The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-24
THINK LUSK BILL : IS VALID MEASURE Consolidated Court Decision Has
 Cleared Atmosphere LIG0N IS GREATLY PLEASED Thinks Encampment of All National Guard Is Fine nnovaton-Wood's
 Successor Is Appointed
 In -owndes.
BY HERvEY w. LAIRD.

tiOnS, 1t ceased To De q general measure and was amenable to the rules governing a local bill.
 This bill provides for two circuit judges in Jefferson county, with the understand ing that this was not to apply if the consolidated court bill for Jefferson held This was one of the complaints made against 1t. the contention being that the elimination of Jefferson made it a local law, though passed as general The elimi- nation of the Jefferson measure abrogates that charge and in the opinion of many makes it almost sure to be declared valid by the supreme court.
 Other Contention.
 The other contention against it's con- stitutionality Is that it was not properly put through the general assembly. It is said that the house passed the bill and sent 1t to the senate in regular way. The higher body tackled on several amend ments and passed 1t with these attached. Then it went to a conference committee of three from eachphouse, which agreed and reported that the senate was to re- oede from certain amendments which were named, but said nothing about several others It Is also argued that 1t was neees-
 
 each house to vote on the recommenda- lions of the conference committee. For ln- stance there were three from the house and three from the senate, and 1t IS con tended that two of each must have voted to have made the measure legally pre- sented in the whole committees report. AS matter of fact three of the house men and one of the senate voted for the report, while two of the senators did not express by ballot any preference.
 Regarding the first objection it Is ar- gued by state officials that when the two houses accepted and adopted the report of the joint committee it tacitly endorsed the amendments not specially mentioned. There Is not disposition to attach much importance to the other contention, for the reason that the spirit of the confer ence committee plan anticipated that the action of a majority was final so far as the committee was concerned. In fact Attorney General Massey Wilson is of the opinion that the bill will hold now, with the Birmingham feature taken away.
 This bill provides. among other things, two circuit judges in the tenth (which is Jefferson county) circuit. They are each to receive the salary the one is getting now, with $500 each from the county each year as additional compensation. Good lawyers agree that Jefferson county may go on and elect its additional judge by the provisions of this act and be safe in it. This would give a place for every nominee of the recent primary If it were desired. In my letter of Thursday 1t was said that the clerk and register would have to be appointed by the governor. This was an error. He is appointed by the court. as Is the register of the chan cery court.
 General -igon Pleased.
 General R. F. Ligon, inspector general of the Alabama National Guard, return ed from Birmingham today where he has been attending the brigade encampment. He is highly pleased with the camp in every respect. He finds that Birming- ham has done well In handling the men and has provided comfortably for them. The camps are well located and well kept. The order has been decidedly good, he says, and the camps are well poiced and very clean.
 General Ligon acted as reviewing of- fcer by request of General Clark on We'd nesday. The experiment of holding camp | of all the National Guard at once has greatly pleased General L. gon, who says | 1t has been a great success. The regular | army men have been a great help in the way of instruction. General Ligon Is member of the state military board, the | others being Adjutant General Brandon and Quartermaster General Holt. This board makes military laws and rules. which become effective when approved by the governor.
 Montevallo School. The past scolastic year was the most successful in the history of the Alabama Girls Industrial school. at Monteyalo, and was the first year since it's foundation | that the school has been out of debt These interesting facts are shown in a report submitted to Governor Cunning ham yesterday by w. P. Wilkinson, as- | sistant examiner of public accounts who | has just completed an investigation of the | books and accounts of the institution. The examination covered the books and accounts of Prof. F. M. Peterson, presi- | dent, and Hon. Frank s. Moody treasur- | CT, of the school, for the scolastie year | 19o3-1904.
 The business affairs of this institu- | ton of learning are in a very satisfactory | condition says the examiner. "The | books and vouchers are accurately and neatly kept. the vouchers so arranged in numerical order as to be easily checked | the books of the president and the treas | urer being found to correspond, and the | balance being the same. All additions in both were verified and found to be cor rect"
 It is shown that s42, ,ss5.Os was received for the students fund, and $42 295.4S was l expended, leaving a balance of $39GO. For | the building fund $500O0 was received and | s49, 3S6.60 was disbursed, leaving a balance | of $613. 40. For the general fund BPS, ,595.H n was received and $26, ,364.46 was dlsbursed, | leaving balance of $2,231.3l Continuing the report, Examiner Wi- kinson says: This has been the most successful year the school has ever ex- | perfenced. and is the first year in the history of the school that 1t has been | out of debt. There were 479 girls en- rolled during the year.
 Some needed work has been done since the close of the school. especially the an- next to the chapel. furnishing six more class or recitation rooms, which were very much needed, and the enlargement of the | chapel.
 There are 100 more applications for | girls to enter than there were at this tune last year. Tne question now Is how to accommodate the girls who desire to attend this school. The buildings are in- complete and very great necessity ex- is.s Tor tner early completion. so that all Wno desire may attend this great and growing institution"
 Woods Successor.
 The governor settled the Lowndes coun- " probate judgeship this afternoon by sr.tt t~ f1EV