davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
'BESSEMER COMMISSION
POLICE BOARD ACT BEFORE sU-
 PREME COURT.
Test of Its Constitutionality Excites Great Interest in Montgomery
 Political Circles-Was
 Submitted on Brief.

The Supreme Court of Alabama has been called upon to pass on the consti- tuuonality of the Bessemer Police Com mission act passed by the last Legisla- tura and Montgomerians will watch the case with interest
 The attack on the constitutionality of the Bessemer Police Commission act Is of special interest to Montgomerians inas- much as the question as to it's constitu- tionality would 1t IS said. apply to the city.
 The two police commission acts are very much alike. differing only in one import ant feature which. however, in no way aHects the consfitutionallty of either of the laws. The Bessener act provides for police commission of five members, all of whom are to be appointed by the Gov ernor. The Montgomery Police Comrnis- sion act also provides for a commission of five members but declares that they shall be elected by the City Council. constitutional by the lower court. The decision was rendered by Judge B. c. Jones of the Bessemer City Court.
 The Police Commission act has been a live wire in Bessemer affairs. It has de vided the town in two factions and the strife has been warm. Soon after the massage of the bill Governor Jelks ap- pointed the five members of the commits sion. They undertook the duties Of their office but the opponents of the measure sought to restrain them in the courts.
 The members on petition were cited to appear in the City Court of Bessemer and snow by what right or authority they held office. In the court the attack was made on the constitutlouality ofAthe act. The decision of the lower court was ad- verse to the commission which imme- diately appealed to the Supreme Court.
 The case was submitted to the court on briefs Monday. The style of the case is A. Little ct al vs. The State of Ala bama ex rel, T. T. Huey ct als. For the appellants Pinkf ey Scott. Beddow and Harsh, and L. D. Godfrey appeared. Tho appellees were represented by w. T. Por- ter and J. A. Estes
 The general charge ts made by the ap- pellees that the Bessemer Police Com mission act violates the letter and spirit of the new constitution in its restrictions of local legislation. It is alleged that -A- or seven provisions of the constitution are violated by the act. The principal fight of those who are opposing the act. however. Is based on two sections of the constitution which they claim are done violence by the police comuiss--sa act.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
HE POODLE STORIES
HOW MISSOURI INvEsTIGA-
 TIoNs WERE SET ON FOOT.
It is Alleged That Bribery Was Used Not Only in Regard to Baking Powder Bill, But Other
 Measures.
st. Iouie Special.

St. Louis Special.
 The disappearance of Lieutenant Gov ernor John A Lee from the State in con nection with the vigorous prosecution of the poodle investigation continues to be the great sensation here. New develop ments in the case are coming rapidly to the surface.
 When Lee was elected he was conduct ing a paper for grocers. At the first ses- sion of the Legislature after his election a bill was introduced and passed as 6 ''pure-food measure" prohibiting the use of several ingredients in the manufacture of food products. There was a long line of poisons mentioned in the bill. and then followed alum at the end. Few paid any particular attention to the measure, and 1t passed.
 It was not until few days before the law was effective that the baking powder manufacturers of the State learned that such bill had been enacted. The meas ure practically legislated them out Of business and gave a monopoly to the combine by preventing independent con- cerns from selling alum powders in the State. As the combine is said to control 95 per cent of the cream of tartar in the United States. the independent concerns could not manufacture that kind of pow. der. and hence they were compelled to shut down. violate the law or move out of the State. Several of the large con- cerns moved away, taking millions of doi- lars out of the State.
 At the next session of the General As- senbly united attempt was made by the independent manufacturers to pass a bill to repeal the law. but they encountered difficulties almost too numerous to men tion. Ex-Gov. William J. Stone, now United States Senator, appeared before the Legislature as the President of the Missouri Health Society and vigorously fought the bill to repeal. declaring that 1t would be a crime against the health of the State to allow "poisoners' to Vend their products in the form of foods to the innocent people of the State. It was afterward alleged that the Missouri Health Society was a paper organization. composed principally of Governed Stone. a school teacher and the Governors son. who was the attorney for the society, and the office of the society was alleged to be the same as the Governors law office. The Governor, 1t is charged. used his in- duence with the legislators. and for this work received a fee of 5000.
 Fight Came in State Senate.
 The repeal bill passed the House of Representatives, but it was sidetracked tp the Senate. the smaller body. Senator Orchard. chairman of the Criminal Jurts'
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
INCREASES ITS STOCK.
Fourth National Bank Raised t
 S2oo, 900.

