davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
JUDGE HUNDLEY
 CROSS EXAMINED Hearings In Confirmation Case
 Are About Ended
STATEMENT BY OPPOSITION
Representatives Richardson ansS nett Question the Judge K. Southern Steel Receve6o And Other MattersSa
 6S

Washington, February Specially The hearings in the case dge Oscar Hundley of the Northe. district of Alabama were practically concluded by the Senate judiciary sub committee to- day.
 The House members who are oppos- ing the confirmation of Hundley will file written statement on Friday and perhaps by next Monday there will be report from the sub committee to the full committee. Senator Dillingham;, the chairman of the sub committee, thinks there is no doubt that the sub committee will report in favor of the confirmation of the judge. Hundley's supporters claim that matters which have been brought out against him are not directly connected with the ques- ton as to whether he should be con- firmed.
 The hearing of today was confined to the oss-examination of Judge Hundley by Representative Richardson and Representative Burnett, the latter devoting himself to the Southern Steel Af'e~AS ASNSiN vi oiiAp. cuuEC iNicii ardson spent much of his time in bring ing forward affidavits tending to show that Hundley had benefited in his races for the legislature by ballot box stuff fing. It was also brought out that Hundley only short time ago had requested Judge David D. Sh elby to agree to the removal of Charles J. Allison, the clerk of the court, in order that Referee Charles Fl. Scott might be appointed. Judge Shelby declined to do so. The opposing members also dwelt upon the alleged impropriety of peti- tions favorable to the confirmation of the judge being circulated among mem bers of the bar at a time when court was in session, thus alleging coer- cion.
 Judge Hundley expressed himself to- night as being more confident than ever of confirmation. He expects 10 return home tomorrow night. As here tofore stated in The Age-Herald the strongest point in favor of final con firmation is the attitude of the two Alabama senators. In cases of this nature it is usual for senators to be guided in their votes by the advice Of the senators in the state in which the appointment is made. hence Senators Johnston and Bankhead virtually cast the deciding vote.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
Impulse to Kill.

Colorado Springs, Colo, February A.- Giuseppe Alio, the anarchist who shot and killed Father Leo Heinrichs at Denver yesterday says that he was moved to kill the priest by the ringing of the church bells, which reminded him of his home in Sicily. which he says was wrested from him by the church.
 It appears from statements made by the murderer that whilee living in Italy he was expelled from the church in conse- quence of his anarchstic teachings, and that his wife then left him. Her deser- ton further enraged him against the church and the priest, and when he heard the church bells ringing yesterday morning he decided to go out and kill one priest at least and more if he could.
 The murderer today said he was born in Avalon, Sicily, August 10, 1857. He said he went to Buenos Ayres in 1905 and that the revolver with which he killed Father Leo was purchased there. He arrived in New York city on May 22 1907, and lett for Kansas the following August. After working 43 days as section hand at Ellis, Kan, he went to Denver November 9, 1907. Since that time he had worked but little.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
British Admiralty Plans for Big
 Army and Navy
INCREASE IN ESTIMATES
No Reduction Will Be Made in Appro' priatons for This Year, But an Increase of $3,ooo,000 Is
 To Be Considered.

London. February 24-The estimates for the British defense forces for the cur rent year which were issued today, will disappoint the peace party for. instead of showing a reduction, as they had hoped, the combined estimates for the army and navy show an increase of S3,- 100000 without apparently any prospect of considerable diminution in the future.
 Lord Tweedmore, first lord of the admiralty explains outright that the fu- ture programme of Great Britain will de- pend upon whether foreign powers ln- crease their naval forces, since the gov ernment has every intention of maintain ing the standard of the British navy which hitherto has been deemed neces- sary for the safeguarding of national and imperial interests.
 The war secretary. MT. Haldane, says in a statement regarding the army:
 Looking to the future I am convinced that it is impossible to make further diminutions in the army expenditures on a considerable scale unless, we, first of all, reduce the number of troops serv- ing abroad.
 .'Garrisons abroad he adds, twill be reduced whenever that can safely be done"
 The army estimates for 19OS-09 total S154, ,875 120 and the war secretary esti- mates for a total of 1S5Oo0 men in the home and colonial establishments ir- respective of India, a total 5000 men from year.
 The navy estimates total s161, 300 and provide for exactly the same number of officers and men as last year.
 Apart from these regular forces the es- inmates include provision for imperial grants for the Indian army. the territorial forces of the United Kingdom, the vol unteers, etc., which, with the regulars make the grand total 799,610 men, as com pared to S9S,l41 men in the preceding year.
 The navy estimates for 190S-09 were is- sued this evening. They amount to $751; 597 5O0 as against $157, ,oS7.5 300 for 1SO7-S.
 The agitation for economy has had some effect on the ship building programme, which contemplates only one improved warship of the Dreadnaught type in stead of the three expected. The gov ernment proposed 10 Duilu one ldi 5e armored cruiser, six fast protected cruis- CTS, Is torpedo boat destroyers and some submarines The number of the last men, toned vessels is not given but they are estimated to cost S2500,O0O.
 In an explanatory statement, Lord Tweedmouth, first lord of the admiralty points out that an increase in expendi- ture was inevitable, but by the strictest economy he was able to confine it to $4, ,5O0, ,000 On April 1, next, the British navy will have under construction seven battleships, four armored cruisers, one unarmored cruiser, ten torpedo boat de- stroyers, 20 torpedo boats and eight sub- marines.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
ANOTHER SQUABBLE
 OVER EDUCATION
NEW BILL IS INTRODUCED INTO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS WHICH WILL BE FOUGHT BY HOUSE OF LORDS.

