The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-21
Resolution Was offered by Judge
Richardson of Huntsville.
SESSION LASTED ELEVEN HOURS
Governors Action Freely Criticised by
Members, Who Were Led to Be-
lieve Different - Mr.. Webb
Threatened to Resign
BY w. j. BOLES

BY w. j. BOLES
Tuscaloosa, December 20.-(Special.)-T
beard of trustees of the University of Ala
hama will take active steps to recover for
the University the lands recently decided
to the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron COM
pany by Governor Johnston.
The vote declaring the resolution au-
thorizing the sale illegal was adopted by
a vote of to 2.
NJ. L. Stansel, Daniel Pratt, Tenant
aomax, w ]. Sanford, John Little and
William Richardson voted for the resolu-
tion, and e. L.. Russell and H. L. Davis
voted against it, The executive committee
was authorized to institute the necessary
legal proceedings at once.
Governor Johnston wired the board of
trustees today that he was ready to give
them all the information regarding the re-
cent land sale in his possession. Yester-
day he told the alumni he was responsible
only to the people of Alabama for his con-
duct. Two exhibits presented by the
alumni committee were Iabored on by
speakers tonight.
These were a copy of the prospectus OF
the Sloss-Sheffeld syndicate and a state
ment made by L. B. Musgrove. The pros
pectus stated that all the lands designated
as the Gulf Coal and Coke company con-
taing, according to J. w. Worthingtons
statement to the alumni the university
lands were put into that syndicate at $50
per acre.
Mr.. Musgrove said in his letter to ster-
ling A. Wood that Governor Johnston had
been in New York and assisted in forming
ba haf
university lands were listed at twenty dol
lars per acre.
The fact that lease for some four hum
dred acres of university lands in Bibb
county on November "a subsequent to pub
lication of statement that all efforts to eff
feet leases had failed was commented on at
length.
Tenant Lomax stated to the board that
he had favored selling all the university
lands until he found that the proceeds from
sales were to be invested in state and ma
tional securities.
He made a speech opposing any further
sales. He believed in the honesty of Gov
ernor Johnston, and his vote was not to
indicate that he approved of any slurs at
the governor.
The discussion started off tonight with ev-
cry indication of being bitter and acrlmo-
nous but oil was poured upon the troubled
waters and the session closed almost like
a love feast.
The Proceedings
The meeting was called to order in Garland
hall at 1890 o'clock with the President Pro
TEN. M. L. Stansel, of Carrollon, and the
following members present. E. L. Russell,
of Mobile; W. J. Sanford, of Opelika;
Daniel Pratt, of Prattville H. T. Davis, of
Gadsden; John Little, of Tuscaloosa; Will
liam Richardson, of Huntsville; James E.
Webb, of Birmingham.
Several routine matters were disposed of
and at II o'clock adjournment was taken
until 2 o'clock to enable Tenant Lomax,
who was due to arrive at noon, to partici-
pate in the proceedings of the board
Sterling A. Wood and Phares Coleman
of the advisory committee of the alumni;
Sidney j. Bowie, Land Commissioner W. c.
Fits; Treasurer ]. II. Fits, and President
J. K. Powers of the university, and three
newspaper reporters were also present.
During this session Land Commissioner
Fits stated that he concluded a lease on
November "a with William Baird for four
hundred acres of coal lands in Bibb county,
the minimum to be forty dollars per month
and five cents per ton for all coal mined.
When the trustees reconvened at 2:3o
O'Clock the following telegram from Cover
nor Johnston was read:
~ K. Powers, Tuscaloosa: Say to the
: board If they are in session tomorrow and
desire my presence L will come before them
and give any Information in my possession
JOSEPH r. JOHNSTON"
After discussing the matter for some
minutes the board authorized President
Powers to wire the governor that the board
would likely adjourn tonight
Webb Makes statement
As soon as the minutes had been read,
James e. Webb, of Birmingham, asked the
board to excuse him from participating in
the proceedings of the meeting. He had
prepared a statement to be read to the
board which he had prepared few days
ago when he thought he would be unable
to attend the meeting.
He stated that Webb Crawford a nephew
of his, was largely interested in the sale of
lands to the Sheffield company, and
that the said Crawford had received money
as a promoter of the sale.
Crawford and Warren Worthington had