The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-15


 < ~%~S-&-&-%->%<-% les. This plan has often been suggested and the duty is now well nigh imperative. l You ought to face 1t early In the session.
 The department of archives and history has had a most remarkable growth and | is now quite beyond the physical oppor- | tunities which should be allowed it. The 1 addition to the building. as above sug- | gested, will meet tie full present wants of that and other departments. Another l time and as the state gets able, a sepa- rate, full hre-proof and ornate building should be erected for the care of our pre- | cious heirlooms and our more precious history. In this building might be fur nlshed the ladies of the several chapters l of the Daughters space for the interest 1 ing war relics which they have gotten to- i gether.
 The remainer of the capital square should be acquired. Hardly a reflective person looks at the surroundings who does not at once wonder why this has not been done before. On it governors home might be built if you fin your wis., dom. are of the opinion, that the present 1 condition has existed for a sufficient time. I. therefore respectfully suggest that you make an appropriation for new roof to the building to be drawn when 1t 1 becomes necessary to replace the old one.
 That you provide for an extension of the capitol buildings and an extension of the 1 grounds, and q governors home either on the present square or elsewhere.
 Revenue Code.
 Under the constitution, 1t Is made the duty of the governor, auditor and attor- ney general to prepare a revenue code for your "information.' That duty has been discharged. The work was done under the more immediate supervision of the | advice, for several days of several county assessors. collectors and at least two | back tax commissioners I hope you will l find it an improvement over the revenue l codes of the past There is one startling l innovation fin 1t to which l call your at- 1 tention. This is a stamp tax on mort l gages. Under the operation of old codes there was no tax duty resting on foreign concerns lending money in, the state. l Our own people were thus discriminated against. There are several other import ant changes. This code ought to have gone Into you today but has been delayed 1 for reasons which are excusabe. You will have 1t on your desks in few days
 Carrying Concealed Weapons. The habit may be decreasing in Ala l bama. I have not seen the statistics of convictions. If decreasing at all. the re- 1 form has not been of such magnitude as 10 attract attention. Since l have had the power. I think I have not in any | case, relieved a man of the fine imposed though frequently urged to do so, and In some cases in which there was apparent merit The only fault find with the law | is it's execution. As we progressed In other respects, the thoughtful and law | abiding have looked forward to a day when the carrier of a deadly weapon would meet a public opinion ready 10 n in ha l state penitentiary. As IL Is, if he has | money. he can pay out in any county In | the state except one. All honor to that county and to the righteous judge, Enough 1t may be said that he would probably not be so successful if jury sat in his court. The average jury is not yet ready to have the embryo murderer dig coal or raise cotton for the state.
 Immigration.
 The state as such. has met with little success in its advertising scheme to att tract settlers to it's farm lands. In the very nature of the case we can hardly expect to secure thrifty Germans, Swedes, or other valuable labor to our neglected fields through governmental agencies. 1 The large railroad corporations could be | much more effective. The railroad au- thorities could we'll serve their companies l by organizing land corporations to se- cure and plant the settlers in given places along their lines and together These people will want the promise of help when they arrive. which tho state is not l in a position to furnish. Our efforts heretofore to secure valuable additions l to our sparsely settled country have met with disappointment. Practically all the new corners. who have pitched their tents among us, outside Of the mineral belt, have come through the efforts of | corporations. We have several settle ments planted on our less fertile lands | which are in a vigorous state of growth. One man or great railroad moving ener- geteally fin an organization to bring pro- per farmers to us would earn the grati- | tude of our unsmiling fields. We have the soil and the climate. We need pro- perly directed private capital which Is | willing to furnish new citizens with h- nancal assistance on their coming Sooner or later, however we are sure to catch a tide steadily flowing. Our re- sources and advantages are too manifold and attractive to remain unrecognized and unappreclated. l have thought that an officer specially charged with an in- | teligent advertisement of the resources of the various farming sections of the state, l with some small allowance for printing might be experimented with. I have been waited upon by gentlemen who have noth- 1 Ing more than general interest in the subject who tell me that there will be organized, immediately after the state takes steps, companies for the sale of small parcels of our most fertile lands | which companies will furnish the needed assistance to worthy foreigners seeking homes. Advertising in the abstract can do us little good, unless the people att 1 tracted can arrange for immediate homes and immediate care.
 | Conclusion. | Your attention Is called to the report of | the auditor and several excellent recom- mendations of his. Printed reports from