Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-22
No State More Frugal.

These are the principal items in the Ala
bama budget, and doubt if any other state
is more frugal. The legislative expenses
| are particularly low. The Congress of the
United States could not run an hour on that
income The legislature may not sit more
than fifty days. hence each member can
not receive a total compensation of more
than 500.
The governor has salary of $4,000 per
year. Just now a double salary is being
paid because Governor W. D. Jelks was
compelled to leave the state more than
year ago on account of poor health and Is
still in southern California. 1t Is doubtful
If he will ever be able to return to his
home. but he has not resigned his oh1ce
| and does not intend to do so, but will con-
tinue to draw his salary until the end of
his term. Dr. r. N. Cunningham, one of the
leading physicians of Birmingham, who
was elected lieutenant governor. has been
acting the chief executive for more than
a year. and draws the compensation author
lied by law. Dr. Cunningham Is man of
| marked ability, progressive ideas, an elo-
quent orator, a thirty-third degree Mason.
and has served his country in both houses
of the legislature and in the recent constf-
tutional convention. His administration as
acting governor has been so satisfactory
that he Will undoubtedly be reelected TOT.
the full term.
The salaries paid to the officials in Ala
bama very small compared with those
of other states, and there Is little chance
railroad passes, for under section pa of the
new constitution any member of the legis-
lature or any official of the government or
any person exercising judicial functions
shall be fined not exceeding 500. imprisoned
for term not exceeding six months and
be removed from office II he shall accept
free pass or railroad ticket at rate
lower than is paid by the general public. or
il he shall solicit free transportation or re-
duced rates for the benefit of any other
person or persons.
says that this law Is strictly enforced, but
railway officials smile In a significant man
ner when they are questioned, and decline
to give any information the subject.
There are a good many railroads In Ala
bama. and they need legislation from time
to time just like those of any other state.
Healthy, Natural Growth.
The state is growing in population in a
healthy. natural manner. The development
of its resources attracts immigration, and
the advertising of the railroad companies
brings thousands of families, chiefly farm
ers from the east and north into the state
every year. The railroads are also intro
ducing large variety of manufacturing
enterprises. According to the census of
1900 the population was 1,S2S, 697. and it
has undoubtedly increased to more than
100000 since that date. The population
has doubled since 1870
Twenty years ago Alabama was purely an
agricultural state, and very little but cot
ton and corn was produced here. Today
the tonnage of it's mines and furnaces ex-
ceeds that of the combined crops of all the
southern states, and the agricultural wealth
has developed In rapid manner. The cot
ton crop of Alabama VIII average more
| than million bales,Nor about 10 per cent
Of the total for the country: while 100000
bushels of wheat, 4, 500, 900 bushels OF oats
40.GO0, coo bushels of corn and vegetables,
fruit berries and all kinds of other horti-
cultural and agricultural products are pro-
duced In great quantities.
While making some progress In the manu-
featuring Of cotton, Alabama is still far
L Behind several other Of the sOuthexn states
/ IN that industry, which might be Its second
! greatest source of wealth. There are now