davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

US at the Birmingham rolling mills, where
we employ about the same number of men
as at the sayreton NINE We issue
checks to miners whenever they want
them. 1t would be as easy to issue a
So bill as a IS check.
Judge Gray examined Mr.. Adams close
iy. asking many searching questions as
to the extra bookkeeping that would
necessarily be involved in the proposed
change from monthly to a semi-monthly
pay day He could not see why more
clerical work would be involved in hav-
ing a day on which payments, involving
cash dollar units were established mid
way between the regular monthly pay
days than In Issuing store checks in
units of pne dollar.
The witness entered into an elaborate
statement of the system. which did not
seem to impress Judge Gray. excepting
that the witness stated that a certain
amount of different colored inks were
used. Judge Gray said he thought that
cash payments could be made fully as
easily as check payments, even If more
red ink had to be used
Judge Gray Talks.
Judge Gray said: I'VE are all as the
Lord made us. Some Of us are more prov
ident than others. 1t is natural that we
should all wish to do as well as we can
for ourselves. recognize the fact that
in the little daily transactions of life
look to see where my interest lies. Now,
you may have been born improvident and
I may have been born frugal, or it may
have been the reverse.
IF John Jones worked ten days and
then wanted money and went to the COM
pany's office and asked to draw $40 or
$40 as the case might be. would it in
volve any more bookkeeping to enter a
cash payment than checks?
Don't you think the two-weeks' pay
day would help the laborer and the COM
pany as well to pay him in cash instead
of checks? Wouldn't it have the effect
of stopping him from selling his checks
at a discount, and also from staying
away from work on check day?"
The witness quoted at length from his
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
gEAt ESTATE naVsrERs.

The following real estate transfers were
recorded at the probate office yesterday:
w. w. Smith ct al. sold to Mrs. A. M.
Badneit lot 5, in block 1884, in Birming-
ham, the consideration being $3.50.
James Berry sold to C. NJ Chose part
of lot 3, in block 10, in the southwest
quarter of the southeast quarter of Sec
tion g. township II, range west, the
consideration being $3.50.
John Scholtline ct al. sold to ]. p.
Brand lot A. in block l. of the Nancy
Wood addition to Woodlawn, the consid-
Grafton being $1,000.
Martha A. Beasley and husband sold
to Katherine NJ. King lot 20, in Behren's
addition to Birmingham, the price being
$4,000.
Martin Investment company sold to w.
F. Motion, lots 1 to 8, in block 263 and
lots 20 to 81. in block 259 in Bessemer.
the consideration being $1,000.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
COPELAND ANNOUNCES.
Will Be Candidate for Tax Collector
of Jefferson.

W. d. Copeland has made formal an
nouncement that he is a candidate for the
democratic nomination for tax collec-
tor of Jefferson county 10 succeed Capt.
J. B. Francis.
Mr.. Copeland is probably as well
known as any man in the county and
has numerous friends. He has been in
Birmingham nearly twenty-five years.
He was postmaster here under Cleve-
lands last administration ana perform
ed his duties efficiently. He is at pres
ent auditor of the city Of Birmingham.
The nomination for tax collector will
be made at the same time the nom
nations for other county offices next
spring. and the election will take place
In November next year.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
RECORD OF COURTS.

In the Circuit court yesterday suit was
filed by Louis Grove against the Hood
Machine and Foundry company in which
the plaintiff asks $500 damages, alleging
that he received permanent injuries from
having his right foot burned by molten
metal while in the employ of the defend
ant II is further alleged that the plaintiff
was crippled and disfgured for life.
In the City court Gazzam Foster pro
ami Jennie Foster, has filed suit aginst
the Dimmick Pipe company for $4,000
damages. The plaintiff. who Is a minor,
alleges that he was injured by a heavy
iron gate falling on him while in the en-
p1oy of the defendant, bruising his legs.
hips. spine. breast, back and kidneys
so that he was permanently injured.
In the Chancery court a petition for an
injunction to restrain the mayor and al
dermen of Birmingham for collecting the
assessments made for certain improve
ments made along Twenty-flrst street was
filed by Indiana O'Briep. The petitioner
sets forth that the amount of the assess
ment against her property which abuts
on Twenty-first street is $25709 and that
this includes an arbitrary charge of 10
per cent on the cost Of the improvements
for inspection by the city engineer.
It is further alleged that the assessment
was made contrary to the constitution
of the United States and of the state of
Alabama in that it was arbitrary and was
made without regard to whether the val
uation of the property was raised or low
cred nv the imnrovements
The petitioner prays for an injunction
to restrain the mayor and aldermen o.
Birmingham from collecting the amount
of the assessment and that the Injunction
be made perpetual.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16


