockade of cotton and
foodstuffs exported from this coun
try.
In the senate Mr. Bulger of Talla
poosa offered a resolution railing upon
the President to use his Influence to
induce Great Britain to withdraw her
blockade against cotton shipped from
this country. Practically similar reso
lutions were offered by Senators Ijoe of
Etowah and Jones of Barbour. In the
house Representative Griffin of Ma
rengo presented n resolution seeking
the same end.
The governor's bond Issue measure i
"as made a special order for next |
Tuesday morning at 11 o’clock. ,
This bill was under consideration In f
the senate when the legislature ad- j
journed last March.
None of the recess committee re- y
ports were read in the senate today, <
though they were presented to that )
body. The house will first act upon (
these documents, after which they will y
he sent over to the senate for fur- (
ther consideration.
Weakley Bill PreHented
The Weakley revenue bill, prepared 1
by the recess finance and taxation com
mittee, was presented to the two
houses today and printed copies of th*
measure were placed on the desks of 1
members.
As is known, the bill provides for n
state board of equalization consist
ing of three members in lieu of the
state tax commission, the members of)
the hoard of equalization to he ap
pointed by the legislature for terms
of two. four and six years, after vvhl« h
they are to he appointed by the gov
error. The member elected by the leg
lslature for six years Is to serve as
chairman of the state board
County boards of equalization, com
posed of three members, are to he ap
pointed—one by the state board, one
by the county board of revenue and
the third member by the first two
named.
This bill probably will not come tip |
for serious consideration before next f
week.
- I
Body Reassembles
Montgomery. July 18.—(Special.) After ,
•a recess of four months, the legislature
reassembled at noon today for the second ,
part of the present session, and Imme
diately settled down to business. The ses
sion In the house was featured by the
reading of reports of the recess commit
tees. Introduction of bills featured the
senate session, no less than 50 measures
having been presented before that body.
Shortly after the two houses recon
vened. a Joint resolution was adopted au
< Continued on Page Nine)
REPORT OF PROBE
COMMITTEE FAILS
AS A PRODUCER OF
THE SENSATIONAL
Lacy Mystery Unsolved.
O’Neal Escapes Serious
Charges by the Com
mitteemen
RECOMMENDS THE
ABOLITION OF THE
CONVICT SYSTEM
Lengthy Document Goes
Into Details of State Gov
ernment and Outlines
Many Reforms
n> Hr on w. rohfrts
Montgomery, July 13.—(Spe
cial.)—While the investigating
eommittee of the legislature
failed, after great effort, to find
ground on which a serious charge
could he preferred against ex
(iovernor O'Neal; while it failed
to solve the mystery of the Theo
dore Lacy defalcation, and while
it failed to produce the sensations
which the public has for months
been feverishly anticipating, it
did succeed in compiling a report
which is judged conservative and
in the main, wise.
In vlexv of what win expected, the
feature of the* report is naturally not
what it contains, but vx hat it does not
contain. The one big »onst,rwrti\e
recommendation of the committee is
that the convict lease system be abol
ished In Alabama and that a prison
commission be '■formed by the legisla
ture. to care for convicts and direct
their activity in road construction.
The report, consisting of 87 pages,
goes carefully into details <«f govern*
n.ent, and contains Innumerable recom
mendations as to how in the opinion
of the committee expenses might be de
creased without impaling the efficiency
of t lie government. *
The report, Lit part, follows!
To t.lie Legislature of Alabama:
(icnerai Condition*
The system, oi rather- lack of s> s
t«*m, which has existed iu the different
departments of state, In reference to
the disbursement of public motleys, ami
(he keeping of public accounts, is
something of which no Al.ihamUin can
he proud. Each department has luvd
its own individual way of handling its
finances and keeping its hooks. An
examiner of accounts, as he goes from
department to department, is con
fronted with different conditions ami
different systems. A lack of uniformi
ty results in a loss of efficiency. Em
bezzlement of public funds, unauthor
ized expenditures of public moneys,
gross • xtruvag iiices, misuse of official
trust and graft, large ami petty, to
which we hereafter call attention, can
I'm the most part be traced to a tot-1
lack of system.
Stale Ktirigct Systems
our first recommendation, therefore,
is that thefe be employed through a
commission provided for in a bill here
with submitted the most competent
<’• rtlfied public accountant that can * a
obtained; that this accountant he au
thorized lo put the state of Alabama
on a sy stematic business basis at once,
that the bookkeeping, tlm payment of
funds, the record oi t (scripts and diw
bursements be modernized, simplified
and made uniform throughout all of
ihe departments of the slate and
throughout such offices of the coun
ties as handle state funds and us arc
subject to state super\Ision.
We recommend that tiie state budget
be compiled and transmitted to each
regular session .if the legislature by
tiie governor; that it Include not only
an estimate of what amounts may i*e
necessary for the conduct of state af
fairs. but also a suggested method of
raising the amount of revenue neces
sary to meet the outlay We submit
herewith draft of u bill providing
for the introduction in Alabama of tiie
budget system
Legislative
The set rotary of the senate and the
clerk of the house are employes of these
bodies at stipulated salarb - Their time
belongs to the state. Following a long
continued custom and one which this re
port will hereafter disclose lias found
its way into almost every department of
state, these officers have used the suites
time for their own financial gain The
copying and sale of legislative bills has
become an attractive perquisite of the
office. This is specifically prohibited by
tiie constitution as to certain of the state
departments. Others are not mentioned.
We also find on tin* payroll of the state
persons who never worked for the state
and never came -to the capitol.
We find that in tlie legislature of 1911,
covering a period of 96 days, the num
ber of employes of the senate was 107,
at a cost of $21,375.80 The number of
employes In the house, 103. at a cost of
$2?,342.60. In the legislature of 1915, cov
eting a period of 38 days, tiie numbei of
employes in the senate, til, at a coat of i
$8121. The number of employes in thw
house. 106. at a coat of $10,276.60. There
Is no necessity for this large number of
employes The positions have been cre
ated chiefly for the purpose of giving •
some friend of some member of the leg
islature a Job. The work can be done
more efficiently by fewer employes, and
we submit herewith bills for the cor
rection of these abuses.
Printing Acts of Legislature
Our laws now provide for printing the
acts of the legislature three separate
times: First, during sessions of the leg
islature for distribution In pamphlet form
among the members of the legislature;
second, after the adjournment of the leg
islature In a newspaper; third, in per
manent bound volumes. We see no neces
sity for publishing these acts except In
the bound volumes, and. therefore, rec
omend that the other two publications
be dispensed with.
Convict Department
The committee has given more of its
time to the study of the convict prob
lem than to any other subject that has
come under consideration. We have
visited every coal mine that the state
has any connection with; have been uq
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