The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-10
B|G LEAKAGE IS
 STILL A MYSTERY
Most Of The Offenders Are
 Negro Teachers
THE STATE WINS TAX SUITS
Foreign Corporations Must Pay Fran chise Tax, According To Lower Courts Decision-Henry Gray
 Wins Point In Court.


 discovery of fraud on the part of negro applicants for license to teach and the confessions that have grown out of it indicate that not only have there been far-reaching violations of the law, but violations confined almost wholly to mem bers of the negro race. While the de- partment officers are confident that the first offenders, the ones who actually stole the question lists, are whites the use of them appears to have been almost alto gether by the blacks
 It Is difficult to figure on the initial leak. The questions are sealed up and delive:ed to the express company a few days before the time of examination. They are in several envelopes inside a main large envelope. The county super intendents to whom they are addressed have no right to open them until the day the examination begins and then they can legally open only for each day as the examination progresses. For in stance, all questions for Monday are in an envelope marked Monday" and these only are opened Monday. Other days are the same.
 It would seem that there are only two ways for a leak under the present plans of operation-one through some county superintendent and one through some en- ploye of the express company. The ques- lions are written up in Montgomery and printed in another state, so that the possibilities for leaks here are reduced to a minimum. Therefore 1t is thought by 1aal fc do tha nit City. However, it is possible that the questions may have gotten out at the place where they are being printed but this theory Is not generally accepted.
 The territory of the traffic seems to be confined largely to the black belt though negroes from as far up the state as Br- mingham have been involved in the ac- cusations. For the most part, however, the offenders are from the counties near Montgomery and Dallas, and this appears to have been the trading ground for the rest of the state The ringleaders are Dallas and Montgomery county men, it is charged, who have been, if reports and confessions are borne out, collecting good ly sums of money from those who would thus take a short cut to authority to teach the young colored ideas of the state.
 State Is Winner.
 The state has won it's contention with foreign corporations the lower court of Montgomery holding that the new fran chse tax act is constitutional and thus giving the treasury, if the supreme court agrees, in the neighborhood of s10OOOO a
 
 tie. This is a tax on the franchises held by foreign corporations, and is annual l making very heavy burden upon all who have to pay it.
 The railroads, which were the parties | most interested, paid the tax under pro- | test and entered suit for it's return Both | the railroads and the state utilized their best talent in the fight, and every effort | was made to get at the right of the case. the rail lines contendng the tax is un | constitutional, because it doubles them | up on such fees to an unreasonable point The contention will be carried to the su- preme court for final ruling, it being gen orally the case that where laws are not l patiently illegal the higher court is left | to finally construe them
 Henry Gray Wins Point.
 The city court of Montgomery has over ruled the demurrers of the Louisville and Nashville railroad to the suit of Henry B. Gray, in which he seeks to prevent sale of the stock of the South and North to the Louisville and Nashville thus leaving the restraining order issued some time ago against the sale as it was The effect is to bring the case up to the point of being tried on its merits This fight has been a long drawn out one. MT. Gray has had many cases ln- volving the operation of the South and North. the stock of which he holds in limited way by the Louisville and Nash vile, all growing out of his effort to pre- vent the larger corporation from taking over the smaller even if it does own 90 per cent Of the stock. He has contend ed that he cannot be made to sell his stock at any price if he does not want to, and certainly not at a price he does not think adeuate.
 Wallace compIimented.
 John H. Wallace, Jr, state game and fish commissioner, who spoke to the leg isature of Georgia on Wednesday. was the recipient of a resolution of thanks | from the two houses of most cordial nature. Mr. Wallace, by invitation was | urged to address the members on the | fish and game and the forestry laws of | the state. He did so, and was compli- mented by seeing the bill he drew in | Alabama favorably reported The At lanta Journal in an editorial warmly com | mended MT. Wallace
 Bees Pay Compliment.
 Commissioner of Agriculture J. A. Will | kinson has marked evidence in his of | flee of the enterprise of bees. Some time ago he gave the letters Alabama Agri- cultural Department' to a bee man in Marengo county. This man set them up so that the bees could get at them. as n result of which the words were sent back to the capitol with the spaces filled with honey It is now on exhibition and will be kept for the fair at Montgomery.