The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-31

Judge Feagin yesterday imposed the limit of the law on R. L. Higgins, a white man, who was in court on a charge of assault and battery on a white man named Baily. It was the strangest fine imposed in the court since the judge made several little negroes learn the ten commandments.
 It seems that Baily was in front of MT. Higgins house yesterday cursing at liberal rate, and so loudly that Mrs Higgins could hear it. Her husband be- came very angry and struck Baily over the head with a stick, causing a severe bruise.
 this particular public utility is no longer an open question, the issue in Birming- ham being solely confined to ways and means. How 1t shall be brought about and whether we shall attempt to buy the existing system or build new works are questions calling for the calm and busi- ness like consideration of every member of this club
 Glbson's Report.
 Secretary Gibson's report in part fol- lows; Three hundred names have been added to the membership roll during the past twelve months. Changes. for vari- ous causes. are constantly taking place, however, and 1t Is not safe to say that there are more than 42o active members on the list
 As to Vulcan.
 In connection with the Vulcan and the general exhibit at St. Louis, the receipts from all sources have been s15.3e4.7O.
 DISBURSEMENTS Interest and discount .. .. .. .. .. 10.77 Pamphlets .-.. 262. 50 General expenses .. :. .. .. .. .. 366 05 Generai exhiplt 2'0UO S2 Souvenir account. @. .. .. .. .. .. b22. AZ Cash with Mcknight in St. Louis 2e4 % Cash in bank .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59O. .23
 Total :. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. s15,S64 70 Our exhibit at St. Louis Is known as the Alabama Mineral Exhibit. It includes articles from twenty or more counties in the state, grouped around the statue of Vulcan, which towers above everything else in the Mines and Metallurgy build ing, according to the statement of Dr. Holmes, the chief of that department Is attracting more attention than any other exhibit.
 During the past twelve months the cor respondence of the club has been steadily increasing, and thousands of pamphlets descriptive of Birmingham and it's re- sources have been distributed with good effect.
 Visitors Have Increased.
 More visitors have been received than ever before in the same period of time. Besides the individuals who have been given attention, the committees have Alabama Educational Association, the Louisville Board of Trade, the Alabama Commercial and Industrial Association, the Confederate Veterans Reunion and the Conference for Education In the South.
 Delegates were sent to the Alabama Commercial and Industrial Association, The Mississippi River Improvement and Levee Association, the American Mining Congress Four States Immigration League and the Southern Good Roads Convention.
 Efforts were made to get better from Florence and Tuscumbia to Birmingham, and the committee Is still at work for a more commodious pas
 
 to Decatur, after much so- licitation, was finally secured.
 After several. conferences, the question of rebilling cotton on the Frisco road was amicably adjusted; an investigation was made of the privileges allowed in the matter of securing sleeping car reser- vations at the Union station; much time was given to the promotion of new railroad to connect Birmingham and a charter was obtained and secured to the amount of 0000 for preliminary surveys, etc ' By persistent effort the United States government was prevailed on to locate a well-equipped weather station in this city.
 The college to be located in the south by the Freedman's Aid and Southern Ed ucational society was secured for this dis trict by committee from the club.
 Legislative Questions.
 In legislative questions, a lively inter- est was taken in a Greater Birmingham; more liberal corporation laws for Ala bama; prohibiting the use of trading stamps; promotion of the proposed Nor gan canal; water commission for the Birmingham district; the ratification of the Panama canal treaty: increase of the American merchant marine, and amend ments to the federal bankruptcy law.
 A long list of industrial propos'-'~--