The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-04-30
ALABAMIANS PLAY PROMINENT PART
IN GOVERNMENT OF LONE STAR STATE

| do not keep the railroads from taking an
interest in politics, but they are far from
controlling the affairs of the state gov
| eminent.
During the present session Of the state
| legislature an anti-pass law was intro
duced, but a very brief fight was made
and the bill died in the committee.
| According to the Texas constitutions the
| legislature can remain in session indeh-
nitely; providing, however that the MEM
bers only receive 81 per day after the ex-
| piration of the first sixty days. during
which they receive s. per day. The legis-
lature is now in a special called session.
wrestling over the proposed passage of
an advalorem tax bill Previous to the
adjournment this month the governor in
a special message called the attention of
the legislature to the necessity of passing
| an advalorem act, but the body adjourn
ed without taking any action. The gov
ernor then called a special session to con-
slider the act. A hard fight is being waged
by the advalorem tax bill supporters, but
the passage of the act seems uncertain.
Schools Are Flourishing.
In addition to its public buildings the
public schools of this state are justly the
pride of every Texans heart. During the
school year of 1903 and 1904 there was a
sI0S6.5S4 public school fund. whereas in
Alabama we expended only a little over
million dollars last year for school pur-
| poses. The average school term in Texas
! Is six months. In Alabama 1t is now,
thanks to a special taxation, five months.
| The school census In Texas Is 1896 and
the enrolment of the schools between the
J ages of to II is 662a25.
Taking it as whole, this spring has
been one of the wettest that Texas has
experienced in years, but Notwithstanding
| these conditions the farmers have made
good progress in planting their crops 1t
seems to be the general opinion that the
reduction of cotton acreage will be very
slight. In fact many are of the opinion
that the cotton crop this year will be
equally as large as that of last year.
One of the largest and most successful
farmers in central Texas. in speaking
! of the cotton outlook said:
at Is my opinion that the cotton acre.
age this year in Texas will be fully
as great as last, but | doubt If the crop
will be nearly so large. The unusually
wet spring indicates that the summer will
be dry as one extreme follows another
| as a general rule In case of a drought
the cotton crop in Texas would be consd-
erably reduced Therefore, I look for a
reduction of the crop rather than a re-
duction of the acreage"
People Live Well.
The people of the richest belts of the
Lone Star state live as well if not better
than any people on the globe. Nature has
richly endowed this section, and what
nature has failed to provide the pluck
| and brains of the sturdy citizens have
supplemented. The average country home
| In central Texas. though in an isolated
section to some degree, is provided with
every modern convenience found in the
| best appointed homes of the large cities
There are many exampls of these condi-
lions but a striking one Is found in VIII
hanson county. The house is situated on
the plains In the middle of the black
belt.
1t is made of stone and is architectural
" as perfect as the most imposing resi-
dences of city. This home Is provided
with complete system of water works
| stlpplied by means of a wind mill and
| tank; gas lights. the gas being generated
| by a small plant, and complete heat
ing system Here is where the people
enjoy every advantage of city and coun-
| try life.
The people of Texas have not yet tired
of speaking of the recent trip of Presi-
| dent Roosevelt through the state While
the reception of the President was cordia
| It was dignified. The old-timers are won
| to say that the unreserved southern hos
pitality was lacking. In greeting the
President the people seemed to have pui
check on tier enthusiasm for feal
that It would appear too gushing. Al
though Texas is composed of citizen'
from every state of the union. the sen
timent obtaining among them Is intensely
southern. Nowhere in the country has
Mr. Roosevelt's attitude on the race ques
ton been more severely condemned While
the people attempted to forget these UNI