statement regarding the prices paid for
labor at the mills Of the company in
Birmingham.
On the subject Of the eight-hour day
he said that 1t required at least nine
hours each day TO get out sufficient coal
to keep the furnaces, mills and coke
ovens going.
He stated that common laborers on the
railroads In this district get from 90 cents
to $1.10 per day, while the laborers in and
about the mines get from SITS to $3.50 for
doing the same kinds of work. The mines
are much more pleasant to work in than
the outside, as there is an even temper
allure throughout the year.
No other industry or business that Mr..
Adams knew of gives either money or
checks for accrued labor to the men when
ever they ask for 1t.
Animated CoIloquy.
The following co.loquy between Judge
Gray. Mr.. Adams and Walker Percy is
taken from the official stenographers re-
port:
c. BY Judge Gray: Do the railroad
companies here issue checks on the cur
rent pay? A. l am not prepared to an
swer that question, fully, but ! think that
the railroad company does do not
know that positively, but 1 know they
used to do 1t. l do not know whether they
do 1t now or not.
Q. BY Judge Gray: So that the men
that receive their monthly pay have got
to learn the lesson of taking care of their
money through the month, and make it
answer their needs?
Mr. Percy: They are generally gar
nisheed all during the month.
Q. BY Judge Gray. And l know that
that Is annoying to the railroad.
Mr.. Percy: These employees, who are
chiefly railroad employees, go into bank
ruptcy, and the records show that we
are. in Alabama, the third largest In the
United States in bankruptcies.
Q. BY Judge Gray: Would 1t be posi-
BILE to abolish the checks. or to require
that they be used at the stores, and no
place else, and only presented by the per-
son to whom they are issued?
Mr.. Percy: We have tried that We
tried to prohibit the use by anybody else
except to the person TO whom they We're
issued. We have intended to bring that
out later. The Tennessee company tried
1t on two occasions, and 1t met with earn
est and vehement protest all around. and
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
MUCH INTEREST IN
COMING STATE FAIR
Inquiries Received Daily Re-
garding Premium Lists
MIDWAY WILL BE FEATURE
The Mineral and Agricultural Exhibits
Promise to Be Better and More
Elaborate Than Ever Before.
Officers Working Diligently.

The work of the management OF the
Alabama State fair is being pushed right
along, and engagements are contemplated
with wrestlers, high divers, rope walk
ers and other professional entertainers.
Application is being made for space for
both outdoor and indoor booths. Ar
rangements are being made for a COM
plete Midway" nor will this part of
the fair include any entertainment to
displease the most fastidious. An effort
will be put forth to secure only such
shows as will instruct and amuse. The
department of exhibits feels greatly en-
couraged at the prospects of a successful
fair.
Applications for premium lists come by
each mail, and there are many calls for
them by visitors to the office. The eata-
logue will be ready in about ten days,
and will be distributed throughout the
city and state Many questions are asked
about the races. There will be fine horses
and races every afternoon, but no pool
selling. Nice purses have been arranged
and Superintendent Eugene Flies is FIX
ing a. full programme with well sustained
entries.
The mineral exhibit, always good, I'M
der the superintendent of DR.. j. o. Pat
ton. will be more complete than ever
before DR.. Patton has much new mate
rial to exhibit.
Alabama Is fast becoming educated to
the fact that stock raising is more pro-
ftable than cotton, and this brings about
a diversity of farm products more corn,
more grain, better pastures and mate
rial for ensilage These will go to swell
the agricultural display, and Alabama
will make an exhibit in this department
that will interest every visitor to the fair.
Commissioner of Agriculture r. r. Poole
of Montgomery and Jessie Adams have
always given valuable assistance, and
brought out an exhibit from the state
agricultural department that has been
a great benefit to the farmers.
poultry fancier was in the office
few days ago, and spoke of the birds
that will be brought to the fair with much
enthusiasm. When asked the sale of his
yards his reply was II have more de-
mand for eggs than l can supply; they
sell readily at S1.50 per dozen" 1t will
be the purpose of this department to
have an incubator in operation at the fair
In October. The association will endeavor
to present to the public an entertainment
worthy of Alabama in every detail.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