The capital stock of the Fourth Ma tional Bank of Montgomery has been in- creased by its stockholders from sioo,Ou to 500, 900.
 A meeting of the stockholders was call ed to consider the advisability of this move Tuesday. at which meeting sPresi- dent William Berney presided. The prop osition was ratified by large vote of the attending stockholders.
 2 By resolution adopted at this meeting. the books of subscription to the new stock will remain open to the present stock holders until noon of May 1st. in order that they may have the privilege of sub scribing for the number of shares of the increase that they may be entitled to ac- cording to the number of shares owned by them at the present time.
 If on May lst all the shares of the iri- crease has not been subscribed for, other parties will have the right to subscribe for the remaining shares. If the increase Is not taken up in this way by May 10. then the Directors of the bank are au- thorized. to place the same where 1t will be to the best interest of the bank.
 The increase becomes effective July 1et, when the capital stock will become $200.- 600 and the surplus $40.o00.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

the penitentiary. It aroused the ire of some members of the committee and they declared themselves in no uncertain terms on the floor of the Senate. Lee then made a public apology to them.
 Its Present Acute Stage.
 The poodle Investigation reached its present acute stage through revelations made by Lee. It was soon learned that the alleged wholesale briberies had St. Louis end. After the close of the Legis- lature many of the lawmakers, 1t was charged, came to the Worlds Fair city to receive their rewards. A few days after the adjournment 1t developed that several fin a St. Louis hotel. Circuit Attorney Folk, whose reputation as a scourger of the boodler is national. was called upon take aat hn'n up the sv M Lus bs sna ana
 A day or so after that Lieutenant Gov ernor Lee returned to Jefferson City and turned over to Attorney General Crow ceived from Daniel Kelley of New York. the Legislative agent" of the baking pow der combine. saying 1t had been given to him a few days before the close Of the session. It had been sent to him through his brother, Robert E. Lee. who has been conducting the paper, The Interstate Grocer. since John A. Lee has been act lively engaged in politics. The check wal: was which he had shown. Just what these favors were the Lieutenant Governor has set forth in a sixteen-page statement which he made under oath to the Attor- ney-General.
 In it he detailed a complete history of the alum legislation from the time the first bill was introduced in the Missouri Legislature, in 1899. its passage and the two subsequent attempts by the indepen. dent manufacturers to repeal the law: II Is said that the Lieutenant Governor has told in plain figures just what money was spent at each session of the Legislature and who received the specific sums
 With this statement of the situation in their hands, the grand juries in St. Louis and in Jefferson City have ltle dif1culty in directing their questions with an ac- curacy which Is often startling to the wit ness Lees statement lays the founda- lion for an inquiry so sweeping and thor ouRh that Circuit Attorney Folk says he can develop clues enough to keep the grand juries busy for months. If wit ness proves refractory and tells an un- truth about the boodling he will be indict- ed at once on the charge Of perjury, which is a penitentiary offense the same as boodling. and thus he is at once under two fires. This is an old trick of Mir. Folk, and 1t proved highly successful in the recent Investigations into municipal bri- bery.
 Wholesale Bribery Charged.
 The alum scandal is not the only ono for which the last Legislature must an swer. There is the textbook scandal, the race track scandal. the insurance bill scandal the freight bill scandal, the St. Louis County Excise Commissioner scan- dal, the Audubon Society's bill scandal and a dozen others of equal magnitude.
 Doodle, it is alleged, was used in every single instance of important legislation
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

