The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-08-19
Many Discuss Problem of DOu-
 ble Pay for Governors.
EXPLANATION IS OFFERED
Convict Department Says Reason sIoss Company Is Behind Is Because There Is Dispute Over
 the Claim.

nor Cunningham is serving, and both drawing pay. The Times says
 Tt is very plain to -Ae Times that it is not the intention of the constitution that Alabama shall pay two governors. Either Governor Cunningham should be paid for discharging the functions of the office of | governor or Governor Jelks should be paid That both shoula be given the salary for the office is not only from i layman's viewpoint in contravention of the laws of the state but sin against common propriety. bad precedent is being established. A predicate for un- necessary criticism exists which may make the policies of a democratic admin ic.-ltion the pretext for republican att tack and censure."
 l In an anonymous article printed in the same paper and endorsed by the editor the following occurs: While all our people deeply sy.apathize with Governor Jelks in his affiction and would rejoice to have him restored to health, yet he is I not an object of charity nor do l assume tha, the tax payers of Alabama will con- sent to the additional raid of $416.66 month upon the treasury while he is absent from the state"
 | The local sentiment is very much oppo- site to the position of the Times and takes tbe position the payment of the two sal aries is perfectly lawful.
 Convict Department Explains.
 The convict department explains that the reason that the Sloss-Shefheld Steel | and Iron company is charged up with | 5000 not yet paid over for convict hire, Is that the amount is in dispute. Some | time ago at Flat Top the miners were | all ready for work and the company was | not.
 The contract stipulated that the com | pany was to furnish certain things in the 1 conduct of the work and the state is to do the work with the convicts. The | delay and loss of time caused by the failure of the company to provide proper | facilities for work was charged up by | the department just as if the men had worked, the total sum being S3033. 40. The company refuses to pay it, or rather l will not pay it until satisfied 1t has to, l and the department has asked the attor- ney general for advice in the premises. The papers were turned over to Attorney General Wilson several days ago and he has not yet made report them. Save this item the report of the state examiner shows the convict department to be in splendid condition. The other | amounts due simply monthly bal | ances. It is said that the department Is closer up with all outstanding accounts | than for any time in twenty-five years. | The net income of the first three quar- | ters of the present fiscal year was $217,- | II. with good prospects for as good | returns for the last three months. The | returns from the department amount to | returns from the department for the year ending September 30, 1903, were $33S, 413.4 46. | Of ths amount $160. 41S.35 was net, after | paying every expense against the depart ment. With the same ratio maintained that has prevailed for the past nine months the net Income this year will be | s275. 403
 Convicts Escape.
 | Two escapes are reported from the l convict forces, Posey Kirkland and Esther Thornton, negroes, from the mills | of the Tyson Lumber company at Enter | prise Rewards of $50 each are offered for their capture. Kirkland is from Dale | county and sent up for murder. He is | also known as Posey .Snowden. Thornton is known as Esther and also Ned Thorn | ton. He was sent up from Lee county | for grand larceny.
 | As if to even up, two escapes are re- ported captured today. George MoMillan, who got away from Speigner last Tues day has been secured, being caught at l 0dleTd. lie IS SICK ana DOI aDle 10 uO any work. John Whalen of Mobile coun- ty, serving term for grand larceny, es- | capped, has been caught at Toledo, O. He escaped first September 16 1902 and was | caught the next day. He got away again on March 20, of this year. and has been gone since He was sent up for three years on April "A, 1902. and his short term would have expired and given him free dom next month if he had not run away.
 Many Rumors From Thomaston. | Nothing has been heard here of the re- ported rioting at Thomaston, where Rufe | Lessure, negro. was lynched Sunday night because he entered the room of Mrs. J. P. Hollis during the night It was reported that Mrs. Hollis son had been killed by negroes, and that there 1 was a general row on. No word of any thing of the kind has been received here.
 Acting Governor Cunningham Is urging the sheriff of the county to look Into the matter and endeavor to bring the guilty men who took the life of the negro to account for it. He is also crowdng the sheriff of Pckens county to investigate the recent lynching of negro in that county and do everything possible to bring those who took part in the violation of the law to account. Acting Governor Cunningham Is greatly In earnest in his fight against the lynchfng evil, and Is do- ing everything in his power 10 give 1t a setback in Alabama.
 Will Raise Tax Valuations. It has been decided by the state tax commissioner that the properties of the Corona Coal Coke & Iron Co., the Jas per Land Company, the Elemac Coal com pany, and the Gulf Coal ana Co:e com pany, all in Walker county, shall have their taxation value raised $lS0000. A big fight was made against the raises by L. B. Musgrove for the Corona com pany, who is also interested in most of the other companies and w. C. Davis. attor- ney for the coal companies, all of Jasper. State Auditor Sowell sat with State Tax Commissioner Harvey Jones, in an advis- ory way in the discussion of the cases, had no authority in making up any deci- sion, thatsbeing the exclusive preroaga- tive of the commissioner. The raieses were made by R. A. ORear. tax commits sioner of Walker county.
 Officers Commissions.
 The matter of commissions of the state officers-sheriffs, tax collectors and tax assessors is causing some talk. The new constitution extended the time of the sheriffs two years and the legislature made the tax officers to hold over to next August.
 These extra services are designated ex-
 tended term, and it is not thought by
 most of the state officials who have studied the matter that they will have te [ secure new commissions for the short [ term from the secretary of state and pay , | the fee therefore. because the term IS paf'