The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-12
PROVISIONS OF
 NEW LABOR LAW It Is feared Some May Use It
 To Hurt Ignorant GRAND JURY ORGANIZED Bill Introduced By Congressman Wiley For the Improvement of the Alabama River Is Watched By Mont
 eomery People.

Montgomery, December f1.-(Special)- The new contract labor law, which has recently become effective. is regarded as dangerous if interruptions men try to have it inforced It is aimed at the negro and is looked to as means of preventing negroes on the farms from entering into contract and then leaving the landlords h the lurch, It provides heavy fine for any man who enters into agreement and then fails to keep it. Part of the fine goes to the state and part to the injured party. An act much like this has been declared unconstitutional by several of the Ala bama courts.
 As amended, the act says: Any person who with intent to injure or defraud his employer enters into a contract in writing for the performance of any act of ser vice and thereby obtains money or any other persanal property from Silch em- ployer, and with like intent and without just cause, and without refundng such money, or paying for such property, re- fuses or fails to perform such act of ser vice, must, on conviction be punished by fine in double the damage suffered by the injured party. but not more than sSeo one-half of such fine to go to the county and one-half to the party injured.'
 The same provision is made in the event of the renting of land, fine to be collected and sent out in the same way. It Is greatly feared that the law may be used to the hurt of the ignorant although it is made in the interest of right and justice.
 Federal Grand Jury.
 The federal grand jury has been or ganized for the term with A. J. McElhaney as foreman, with 20 other men. Judge Thomas G. Jones made the usual charge, calling attention to duty in a general way. He did not refer to the railroad litigation except to say that after the work of the term the jury would be given recess instead of discharge, as they might be needed later on.
 Dr. Frank Caffey, against whom there are several cases of alleged mai practice, has had his case postponed to February term of the court because of illness.
 The Montgomery county jail, one of the best in the state. has been received after d thorough inspection by Jail Inspector Shirley Bragg. It is a modern building. It is a matter of interest that the most of the jails now being built or repaired are received only on the approval of the jail inspector. One has just been taken over at Ashvlle in that way.
 WiIey's Waterways Bill.
 bill was introduced by Hon. A. A.. Wiley in the House of Representatives De- cember 3 calling for an appropriation of $500, GOO to deepen the channel and remove Instructions in the Alabama river, In the state of Alabama.
 The improvement of the harbors and internal waterways of the country is one of the most popular political questions. it is said, at Washington For this rea- son, according to recent letter, posl- tion on the committee on rivers and har- bors is being sought after by Congress- men. The recent deep waterways con vention at the nationals capital, 1t is said, has emphasized the importance of this matter upon the Congress, and MT. Wiley himself and the friends of the measure are more sanguine of something substantial being done for Alabama waters than ever before.
 Mr. Wiley's bill, which was referred to the committee on rivers and harbors, fol- lows:
 bill to appropriate s50O,oO0 to deepen the channel and remove Instructions in the Alabama river, in the state of Ala bama:
 Be 1t enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled That the sum of $500O0O be, and the same is hereby, appropriated. out of any money Tn the treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, to deepen the channel of the Alabama river and to re- move Instructions therefrom within the same navigable points for which an ap- propriaton for such purposes has already been made; that said sum shall be made available in five equal installments of s1O0,OO0 per annum during continuous period of five years, and shall be expended under the supervision and direction of the Secretary of War
 Cotton Situation.
 The cotton situation today is improved somewhat from yesterday. MT Nell of C. G. Abercrombie X Co.,. brokers, said that Liverpool should have responded to the rather bearish report from Washing ton froia 19 to 22 points (Engllsh points), but onls dropped II points. In conse- ouence Athe American market was strengtheted beyond what the market was yesterdayA But it sold out and weakened again, but recovered, and at noon was several points above yesterday"
 The wire Of that exchange also con- tains the information that "The next census9of cotton gilned to December B will be Issued abou- December 20. It Is expected the report will be bullish and will change the sentiment that was af- feoted by yesterdays report.
 Another wire iron New Orleans states that spots in New orleans only went off E in consequence o the agricultural re- port.