passed or defeated. Sometimes it required $l5.000 or $20.000 to defeat or pass bill; at other times 1000 judiciously placed served the purpose.
 The legislative boodlers were not ex- tortionate in their demands. They de- manded, it is said. something reason did not propose to bankrupt the trusts and corporations which fed them.
 One of the most striking developments of the local grand 1ury's investigation to defeat the Audubon Society's fish and game bill. It was an innocent litle meas ure to portect the prairie chicken and the prety bass. On the face of 1t 1t ap. peared of such a nature as to commend itself to every member of the Legislature. No one dreamed that any Senator or Rep resentative would vote against bill to protect the States fish and chickens; yet the bill was killed by the State Senate. and the grand jury has discovered that commission merchants put up N.0O0 and thus Killed it
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

prudence Committee, to which the bill was referred. disappeared for weeks with
 til few minutes before the hour of ad- Journment, when he appeared and filed a report which was not read. It was after ward used extensively by the combine in fits campaign against the alum men.
 After the Legislature adjourned the in- dependent manufacturers set about to
 make the alum repeal bill the issue in the
 next campaign. Salesmen quit selling powder, and hundreds of men became poll iticians to turn the wave of public senti- ment. It became so warm that Lieutenant
 Governor Lee, who had Gubernatorial as- pirations, went to the independent manu- lecturers to call them off. He acknowI- edged at a dinner with one of the leaders of the fight that he had made a mistake correct it in the next Legislature. promis-
 ing to insure the repeal of the obnoxious
 law.
 The light was then called off so far as who disappeared with the bill, was over wheimingly defeated, and Senator Frank Paris. who was known as the leader of
 the fight against repeal. came near being alum men whom he considered boodlers and who were the honest men in the con-
 test He told the independent men that
 he would allow them to name the com mittee to which the bill would be referred. Lee Cast Deciding Vote.
 When the bill came up in the Senate at the last session, however. Lee on one oc-
 casion left his seat to the temporary pre- siding officer. who referred the bill to a different committee from that to which
 Lee had promised to refer it. It so hap pened that there was a favorable report on the bill. but 1t was defeated by vote
 of IS to 16 A siml. IT bill which was in-
 troduced in the House was passed in a
 hurry. and when that reached the Sem
 ate there was another fight. Long and
 acrimonious speeches were made.
 During the campaign Lee had made an
 attack on Paris at the instigation of the
 alum men. and Farris remembered this
 and frequently made strong insinuations
 that he had Lee where he wanted him in a hole. So when the bill came over from the House he resolved to put Lee in a corner and make him show his hand, ,' as Farris expressed 1t. He sent two of and that left the vote ue-16 to l6-on ! whether the repeal bill should be passed. It was then up to Lee. ds the presiding officer, to cast the deciding vote.
 There was a long pause when the tie was announced. and more than once Far ris reminded Lee that they were waiting l for his vote After some time Lee an nounced he would vote in the negative and the bill was lost finally. Farris after
 ward said that if Lee had voted In the
 affirmative he could easily have secured a reconsideration. Then he could have called in the two other Senators. which would have killed the bill just the same The day following Lees. vote the Lieu tenant Governor made public long let ter of explanation. In this he declared that anyone who would vote to permit the
 use of alum in baking powder was a criminal, an9 was not at home outside of
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
EXCURSION RATES
To Savannah, Ga, and Return via Central of Georgia Railway, Ac- count Southern Baptist Con-
 ven+ion May TIA, 1903.

The Central of Georgia Railway will sell round trip tickets to Savannah on May 5, and '. limited to May 20 1908 at one fare plus 25 cents. By -depositing tickets with jo nt Agent at Savannah. and having fee of 50 cenis, extension of final limit may be had until June 1. 1903. Through sleeping cars from Augusta. Atlanta Macon, Columbus, Ga., and Bir- mingnam. Ala, to Savannah; double daily trains between Atlanta. Macon and Sa- vannah: afior cars on day trains; sleep ing cars on ght trains.
 Further info nation will be cheerfully furnished upon application to
 z. B. White.
 Commercial Agent, Commerce St. adv-10t.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

It is claimed that Section 164. sub-divig- ion IS of the constitution wnlen prohibits the Legislature from passing any special act amending confirming or conferrins additional powers on any municipal cor- poratiou was violated In the passage of the Bessemer commission act.
 It Is also alleged that the act is in ops position to Section 2Ze of the constitution which declares that the Legislature shall powers.
 No decision in the case may be looked for in several weeks.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
THE EDDY RECITAL.
Concert organist at First Presby-
 terian Church.

