The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-27

The furniture in most of the offices ot the capitol is little short of d dis grace to the state-the great and pros- porous state of Alabama. Old-fashioned and delapidated facilities prevail and open cases for filing valuable state rec ords are in most instances in use. Pri- vate Secretary J. Kirk Jackson has a desk that might have been ornamental 1T. the days of Christopher Columbus, O. possibly as late George Washing ton, and much of the other fittings of the room match. Up in the convict de- pertinent which earned nearly half million dollars last year, there are some accommodations that "age" back to re- construction days, the desk of President Carmichael looking like a sample of an- tiouated school furniture. There are others-but what's the use? And, be- sides, why should outsiders kick when those who are most interestsl are appar- ently satisfied? The fact is, Private See retary Jackson would raise a goodly proportioned row if anyone should under take to move his desk out, even though he is inclined to doff his hat out of re- spect to the gray hairs 1t would have if a person, instead of a feelingless and badly scratched up production of the cabinet makers art The fact is, Alabama is q mighty poor housekeeper and the ladies would be very much chagrined ie any of their homes were allowed to reach such a state of confusion and neglect as is evident at the capitol.
 I W. Hill talks and thinks local tax all the time. His friends verify believe that if he were making a speech on the best way to outgeneral a Japanese army of- ficer, he would argue that ''lO cents on the hundred dollars" would do the work. One day last week Mir. Hill went up in the populist and republican-r county of Chiffon to tell them all about 1t. He was entertained at the home of a we'll to-do old citizen, who was known to regard the proposition to levy more school taxes by by county agreement or any other plan as distinct form Of hold-up, which he considered his duty to discour- age. The next day at an institute thls old gentleman arose and announced ms complete conversion. "1 am not only Will ing to give $1 on the thousand" he as- serted "but 80 if necessary" MT. Hill says he doesn't know when he did It. neither was he aware that he was so con vincing in argument.
 
 Prof J. A. Liner president or the Sec ond District Agricultural school at Ever green was at the capitol yesterday and took the time to tell what a fine show inJ- is being made at the school this year. There were some fears that the increased fees of this year over last, would keep pupils away. but not so. The 1905 attend ance is far and away ahead of any other session. This institution teaches agrioul- ture scientifically as well as imparting single rule of three and other valuable inspiration 10 ambitious youths.
 Not a man in the city or a frequent visitor but rejoices in the promotion of Patrick Sweeney from patrolman to roundsman. From every indication the advancement has been worthily bestow- ed. Mir Sweeney Is one of the best known of Chief Gerald's men and the only one who can keep Court Square from being blockaded during the cotton season.
 Judge J. NJ. Carmichael was down in Dale county yesterday looking after his extensive farming interests and Dr. Shr- ley Bragg was not out much in the cold as Associate Inspector Thomas Bradford ssent most of the day at the convict de-