money every time they need cash. That
would be so unsatisfactory that they
would strike. When we put in that or
der our people simply would not stand it.
Judge Gray: Your people would not
stand it? What evidence have you that
they would not stand it?
Mr.. Percy: BY their protest to the
superintendent of the company, and by
vigorous expressions of dissatisfaction.
If l do not worry you, your honor we
then drlfted into this condition: Checks
were allowed to be traded-the company
did not buy them-they had nothing to
do with them. We simply drifted into
this. First the thrifty men bought them
at the largest discount they could get.
Later the storekeepers bought the
checks, and the company made no profit
on them. These conditions prevailed un-
til last year when we began to cut
down. Checks were selling at discount
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
Mr.. Adams Testimony.

The early part of Mr.. Adams testimony
was along the lines of his written state
ment presented before the arbitrators on
Friday afternoon He said that the la
borers employed by the Republic COM
pany were s. per cent colored and 80 per
cent white, while of the miners 81 per
cent were negroes and As per cent white,
and that taking the district as whole.
the miners were about equally divided
as to race between the whites and blacks.
The commissaries were established at
the request of the miners OF more proper
ly speaking, the miners wives. The COM
pany did not want to go into the store
keeping business and only did it as a
business necessity and to enable the min
ers to get good goods at a fair price.
Most of the miners are in favor of both
the commissaries and the check system
and they would want the check system
even If we had a two-weeks' pay day.
In Emergencies.
In emergencies men can get cash when
they need 1t. GIc shows blank forms for
drawing money in emergencies.) Our
stores never sell whlskey, but everything
a miner or his family may need-food
clothing, household goods. No complaints
that stores do not carry sufficient as
sortment Prices are uniform under all
circumstances.
At the rolling mills the labor is Of a
selected class, many of the men having
been with the company for twenty years
or more. Some of them draw as high
as sl2 or SIS a day. We have two-week
pay days at the mills as we work them
under agreement with the Amalgamated
Association of Iron, Steel and Tin work.
ers, and our contract calls for such a
pay day.
A miner should work not less than
twenty-three days per month In a thick
seam. and twenty or twenty-one days in
a thin seam. There should be a read
justment in yardage, the present scale
of 80 per cent being too high.
The principal seams of coal in the Bir-
mingham district are the Pratt, Blocton
and Blue Creek seams. the latter being
called the big seam. Our mines are on
the big seam and the coal Is softer than
the Pratt seam. The Blocton seam is
harder than either.
Making Up Pay Roll.
1t would cost double to make up a semi
monthly pay roll. That is what it costs
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
Alabama Furniture Company.

A declaration of Incorporation was
filed yesterday at the probate office by
] A. Keife N. e. Hit, Ida M. Hit and
r. j. Keife, to incorporate the Alabama
Furniture company. The capital stock
of the concern Is named at $4,000. which
shall be divided into fifty shares with a
par value of $500 each. The principal place
of business will be Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
Marriage License.

