The age-herald., 1900-12-04
John V. Smith Appointed PresI- dent Railroad Commission
MIR. MEADOR SUCCEEDS MIR. JELKs
The Acting Governor Makes a Clear Statement in Which he Tells of His Plan of Pending
 Administration.

Age-Herald Bureau, Hotel Clancy, Mont gomery. December .S-(Special. )-William Dorsey Jelks is today Acting Governor of Alabama. At noon he assumed the duties of Chief Executive of the State, acting up- on the request of Governor Sanford
 There was no ceremony incident to the transfer of Mr. Jelks from the position of President of the Senate to Acting Gov ernor. Just after noon, Private Secretary to the Governor, Thos. D. Sanford, sent Mir. Jelks note saying that he had been instructed by the Governor to request the President of the Senate to assume tenn porary control of the office.
 As soon as President Jelks received the note, he arose to a question of privilege, and handing thenote to the secretary he re- Quested that 1t be read.
 samford's Message.
 The secretary read as follows:
 Hon. w. D. Jelks,
 President of the Senate,
 Montgomery, Ala.
 Dear Sir:-I am instructed by his eXcell- ency, w. J. Stanford, the Governor, to in- form you that by reason of sickness he is at present physically unable to discharge his active duties of the office of Governor, and requests you, as President of the Sen ate, to assume the dudes of the office un- til his present disabilities are relieved of which you will be notified.
 Respectfully
 T. D. SANFORD. Mr. Jelks immediately retired from the chair and went to the executive office. There he met the private secretary, and the two men held short conversation in the private room. Many of MT. Jeks friends called and paid their respects each greet IL Ill preme Court Clerk Robert F. Ligon admin istered to MT. Jelks the oath of office as President of the Senate and Acting Gov ernor."
 As Mir Jeks left the Senate, that body was proceeding with the election of his suc- cessor The name of D. J. Meador of Ma rengo was the only one placed before the body, and he was elected by unanimous vote.
 The first official act of the Acting Gov ernor was to send message to the two Houses, officially notifying them of the ac- tion of the Governor in requesting him to serve as temporary Governor, and that he had formally assumed the duties of the office The next official act of the acting Governor was the transmission of a mes- sage to the Senate containing the names of several appointees, the message being con sidered in executive session.
 The Appointments.
 This message contained the appointment of John V. Smith of Russell to be president of the Railroad Commission, vice James Crook, whose term will soon expire; w. K Terry of Jefferson T. H. Trayer of Mo bile, H. Clay Armstrong of Lee, J. M. Car michael of Dale and Robert F. Ligon of Montgomery to'be trustees of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Auburn; Henry B. Foster of Tuscaloosa, Thomas c. McClel- Ian of Atherns and E. Herndon Glenn of Russell to be trustees of the University of Alabama. All of these appointments were promptly confirmed The names of the trustees above are the same as sent in by Governor Johston two weeks ago with three exceptions Judge Glenn is appoint ed to Tuscaloosa in place of Rev. MT. Je- ter and Judge Carmichael and Colonel Armstrong were put in place of N. P. Rem fro and F. M. Moseley to Auburn.
 Other appointments announced from the executive office today were: J. T. Gannan of Lee, examiner of public accounts; George F. Seaberry of Fillmore and Micajah E. Woods of Montgomery, assistants, c. A. L. Sanford of Lee was appointed so- Ecitor of the Third Judicial Circuit to suc- ceed John V. Smith, resigned. MT. Sam ford Is a brother of the Governor, and he was very strongly recommended for the po- sition, the retiring solicitor and Judge Ev- ans being among his endorsers
 Soon after his assuming charge your cor respondent called upon Mfr. Jelks in his private office. The new official was busy ing himself with work accumulated for his Inspection, but with that amiable courtesy