The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-20
ANXIOUS ID SAVE THE SCHOOL LANDS Morrow and Moore Confer
 With the Governor WANT TO STOP SQUIRTING For First Time In History of State There Is More Money to Pay
 Old Soldiers Than Law
 Will Allow.
WANT TO STOP SQUIRTING

Montgomery, September 19-(Specal)- Jones G. Moore, president of the Birming- ham Southern railway, and Hugh Mor- row attorney, both of Birmingham, were in the office of the Governor today for more than an hour discussing matters or importance to the Montevallo Girls ln- dustrial school, of which MT. Moore Is a trustee, and the State university, of which Mir. Morrow Is an officer of like authority Before succeeding Capt. James E. Webb, resigned, on the board of trus- tees of the university, MT. Morrow was an attorney for the board, and therefore well informed and greatly interested III it's welfare.
 Governor Jelks said that while the two gentlemen talked of other matters their main theme was the practice of squatting on the school lands of the state and or these two schools particularly, by per sons who, thereby, gained a color O4. tltle and then made a fight for the full twenty years possession that would give them good right to stay. They came to urge Governor Jelks to include the call for any extra session of the legislature that he might summon a request for < statute to prevent this sort of summary taking over of the property of the state by those who have no right to 1t.
 Only of Schools.
 When asked if Messrs. Morrow and Moore talked to him of the propositin to include in a call for the solons to assemble a place for the adoption of bill for the enlargement and extension of the corporate limits of Birmingham, the governor replied by saying that 1t was just as he at first mentioned. The gentlemen came for the purpose above outlined and stated that it was the busi- no vyt n llad and devoted practically all of the conference to dis cusson of the subject. While there might have been talk in an incidental way or other matters the theme of the conversa- ton was the effort to devise a means to protect the state from further JOSS from those who seek to take the property of the schools in a way that IS little less than confiscation, in many cases.
 This is no new matter to the Governor. At the last session of the legislature there was a bill presented that would have met the very conditions now dis cussed by Messrs Morrow and Moore and other school trustees, but 1t was killed. Strange as 1t may seem, there was de- cided opposition to 1t on the part of many who would seem to have the in terests of the state at heart enough to try to save its school property.
 Old Litigation.
 This question brings up, however, the report often heard that there is much of the lands which the state now con tends it owns that has really passed from the rights of the state. Attorney General Massey Wilson said that in bis investigations he hau found eases quite often where lands had been secured from agents of the state in good faith and payment made. The money, either by the dishonesty of the seller or the fact that it was put in some state bank and never got to the state treasurer. Of course fight for title is made and as the owner has a showing of purchase bear Ing evidence of genuineness he secures his lands
 However, the practices that the Gov ernor and trustees of the schools are now trying to break up are of far more re- cent origin. In fact, it Is unhesitatingly said that in some sections there are men who have gone deliberately into the stealing of these lands. People were paid to move on them and to contend for pos session when ordered to vacate. The men who were behind them came for ward and put up the money to make the fight. and 1t is not extravagant to say that there have been thousands of dol lars of loss to the schools from this source of squatting, which. with the present laws, the officers are not able to combat in anything like reasonable time.
 Too Much Money.
 It has been discovered that for tho first time in the history of the state there is more money for the old soldiers than tthe law will allow the auditor to pay out to them, and that of the s470,dvJ available with the addition made by the Governor of $10O,0OO, as permitted by the legislature, somewhere near $l0,C00 will be turned back into the general fund.
 By law passed in 1900 the state can pay the old soldiers in pensions no more than the maximum allowed for each one, which is $60 $50. $40 and s30 No more can be paid out no matter how much money may have been set aside or col lected for the purpose The maximum will be reached this year and over, not to mention something like $l0000 which will be returned In unpaid and uncalled for warrants, this being a low average of this kind of returns.
 The total distribution last year was $35s.- 933. which gave amounts in the following sums: First class, s43.30 each second. $36 10; third, s2S.S5 and fourth s2l .65.
 Convict Service.
 The regular monthly meeting of the state board of convict inspectors, held to- day, took up a lot of routine, but did nothing or SpeClal interest, so Tar as could be discovered. These meetings are held monthly and usually combine little more than the making of food and clothing oon- tracts and the auditing of bills.
 We are lightning up a little." said President ,L,.M. Carmichael after the ses- sion today. That means we are not pro- ducing just as we think we might and should and we are getting into the mat ter to discover where we are falling off. We must make the best of the contracts for the convicts and the state. and there fore are compelled to keep close watch upon the whole stuation'
 The judge takes the same interest in the work of the department he does in the management of his farm in Dale county, and that he has earned big money for the state Is evidence that he Is keeping busy.
 It Is a matter of regret that MT. Camp CT has very Ill daughter, and could not be here He is associate inspector in charge of the field work of the depart ment.
 School Book Status.
 The school book situation remains as 1t has been for several days. It is very cer- tain now that there will be a settlement of the troubles of the publishers and that a state depository to take care of the whole of the state south of Montgomery will be established in a few days. While 1t seems to be nobody's fault there Is every evidence that the publishers are up a ft.ar md xrfin hnn tA