Montgomery musicians are anticipating great pleasure from the organ recital to be given at the First Presbyterian Church at S:30 o'clock this evening by Clarence N. Eddy, the famous concert or- ganist
 MT. Eddy comes to Montgomery upon the solicitation of Miss Hodge, the ac- complished organist of the First Presby- will be made. but seats will be reserved for those holding subscription tickets.
 Mir. Eddy was a student of Dudley Buck, and of master musicians of Eu- rope.
 The organ of the First Presbyterian Church is one or the finest in the South and the recital of MT. Eddy will undoubt- edly be a musical treat.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
To Represent County at Sunday
 School Convention.

The Montgomery County Convention Q. the International tlona Sunday School. Colored. has selected fuI list of delegates to represent 1t af ths State Convention of the Association. Ths State Convention will be held in selma April 2e.
 The following are the Montxouaer, County delegates: Rev. w. R. Raeland Prof. W T. Breeding. Rev. N N. Neafv Rev. l.. D. Williams, Rev. c. W. Mavsa Rev. A. J. Rodges. Rev. W. B. Johnson Rev. J. P. sims. Rev. A. s. Watkina Rev. c. W. Wells. A. M. Rev. L. p. Berry. Rev. Brooks, E. w. Garrette. M. A. Jenkins, S. H. Wright.
 Rev. w. R. Ragiand is Chairman oz the delegation.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
CHEAP RATES VIA [. q N. n. '
S61.75 Los Angles or San Francisco,
 Cal. and Return. s51.75.

Account of the General Assembly of he Presbyterian Church in the United States. again on the 11th to 17th. inclusive. iim- tied for return trip to July 18th. with privilege of diverse routes either through St. Louis or New Orleans. Stop-overs permitted at San Antonio. Fort Worth. Denver. and all points west thereof in either direction.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
WANTS BETTER ROAD.
Montgomery County Farmer win See
 Revenue Board,

G. s, Morrison, a prominent planter of the lower part Of Montgomery County terest of the roads in his section of the county.
 He said that the people of Ada, Sel- lers and Mt. Carmel, wanted good road from those places to Montgomery. From Montgomery to Ada there ia now good road, but at times the road from Ada to Mt. Carmel Is almost impossible.
 Mir. Morrison wants to get the Board of Revenue to send the county teams as soon as possible to Ada to grade the road from that place to Sellers. thence vest
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
Too Great a Ra-.,

A reliable remedy for bowel comnlainta should always be kept at hand. The risk Is too great .or anyone to take. rhoea Remedy never fails and whom re- duced with water is pleasant to take. For sale by all drugwists- .a6Vs
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
St. Iouis, lEo.. and Return.

Louisiana Purchase Exposition Hait rates will be in effect from all points. tickets to be sold April 2sth. s0th. and May lst.. limited for return to leave St Louis not later than May 4th.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

A concert on stringed instruments will be given in the Italian booth at the Denny Brook Fair tonight, by . number of well known musicians.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

ward to Hickory Grove and Mt. Carmel. The people are willing. he says, to aid the county in every way by lending them extra teams for the hauling.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

For general information, call on ARents of l.. and N. R. R., or write or call or W. l.. Beasiey,
 Pass. Agent. adv Montgomery. Ala.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
New orleans and Return.