Marriage licenses were Issued from the
probate office yesterday to the following
couples: Anderson Bell of Bessemer and
Miss Bessie Gable, f. l.. Barnes and
Miss Katherine e. Robinson, Benjamin
Parnell of Rosedale and Mrs. Mary A.
Bailey.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

--~----~---------~>-~>-
ton in opposition to the proposed change
which cannot. it is thought by the oper-
ators, but carry great weight in the de-
termination which the commission may
reach on this subject.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

varying at the different places. The
checks were required to be restricted in
use to the place where issued; for in
stance, at Pratt only checks issued at
Pratt could be used In the commissary.
Wherever the largest proportion Of ne
gro labor prevailed, the discount In
checks was greatest.
President Bacon.
Our new president, Mr.. Don NJ. Bacon,
coming here from the north. thought that
1t was AN evil, and an evil that ought
to be wiped out, and he gave instruc-
tions in my presence to have 1t broken
up. lie said, 81 want you to break up
this thing of trading checks" and we
put in the pass book system, and the
storekeeper said there was a great in
crease in trouble. AS / have said we
adopted the pass book system About
the first of January, 1902. there was a
howl from one end of the company to
the other. The next thing the men de-
manded that the time credits on their
books be made transferable and that
they be allowed to trade or sell their
time. to illustrate. l will say, II owe
Mr. Flynn ten dollars; L have got ten
dollars on my books. l want you to
give Flynn credit on my book" There
were such demands as these being made,
and they are not always made in par
liamentary language. There was such
a demand that the company was forced
--coerced-into allowing the trading of
time and those pass books that we hSd
installed, and the result was we were not
allowed to keep them in force a week.
Mr.. Percy stated that the company had
issued. beginning a few months ago, two
- e
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
Notice, Bricklayers.

There is special meeting Sunday 2:30 p.
m Important. j. w. ELLISON,
Secretary.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

such protest as we believed would shut
down our mine. We have had strike
judge in the regent past-so recent that
we know the evils of 1t. There is no ques-
ton but what public sentiment was in
our favor on every point but public senti-
ment did not save us the trouble and ex-
pense of a strIne.
Judge Gray I cannot get it out of my
head that this is a bad thing for the
morals of this community.
Mr.. Percys Statement.
Mr.. Percy: To give you two occasions
on which we tried 1t, l am willing to
make this statement And these gentle
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

Fast Service Via the IL. q o. Railroad.
Fast service via the Mobile and Ohio
railroad for Cairo. st. Louis and points
In the North. East and West New
equipment. through slepers. Superior
service. p. s. Hay. s. e. p. A.. No. l
Commerce street. --ontgomery. Ala c.
NJ Shepard. G. p. A.. Mobile. Ala
6-3-tf
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16

Continued on Seventh Page)
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-08-16
Making Up Pay Roll.

1t would cost double to make up semi
monthly pay roll. That is what it cost
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
To EXTERMINATE MAFlA
New York, Philadelphia, Chicago
and Other Cities to Join Hands
The sIcIlisn and Italian Black mnii-
Ing Societies 10 lie Dealt
Death blow.

New York. Dec. 5.--A complete plan
for the determination OF the Slcilian
and Italian blackmailing societies is
reported to have been mapped out.
Agents of the secret service branch OF
the treasury department. post Office
department inspectors and police op-
eratives of New York. Philadelphia,
Chicago and two or three other cities
will participate, and 1t is proposed that
death blow shall be dealt the foreign
bands, who have grown remarkably
bold in their operations during recent
weeks.
While Chicago and Philadelphia are
known to have powerful societies, 1t Is
believed by the secret service. whose
detectives are most familiar with the
workings of the malta. that there ex-
lists at present In this city the most
powerful and desperate mafia band that
has ever been organized in America
Its operations include many atrocious
and mysterious murders. kldnapings.
and thousands OF successful attempts
TO blackmail and extort money from
wealthy and respectable Italians. For
this reason the most vigorous prosecu-
ton IL expected to take place In and
about New York.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
WOMEN BARRED FROM JAIL.
shertff of Springfield Restricts
Visitors of Fred strube, the
slayer of Miss Henninger.

