The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-16
EYESTER ON THE COMMITTEE ACTION North Alabama Expresses Gen.
 eraI Satisfaction JONESOFF FOR WASHINGTON Interesting Figures Compiled By Sec retary Griffin on Earnings of Rail-
 roads In Alabama for
 the Year 1905.
JONESOFF FOR WASHINGTON
BY HERvEY W. LAIRD.

Montgomery. January 15.-(Special)- )- Several well known men in business and political life have been here today. among them John c. Eyester of New Decatur member of the state democratic execu- tive committee. and there is a general expression of approval of the start made by the democracy of the state in the cam paign of 19O6 Mir. Eyester, who was on his way to Tucaloosa to attend some bus mess, said:
 "In our part of the state there Is cor dial approval of the plan of the state committed known as the 'Whitson plan. It certainly gives the people a chance to say who shall serve them, which is the best of democratic doctrine so far as my education goes. There are some who com plain, of course. but the predominant sentiment is an agreement with the work of the committee
 Others have said much of the same thing There is criticism of the plan to name men for senatorial vacancies more than of any other feature, perhaps. but 1t is not widespread enough to indicate any general discontent. However. it Is thought by many that 1t would have been better to have opened the race and let as many run as cared to do so, letting the two highest men have the places and endorsing the others in line of the num- Der of votes received for vacancies. As it is now a man must run for either the senatorship of vacancy, having no standing in the field if he does not en- ter.
 Jones to Washington.
 Judge Thomas G. Jones, after consider able persuasion, consented to go to Wash ington and appear before the committee of Congress on the question of new federal judge in Alabama. There has come up some confusion on the bills be- fore Congress and there will be few days given to getting matters in hand Richardson has a bill seeking to have a judge for the Northern district, while there has been another plan to have an additional judge to help Judge Jones take care of both the Northern and Middle districts. If the Richardson bill should pass it will help the situation for Judge Jones in this way. He will have then only this district, which will not take up all of his time, and if sent to the Northern district then will have his expenses paid. l If the additional judge is given he will | hold court wherever necessary but Will | have no expense account.
 1 However the judge has promoted the additional judge because he thinks 1t will come nearer meeting the conditions. There | is too much work in the Northern district for one man, but with the. duties of the two districts thrown into one two men can take care of them and keep the dockets up.
 Railroad Earnings for 1905. | The Alabama railroads seem to have done good business in the year 1905, ac- cording to the report of the secretary to the state railroad commission. The gross earnings for all the roads in the state was $29 4S5 9O79 94 compared with $2s, ,222 S29. 72 | the year before. This is an increase for the twelve months of $1, ,263,077.S9 in gross receipts. The increase in operation ex- penses was $1O55, ,62464 The expenses were $22, 5,O376O, as against $21, ,379, ,412 9f | the year before. The met earnings for 1905 were $7,O5OS70.34, as against $6.s4S, 67f the year before.
 | There has also been an increase of something like 250 miles or track, maybe little less, but this has not yet been made up by Secretary Griffin who is getting up his report. It will be seen, however that the year was good one l for the Alabama rail lines.
 1 This report only comes up to the first day of last October, that ending the fiscal year. It Is quite likely that the next report will show even greater increases | and betterments.
 Fifth District School. | It is proposed to erect a $25,0O0 building l on the site of the burned Fifth District | Agricultural school structure The peo- pie have raised 5000 by subscription, and to this they will add as much from the | insurance. Then there will begin a can vass for the balance needed to give the town frst-cass plant for the work in hand.
 The following well-known citizens came over from Wetumpka to see the Cover | nor today and had a conference with | that official along with the state super l intendent of education and the commis- sioner of agriculture: Judge Cabot Lull, H. Hohenberg. F. w. Lull, w. L. Lan- caster and J. W. Jenkins. Prof. H. J. Willingham, principal of the school, was also in the party. They conferred with the officers of the state looking to the securing of help along lines that could | be given.
 | By law there is a board of five trustees | to each of the district agricultural schools composed of two local citizens and the | Governor, the superintendent of educa- ton and the commissioner of agriculture This gives a majority at the capital on