Account Confederate Reunion. Tickets will be sold from all points at one cent per mile on May 18th to zlst, inciusivas good for return to May 2sth. with privi- lege of extension until June 18th by de- posting same with joint agent on or be- cents at time of deposit.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23
NEGRO DELEGATES NAMED.

adv
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-04-23

The repeal bill passed the House of Representatives, but it was sidetracked ID the Senate, the smaller body. Senator Orchard. chairman of the Criminal Jurts'
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21

sting exposure endeavorng vndcation OF
himself and his fellow at the hands OF the legislature
He has presented resolution which he asks be passed. in
which is declared that Mr. Kennan has told low dirty and IN
comprehensive lie without any grounds of Justification 1t is
doubtful this certificate of political purity will be issued to Addcs
senatorial manager The majority in that body well aware
of the truth of Mr. Remnants charges to commit itself endorsing
such plainly false declaration.
Mr. Kennan is trained observer with whom only fault
be found He somewhat given striving after the sensational
and but he always trustworthy statement he
fact His aagnment Of Addcks by
Addcks himself who has told how he secured the
election his present supporters and has made coneamen Of
the fact that he bought their places for them and paid the price
of the profits of his manipulation of gas stock
There little danger that Mr. Kennan will be called the bar
the Delaware legislature of its charge
of lbelng the Addcks corruptionists
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
CERTIFICATES OF CHARACTER WANTED.

In the Outlook, Mr. George Kennan has been making
plain and evidently truthful revelations concerning the
Edward Addcks and his Of political coruponss hold
the entire OF Delaware dpvng years rep
resentaion the United States Mr. Kennan
in gleng generales he makes allegation he sup
substantial evidence and he weighs and Sits
charges made with evident
desire present only facts that neither be disputed denied
1t surprising then find that his articles startling
exposure of wholesale corruption and debauery which has been
carried with astounding auday and That those
have been revealed pouers of the ballot should shield
>heznseves from such fearless arraignmen will little wonder
Addes in the Delaware the first feel the
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
The Voice of
The People
THAT SOCIALISTS VIEWS


Editor Providence News:
was much interested In "a Socialists
Views" In The News OF Feb. 20. quite
agree with him that public ownership of
railroads. telegraph lines. etc. would
bring about tho desired conditions. But
am reminded Of fable I once heard.
The rats and mice In a farmers house
were much troubled by the ravases OF
the house-cat. They called q convention
to devise some means Of protection. One
little mouse proposed that they attach a
bell TO the neck OF the cat and when
they heard the bell Jingle they would all
scamper to q place Of safety. An old rat
was chairman. and he spoke In approval
OF the plan. ending by appointing the lit
tie mouse a committee to attach the bell
TO the cats neck.
While probably nine-tenths OF the
voters In THIS country are wage=earners.
and could have things their own way II
they would all vote together. II is q la
mentablc fact that they do not. Why
not7 Simply became a majority OF them
will sell their votes.
Until the masses can be brought 10 see
that II is not only morally wrong. but de-
trimental as well TO their own interests.
TO sell their votes. no political reform is
possible. Let this fact he kept before the
people
J. g. MILLER
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-21
POPE LEO'S JUBILEE.

of twenty fifth anniversary election
of Leo XIII pope brought notable gathering of people from
all Of the earth Rome yesterday 1t hoped the
made the cable This really the happies day of life
statement of the pope view of the day Those most
intimately acquainted with the ponts will regard the
mark fitting and characteristic for the still work and
the OF being of service his advanced age fail
make the great thinker pbc and lover of mankind truly happy
Leo XIII with life that has been crowded with work
take thorough satisfaction reviewing the twenty-five
he all the other years of his e He is the survivor of
number of distinguished by talents of the highest order
Macauey has told his graceful periods how the has
the rise and fall Of dynae and Leo has great
who his contemporaries from life and he
The singular simplicity of his life the greatness of his learning and
the nobility Of his heart have him friends admirers among
people of all creeds.
Standing the representative of the conservative of
stutions he has taken time find for truth gracefully
soften the pathway less highly favored and OF the
world No subject of scholarship abstruse interest his
great mind brilliant old age He has the simple gospel
peace earth good will preach and his pontfcae
has been constant reminder that he sought for humanity
Men who know his realize that the
world still needs this fresh hearted and purpurposed