The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-29
SIDEWALK PENCILiNGS
Detective Yagraney Law.

Legislature passes new vagrancy law" said well known,member of the Mont gomery bar yesterday, which VIII per- enforcement than is permitted under the present statute, the problem or the vagrants. which Is daily increasing Tn seriousness in this state. % VIII pc too
 Tt Is a fact that under the present law 1t Is almost impossible for q so- licitor to present proof that the snilt- less are really vagrants. The law now in use was passed four years ago, and, apparently, at the time, 1t was good and sufficient to meet the needs Of the problem. Under the interpretation by the State Supreme Court, however the burden or proof rests upon Lhe state and thisiis an obstacle which the State's legal representatives find in many cases lnsurmountable
 "rhe increasing number of idle and lazy negroes whom the people of Ala bama are forced to support in one way or another. has become so great as to De menace. That this is true IS gem orally recognized. and no one. would think of entering denial, ~Still, with the responsibility of proving this fact victions are secured. and large per sent back to the lower courts
 T remember. for instance. Of case where negro woman was on trial Tor vagrancy. The solicitor proved her guilt, proved that she had never earn ed Q dollar in her life; proved that she had never done any work of any kind. When the case appeared complete, the lawyers for the defense put forth the question:: How do you know this wo~ man has not one hundred dollars on the wherewfthai to support herseirT
 The case of he prosecution was lost. Sos unless we are to have new law, such as ona placing the burden of proof upon the defendant, or mak- ing some other restriction which will enable the prosecuting attorney to oh- tain q hold upon the case. law for vagrants will be imperative, and va grants wili continue to increase with no check. as rapidly as they are do- ing now"
 Few Montgomery Fires.
 Montgomery must either have an ex- cellent fire department or else we are fortunate in not having many large fires" said a weli-known fire under writer yesterday.
 mingham has just had another large fire in It's business district. Birming- ham has had great many fires of considerable magnitude lately. Mont gomery probably has that city outelass- ed in a fire department or it is likely that Montgomery has had more luck in this line.
 Tt is a rare occurrence that Mont gomery ever has a fire that amounts to great deal. The only fire in the business district in long, long while, that resulted in large damage, was the of Commerce and Bibb Streets. last May. Many of our fires, that seem to be destructive. are ntpped by our prompt and efficient firemen before the flames have had chance to gain head way,
 see why Montgomery's fire insurance rates shouldn't be as low as that of any other city in the country Figures certainly show that the risk here is not as great as tn other cities where should not stop until the companies are induced to grant rates on q par with other first class municipalities :"
 MT. FoFe Comes to Town.
 Mir. William E. Fort, Assistant Chair man of the Democratic State Campaign Committee. during the recent elections. came to Montgomery from BiFming turning to the Magic City last even ing.
 for the office of Private Secretary to official takes office, He Is a young Alabamian who has achieved a desir- able practice in Birmingham, and con- siderable reputation throughout the State for efficient services rendered to his party, and 1t isSconsidered probable by those who are on the inside that he will be chosen for the important poe sition..
 Columbia Alumni Intererfed.
 More than half a dozen alumni of Columbia University have expressed to pr. F. c. Stevenson their desire to participate in an organized effort to pay their respects to a former presi- dent of the institution, Hon. Seth Low of New York. when he Is the guest of the Commercial Club of Montgomery next Wednesday and Thursday pr. Stevenson, himself an alumnus of Co., lumbia. is acting on behalf of the Commercial Club, and has requested alumni to send their names and ad- dresses to him.
 Hon. E. R. McDavid. Secretary of State, is In bed suffering from a slight contracted while on a recent visit to Birmingha'
 Messrs. J. w. Hornaday, c. W. oli- were at the winRdsSer yesterday.
 Alderman Adolph Roemer. who was injured by being thrown from his bug SS d week @No imRr0V'hE
 Mir. J. L. Bishop. an attorney of sel- ma was in Montgomery yesterday on his way home. M g.
 was registered at the New Exchange last night.
 MT. F. E. St. John of Cullman was staying at the New Exchange Hotel yesterday.
 Messrs. 2. Turberville and T. W. Holden of Shibboleth were at Clancey's s yesterday.
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 MT. E. NJ. Moore of Wetumpka was registered at the Imperial Hotel yes terday.
 MT. R. w, Batson of Birmingham was in the city yesterday.
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 MT. E. c. Pettus of Birmingham was in the city yesterday,