Springfield, ILL.,, Dec. 5.-The curios-
ity of Springfield women has caused
Sheriff Brainerd 10 issue an order bar
ring all women from entrance to the
6aDgamon county jail to see Feed
Strube, who killed his sweetheart, Alice
Henninger, near Havana, Ill
Since Strube'g Incarceration here
women have called at the jail by the
dozens to see him. Many asked for in
Productions. SO many called that 1t
impeded the work Of the officials. In
a measure, these women have idolized
this self-confessed murderer.
Following a stinging editorial friday
morning, Sheriff Brainerd issued the
order that women be barred. Friday
was the regular weekly visitors, DAY
at the jail, and there was crowd
about the place all day. Because II was
visitors day every one was admitted
but the women were not permitted TO
see strnbe. Jailer Childers made every
one register, and the list includes the
names of about 100 women.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
Mississippi State News

100000 to drive the scale from
that State. She cannot do it. 1t is
too thoroughly and widely establish
ed. In other words, her legislature
has acted too late. 1t is hoped that
our legislature will avoid the same
pitfall. A stitch now will save nine
ten years from now. We may not be
able even now to eradicate the scale
from the State, but we can surely
prevent any more coming in, and
can, perhaps, confne the scale now
within the State to its present area.
IL so it will be worth thousands OF
dollars to our State.
There are other insects in the
State that need constant attention
and experimentation to discover the
best means Of preventing their raw
ages. Work along this line is being
most vigorously pushed both by the
Mississippi Agricultural and Me-
chanical College and the experiment
station. What we need most, how
ever, at this time, is strict inspee-
tion and quarantine law, by which
we may exclude these notorious pests
from the State.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
State Bank Statement.

Last week Auditor Cole gave out
the bank statement showing the con-
dition of all the State banks for the
last quarter. A comparison is made
with the statement of last December,
and shows that since that time there
have been organized in the State
thirteen new banks. There is, of
course, an increase all along the line,
among the notable increases being
that Of a million and a half in
money subject to check, while time
certificate of deposit have increased
nearly three hundred thousand dol
lars. The resources of all the State
banks is now $4,000, 900. The num-
ber Of State banks reporting to the
auditor is 162. The statement of
the banks given out embraces only
those banks working under charters
from the State and does not include
the national banks, of which there
arc quite a number in Mississippi.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
smoks From Forest Fires.

The forest fires in Holmes county
have been burning for the last few
weeks, or rather in the swamps near
Tchula, which has made the atmos-
phere so dense with smoke for few
weeks or more that the sun looked
as if it was in an eclipse every day,
and last week was SO dense that
many people complained of it burn
ing their eyes and throat TO such an
extent that they were very uncom-
Portable. 1t even penetrated into
the houses causing much disagreea-
bleness, and many people could not
sleep for it.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
PANIC IN DIVORCE COLONY.
Burninu Of the Masonic BIork ne
sioux Falls, y. D.-shock To
the Divorce Colony.

Sioux Falls, S. D., Dec. 5.--Scores OF
lives were imperiled. four flremen in
jured, dozen people rescued by the
police and fremen. and the divorce
colony received it's most severe shock
since It's establishment In the burning
of the Masonic block Thursday morn
ing. On the third floor OF the four
story block lived about fifty women.
largely members of the divorce colony.
Seven Of the women were carried In
the arms OF firemen from the windows
of their rooms, arrayed In nothing but
their lace-trlmmed nightgowns. Officer
Jack Tracy was tho hero of the oeca-
sion. He fought his way through
flames and smoke to the end OF hall.
took out three women, one at time,
and carried them down on an extension
ladder. Firemen took out four other
women the same way. A score OF 9TH
ers had narrow escapes.
The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-12
MORE ST. LOUIS GRATING.
s,.i.m..ieali, Padded Rolls DIseov-
cred Hy "A Census Taken of
the Poorhouse.

ST. Louis, Dec. 5.--That the record OF
inmates at the poorhouse has been sys-
tematically padded Is alleged 20 be the
latest discovery In the graft inyestiga-
tiou. A census of the poorhouse has
been In progress for the past week, and
over eighty names have been found of
persons who are no longer inmates at
the institution, but who have neyerthe-
less been carried as inmates. Supt.
Hart states that he expects the number
will be swelled to 125 by the time the
work is finished.
The food and clothing which has been
regularly drawn for these persons
formed part Of the booty OF the graf
ters, 1t is claimed II has already been
discovered that the inmates not only
did not get all that was drawn for
them, but that rations were drawn for
persons who had left the institution
years ago.