The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-09
Carries the Day in Ways and
Means Committee
BILLS IN HANDS OF SHAW
Payne Not Bound BY Sub-Treasury
Caucus, But General Loyalty to the
Magic City and Governor john
ston's Speech Effective.

Washington. January S.-(speeal )-Bir-
mingham yesterday won the caucus fight
for the United States sub-treasury and
today won a no less notable victory In
the ways and means committee, through
remarks made by Representative Under
wood, Representative Bowie and Gov. Jo-
seph f. Johnston. The governor who
was given practically all the time al
lotted to the Birmingham delegation. car
ried all before him and undoubtedly made
a tine impression upon the committee,
which will have the say in the House.
1t was, of course. made very plain by
Chairman Payne that he did not con-
slider any caucus binding on the ways
and means committee and the advocates
of Birmingham assured the committee
that they did not take this view. They
simply brought before the chairman the
fact, and 1t appealed to him, that Bir-
mingham was endorsed by the states of
Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama.
and the wishes of that section which
would be served Dy the sub-treasury,
would at least amount to something.
Several of the Tennessee and South
Carolina representatives made talks to the
to Birmingham. They only desired to re-
mind the committee that some other time
another sub-treasury may be wanted, and
it was their view that they be kept in
mind. The committee held two sessions
and heard Governor Johnston. John Tenn
pie Graves and Representatives Llvings-
ton and Bartlett of Georgia. and other
delegates, representing Columbia, Atlanta
and Knoxville.
When the committee adjourned Chair
man Payne stated that he would refer
all the bills to Secretary Shaw for az
report and when that has been received
from the Secretary. there viii III en sp-
pei 'uret cophette " consider We gem
1.fal at st1n ~ g. ate = fA a4gs H1aron.
at viii probably be several days before
The Secretary returns the bill to the
chairman with his recommendations and
anything definite can be determined In
the meantime Birmingham holds the whip
hand, and through the remarks of the
Alahamians, 1t IS safe to say that an
impression was made upon the commit
tee which means Birmingham or moth
ing
Johnston's Speech.
Governor Johnston had the committee
with him before he had proceeded three
minutes.
Why gentlemen" he exclaimed our
Georgia friends seceeded yesterday. Now
l engaged in that business some forty-ive
years ago. We We're brought back feet
foremost, but Georgia seems TO forget
that We have only the kindest feelings
for Georgia, Alabama is her daughter; Bir-
mingham her granddaughter. She ought
not 10 refuse this little sub-treasury
Jewel To the little daughter of her daugh-
ter"
The committee applauded
Governor Johnston, who was fortified
with statistics from the census office and
geological survey interpersed his solid
facts with witticisms which caught the
committee.
Now. in Birmingham, said he, we
have eleven lines of railroads and three
more are building. We have bank de-
posits amounting TO twenty millions of
dollars"
Al this point Representative Bowie re-
ceived a report from the geological sur
vey showing that last year the minerals
in the Birmingham district were valued
at over hfty-three pilllon dollars, while
those of Atlanta were under seven mill
lion.
There Is more value in the tonnage
from Jefferson county in a week than
the whole cotton crop of the south
amounts to- added Mr.. Bowie. Gentle
men," said Governor Johnston, for our
railroads we produce freight; we have
something to haul. Now If wind were an
export Atlanta would have a cinch The
same would be true If there were a ques-
ton OF Swift Specific or Coca-cola But
it Is a question of a United States sub
treasury.
I'm Birmingham we pay out In wages
something like forty-two millions a. year.
We export our iron to Europe. 1t
goes all over the world. Atlanta has
much to be proud of. We do not attempt
to minimize the growth of that city. We
are glad of its prosperity. We were all
for the federal prison recently located
there We thought Georgia would need
II, Just as we need this sub-treasury.
New" continued the governor, I'VE
don't expect to convince Georgia that we
ought to have this sub-treasury, and we
are not going to say anything unknd
about Georgia. But this sub-treasury
ought to be placed where II will bensnt
the bankers. In practically every city in
the territory we can place money on the
afternoon of the same day. So far away
as Columbia. for instance, would reach
the next morning before Z o'clock.
There in Birmingham we can whip the
world in producing iron. We are the
Ctnter of the iron and cotton region OF
the south. We represent the strength.
vitality, endurance and patience of the
old south upbuilding new lines"