The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-05-15
STATE MAY GIVE HELP TO
 BIRMINGHAM VULCAN FUND
Governor Cunningham Says He Will Approve Action of Commissioner of Agriculture If He
 Aids Alabama Exhibit

Queen, P. c. Shock, H. B. Urquhart, John H. Frye, B. M. Allen, Louis V. Clark. B. A. Thompson, S.. E. Greene, F. w. Dixon, D. M. Drennen, J. P. Stiles, Frank Nelson, IT.. w. N. Malons, w. N. Drennen. H. P. Henin. George c. whatley and w. H. Kettig."
 Montgomery, May l4, 1904. MT. F. M. Jackson, President Commer-
 ciai Club, and Messrs. James J. Banks,
 James Weatherly, B. B. Conner, M. A
 Joseph, k. w. Barrett and others:
 "9entlemen-Your address of May Il, Mir. J. B. Gibson, Secretary of the Con- rerciai Club. has been received, and has had a careful and earnest consideration.
 ''l desire to thank you for the patri- ctism, enterprise and energy shown by you and others in providing under your auspices The Alabama Mineral Exhibit anc congratulate the State that some Of It's enterprising citizens have assumed the duty and responsibility of representing Alabama at the Louisiana Purchase Ex- position.
 Tt is truly unfortunate that the Statet did not provide for an exhibit of our matchless resources and opportunities.
 What you have done by your individ- ual efforts will rebound to the benefit of ail the State, agricultural as we'll as the mineral ana manufacturing interests, am not; only willing but anxious to do everything in my, power to aid in this patriotic and. enterprising movement. To this end l have carefully considered the authority of the Governor in the prem iscs and regret to say there is no law which authorizes the Governor to aid in thls matter by appropriating or contrib uting the States funds. Section 72 Arr that;
 | No money shall be paid out of the Treasury except upon appropriations made by law, and on warrant drawn by tI.x. fra and regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public moneys shall be published annually, in such manner as may be by law directed
 Subdivision 13, Section S76 of the Code provides that:
 He. ((Commissioner of Agriculture and Tndustries), shall also as soon as practi- cable, prepare convenient handbook, with the necessary illustrative maps, which shall contain all necessary infor- nation. as to the mines, minerals, for ests. soils. and other products, climate, water, and water powers; fisheries, mountains, streams, industries, and all such statistics as are best adapted to give proper information of the attrac- tions and advantages which the State affords to immigrants, and shall make illustrative expositions thereof, whenever practicable. at international and State ex- positions
 ''Section S97 of the Code provides that:
 The Commissioner must submit, monthly, to the Governor an account of the expenses of the Department for the preceding month, and an estimate of the expenses for the succeeding month, and. with the approval of the Governor in- dorsed thereon. may retain from the moneys in hand, or draw from the funds in the Treasury to the credit of the De. partment of Agriculture, the amount of such estimate, not to exceed the sum of live hundred dollars, to meet such ex- penses, not including the salary of the Commissioner and his clerks; such esti- mate, with the approval of the Cover nor. to be filed in the office of the Au- ditor. The travelling expenses of the Com- missioner and clerks and of the chemist on the accounts thereof being itemized and verified before payment. may be paid from the money so retained.
 You will, therefore. observe that 1t is made the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries to make wherever practicable, expositlons of the and State Propositions.
 You will also observe that the ex- penses shall not exceed In any one month the sum of $500. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, therefore, may upon his own account, or co-operat- ing with you, make an exhibit of the re- sources Of the State, provided the ex- pehees tnereaf do not exceed the sum of S5t9 per month"; including the other ex- penses of hls Department, not otherwise provided for. 4A fs.
 T have informed the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries that if he de- sires to make an, exhibit at st. Louis or cooperate with you in this matter, that | will approve of such sum as in his Judgment was. necessary, or could be spared from the moneys at his disposal, appropriated for the purposes set forth in Subdivision 131, Section S76 of the Code, provided 1t does not exceed $500 in any one month. This money is at the disposal of the Commissioner of Agriculture and 1n- dustries and I respectfully refer you to nun. ,
 .ResrattIng. gentlemen, that 1t is not in my power to aid further than above indicated in an exhibit of our resources at the St. Louis Exposition, and again thanking you for your efforts in this matter I am, with much respect,
 Very truly yours.
 "R. M. Cunningham,
 Lieutenant and Acting Governor"
 It is believed that Commissioner Poole will cheerfully cooperate fin the move ment to aid the Vulcan fund. He said yesterday evening that he will give the matter early consideration.