The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-31
LOWNDES ID FIGHT LOCAL OPTION LAW Will Demand That DiSpenSary Be Licensed Next Year MAY DEFY CLOSING ACT It Is Claimed That Saloon Men of Montgomery May Continue Keep
 ing Late Hours-Insuranc
 Security Values.
MAY DEFY CLOSING ACT

hOnlEuiltf9t OtttflDtI Ju-ioDtNidisJ- J- The anti-prohibition forces of Fort De- posit have decided to fight the local op- ton law of Lowndes county, and have prepared to demand through the courts that the dispensary at that place be li- censed for next year. In case the license is refused. as it will be, the probate judge will be mandamused. It is the intention of the friends of the dispensary to take the matter to the courts for final set clement. It is also understood that other counties interested in breaking the local option acts will have part in the contest to be made in Lowndes. That county was one of the last to vote liquor out un- der this act, and there was much oppo- sition on the part of many citizens.
 Early Closing Hours.
 Sheriff Hood has asked Solicitor Dent for an opinion as to his duty in case the closing law, as is to be done in Mobile, where the city attorney has declared it unconstitutional. So far MT. Dent has not answered. MT. Hood is not certain that he should not seek to bring about prosecutions even if the law is declared to be illegal by some city, county or state attorney, many being of the opinion that the law must be observed until declared bad by legal tribunal of last resort. It is understood that lawyers of note in the city have intimated to the saloon men that the law will not hold, and some of them are said to be contemplating ignor- ing it for the time at any rate. To head this off MT. Hood would have an opinion.
 Will Not Ship Liquor.
 Local express men say they will aid in every way the enforcement of the anti shipping act, which becomes effective with the closing of the year. It provides that no liquors shall be shipped from wet into dry territory, making it penalty to do so. While the state can not keep other states from shipping it in, it can take care of it's own people. At the same time the law Is effective that makes it the duty of the sheriff of every county to secure lists of the holders of revenue licenses in the state and post them at the county seats in order that grand juries may know who are authorized by the government to sell intoxicants.
 To Hear Railroads.
 The Alabama railroad commission will take up the question of the reduction Of passenger trains on the Southern rail- way on Wednesday, January l, it being the desire of the road to make the changes on Sunday, January 3. So Tar none of the roads save the Southern have asked that they be allowed to take off trains, and 1t is thought that there Will be none, though there have been many reports that such would be the case.
 It is also a matter of interest that the steamboat men have only to January l to file tariffs with the commission, according to a new law, and they may be called upon to tell why when the time has passed The supposition is that they will be cited to appear if they do not conform with the order made.
 Security Values.
 Alabama has taken the lead in suggest ing that securities of insurance com panies doing business in the state be held at their market value. or somewhere near that figure The fact of the business Is the meeting of insurance commissioners in Louisville recently adopted plans to that effect, long in use in Alabama.
 In letters sent out some months ago, h. surance Commissioner Julian and Deputy Commissioner Sexton insisted that at av- craze of the year 1907 be taken as a fair average upon which to put the val ues The rule adopted by the commis- sioners in session was largely along this line. It provides that the values at the first and last of each month in this year be taken and the values adopted by the state be the mean of the whole.
 Letter Sent Out.
 Tn letter to the companies, Commis- sioner Julian refers to this plan, and says that it is the policy of the department to pursue the course suggested in the reso- lutions adopted at the meeting. However, this is to be with the understanding that the right is reserved to depart from the same should the facts, with reference to any particular security warrant such ac- tion.'' It is also made plain that the de partment will avail itself of the ability of men who are known ot be fully post ed on apprasement In order that the truth may be gotten at in the safest ana best way Mir Julian also approves the suggestion that a committee or seven commissioners be named to appraise the securities.
 Death of Captain Walker.
 The death of Capt. B. w. Walker, for mer United States marshal, takes away a 
 well known man. He was 60 years Of age and long a resident of this and Macon counties. owning large properties in the latter.
 Boy Sent Home.
 Mrs. C. A. Sanders has just returned to Atlanta with her small boy who ran away from that place several days ago. The boy says he rode over here under the seat of the coach, and that passengers fed him and kept him out of sight of the conductor. The lad was rather glad to get back home, however, having Fad his fill of "hoboing"
 Money for. Veterans.
 Gen. Eli Terrence, head of the Grand Army at one time, has sent 70 one dollar bills to be given to the ola soldiers at the Mountain Creek home for old Confed- crates.
 Montgomery Beats vandy.
 Montgomery, December 30.- Montgom- cry Y. M. c. A. basketball team defeated the Vanderbilt university team here to-