The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-01
APPOINTING POWER
BECOMES A BURDEN
To Governor Johnston, at Least,
in One Instance.
PUBLIC LANDS FOR SCHOOLS
And Appointment of Commissioners to
Divide Them Brought About the Com
plications- Governor Announces
PUBLIC LANDS FOR SCHOOLS

Montgomery, February 2s.-(special)-Th
appointing power of the governor has evil
IDENTIFY become a burden to him. The first
Indication of this fact occurred today. when
he made the announcement that rather than
make difficult appointment authorized by
the general assembly just adjourned he
would himself perform the duties of the
office.
BY a recent act of the national congress
the Girls Industrial School at Montsvallo
and Booker Washngton's school at Tus-
kegee have come into possession of 25,00O
acres each of valuable mineral lands in this
state, formerly belonging to the United
States. The bill passed by congress did not
prescribe which lands were to be given the
schools, but made 1t discretionary with
the governor as to their selection.
Both the schools desired the appointment
of a land commissioner to select the lands,
and bill was accordingly passed through
the legislature providing for the appoint
ment of such commissioner by the governor.
This bill met the governors approval, and
1t was generally understood that former
Congressman Thos. 8. Plowman, of Taila-
dega, would be appointed commissioner.
Indeed, it is said that the governor prom
ised Colonel Plowman the position, telling
him that it would be useless to secure an
endorsement for the place. Colonel Plow-
man had been a long, faithful friend of the
Montevallo school, and had spent much
time in Washington aiding the passage
of the bill granting the lands.
But tn ere was new complication soon
arising Another Richmond entered the
field. Tuskegee was evidently getting
Jealous, that with the commissioner, Monte
abn Ia nd
Mayor w. w. Thompson, of Tuskegee, Cir
culated petition that he be given the po-
sition of commissioner This petition, 1t Is
said, was signed by every member of the
board of trustees of the Tuskegee school as
well as by several of those of the Monte
vallo school.
All this occurred during the last days of
the session of the general assembly, and
prior to the passage of all the "administra-
tion bills" Mayor Thompson is a brother
of State Senator Thompson. The latter
"called" on the governor. There was lit
tie confusion in the executive office, and, 1t
is said that Senator Thompson threatened
to resign. The governor was nonplussed.
His promise had been given to Colonel
Plowman, who had been told that a petit
tion was not necessary.
The appointment was held up. Each of
the applicants has daily expected the two
thousand dollar plum to fall into his lap.
But 1t is still on the limb. And from the
best information, it will stay there until
II Tots.
Governor Johnston today made the an
nouncement that no commissioner would
be appointed. That he would himself Sc
lect the lands for the schools.
The governor today received a telegram
from Judge w. ]. Wood, who is in Wash
ington, stating that he had secured an
agreement with Speaker Reed to pass the
bill granting the Florence Normal school
and the negro school at Normal, Ala, EACH
1900 acres of public lands. This is On
Identical bill to the one recently passed
granting Montevallo and Tuskegee lands.
The telegram also stated that the lands for
the latter school must be selected before
those for Florence and Normal.
It is SO late in the session until 1t Is
very doubtful If the last bill can be passed
during fhe present session. Should 1t sue
ceed, four splendid state schools will come
into possession of one-sixth of all the pub
lio lands In the state. KERSH.