The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-17
December Convention Abolished by an Overwhelming Vote QUESTION OF ASSESSMENTS Fifty Gents Assessment Was Ahol- ished and the Matter of Smaller
 Assessment Will Probably
 Be Settled Today.

Although the third days session of the annual convention of District No 20, United Mine Workers of America, only lasted two hours and quarter yesterday, much business was tranacted. It was de- cided to abolish the December meetings of the organization and also to abolish the district assessment amounting to fifty cents per month.
 In the future all of the business of the organization will be transacted at the June convention. Heretofore the summer convention has been known as the "scale convention" inasmuch as it's prime object was to agree upon working contract with the operators. Hereafter officers will be elected at the summer convention.
 Plenty of Cigars.
 President Flynn called the convention to order yesterday morning at 9:45 clock Leon W. Friedman, a local newspaper man. presented the convention with three boxes of cigars. A rising vote of thanks was rendered to MT Friedman by the convention for the courtesy. The cigars were union made. A letter was read from G. B. Mccormack, president of the American Trust ard Savings company, which accompanied several boxes of cigars. vote of thanks was extended to MT. Mccormack.
 The president called for a report from the committee on constitution. Inasmuch as the committee was not ready to re- port the convention proceeded to take up
  then to take up the questions of having only one convention each year, and whether the convention should abolish. increase or reduce the district assess ment of fifty cents.
 Practically Unanimous.
 A motion by Delegate William Kirkpat- rick of Pratt City to abolish the Decem- Der convention was adopted by a vote of 203 to 9
 The district assessment natter was then taken up by the convention. A motion to reduce the assessment to twenty-five cents failed to receive a second, and it was lost. There was no second to mo- ton to discontinue the assessment. A mo- ton by Delegate Statham to reduce the assessment to ten cents and keep it at that until the sum of $25,000 had been accumulated by the organization from this source, which motion was seconded.
 The district board has always made the assessment of 50 cents. Ten cents per capita is the regular tax on the members of the organization, and 10 cents per month to the national organization. When ever found necessary the district assess ments have been made.
 Several of the delegates argued that the assessment should be continued for the purpose of building up defense fund The convention decided it would be best to vote on a continuation or an abolition of the assessment.
 President Flynn told the convention that district No. 20 had been forced to call upon the national organization for assistance. At one time he said, the rational president donated the sum of $500 President Flynn later attended a meeting of the national board in Indian apolis and after telling of the conditions in Alab bama, received s5OOO. It was stated that when the 50 cent assessment was levied there was only s4OO in the treas ury, while the strikes were costing $1GO0 per week,
 Cost of Strikes.
 ecretary-Treasurer J. l.. Clemo told the convention there were three strikes on in the state and they were costing the district about si7O0 per month. The 10 cent assessment would mean little in excess of $l1O0 per month. he said. He urged the convention not to reduce the assessment to 10 cents, saying there was s9oOO in the treasury now and if the as- sessment was reduced this amount would all go in a short while. or words to that effect.
 By avote of 15S to i9 the 50 cents as- sessment was abolished. A motion of Delegate Vest providing for the appoint ment of a committee on resolutions rela- tive to the assessment matter was ruled out of order for the time being.
 Upon the suggestion of President Flynn the convention at this juncture went into executive session to take up the matter then before the body.
 The following committee was appointed to consider the assessment matter: James Savage of Warrior. chairman; Charles Crook of Adger William Kirkpatrick of Pratt City, Edward Turnbow of Cordova and Sandy Williams of Pratt City. This committee will report this morning.
 The executive session lasted until noon and adjournment was then taken until 9 o'clock this morning