London, February 24-The new educa- tional bill was introduced in the house of commons today by Reginald McKenna. president of the Board of Education. The bill regulates the conditions under which public money may be applied in aid of elementary education in England and Wales. The house was crowded for the occasion.
 The new measure is not so contentious as the Byrrell educational bill of 1906. which the house of lords threw into the waste basket without ceremony. The two main principles embodied in the new bill are that there shall be complete public control of elementary schools by locally elected bodies, and that there shall be no denominational tests in the appoint ment of teachers. In speaking of the bIli MT. McKenna said that failure to pass the ministerial proposals would give a most powerful impetus to the movement to secure the total abolition of religious instructions in the schools.
 MT MeKenna explained that under this bill there would be two kinds of schools receiving state assistance. The first and predominant would be the public ele- mentary school, provided for by the pub lie, controlled by the public and managed by the public, while the second and ex- ceptional type would be the voluntary schools which are supported by the va rious religious denominations The latter if not carried on for profit, would be given exchequer grants in aid, but they would receive no support from the state. The local authorities have to provide simple Bible instruction in all the elementary schools, but the school buildings would be available after school hours for denomina- tional instruction by volunteer teachers of the pupils voluntarily staying over for such teaching.
 A. J. Balfour attacked the bill bitterly and in spite of the notifications intro duced by MT. McKenna, it Is apparent that the conservatives and the churchmen intend to wage as uncompromising war upon the present measure as they did upon the Byrrell bill in 1906
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
COLLECTOR JUSTIFIED.
Case Involving Mrs. Cassie Chad
 wick's Diamonds Dismissed.

Washington, February A.-Whether United States Customs Collector Leach of Cleveland. O., was justified in seizing in New York jewelry which he believed to have been smuggled into the United States by the late Cassie L. Chadwick, was involved in the case of the United States vs. A. H. Larkin of New York, which was dismissed today by the su- preme court of the United States. Mrs. Chadwick had hypothecated the jewelry with J. w. Friend. who turned it over to Larkin from whom 1t was taken by Leach. The United States district court for the Northern district of Ohio held that Leach could not properly take pos session of the property in New York whatever might be the facts as to the methods of bringing 1t into the United States The supreme courts opinion was handed down by Chief Justice Fuller and has the effect of affirming the de- csion of the lower court.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
Rewards for Eoreiqners.

Pelxin. February 24-An imperial edict issued here confers rewards in the form of decorations and rank on foreigners in the maritime customs service. The hon. ors are given on the recommendations of the Nantung revenue council, which is thus taking on itself matter which for merly was the prerogative of Sir Robert Hart until recently chief of the customs department. This step by the throne and other things indicated that the foreign management of the customs service has been weakened by the withdrawal of Sir Robert Hart.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
CHAINED TO POST.
Eunco Man Gets Rather Tough Deal In
 Illinois Town.

Harrisburg, H., February 24-The stocks and pillory of early times were revived in memory here today when D. H. Dillon, said to be former Chicago gam- bier. was chained to a telephone pole all day for refusing to pay his fine for having fleeced several young men of the town. He was arrested and fined for running a poker game. Shaclsles were placed about his feet and he was securely fastened to a telephone pole in the lookup yard. Chief Pridwell says the character of the pun ishment was advised by Judge McKensie. who fined the prisoner. The chief said to night Dillon would be chained up daily until he pays his fine or agrees to work on the city streets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
AGAINST EIGHT-HoUR LAW.
Big Contractors Declare Regulation
 To Be Detrimental.

Washington. February 24.-Argu- ments in opposition to the Gardner eight hour bill were heard by the House committee on labor today. An drew M. Morrison, represented the George A. Fuller Construction company James l.. Parsons, a builder of this city, and Samuel Miller of the Miller Copp Cut Stone company of Washing ton, D. O., gave their views on the pending measure. There was a unanim- ity of opinion that the passage of the bill would make it difficult to do this in government work and by the large firms of the country. The clause of the bill prohibiting overtime work even when the men are paid for such over time was condemned by every one Of the speakers. who said that their eX- perience had invariably been that work men were glad of the chance to work overtime when they could get paid for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
Labor Leader Reviews Recent Decision Against Members
 of the Federation
MEDIEVAL PROCEDURE
 IN HATTERS' OECIS|0N
Mir. Gompers in an Editorial in the Federationist Says That Ruling of the Court Goes to Unheard
 of Lengths.

Washington. February 24-over the signature of Samuel Gompers an edi- torial in the American Federationist. issued for this month, attacks the re- cent decision of the supreme court of the United States in the case of Loewe & Co., popularly known as the 'Iat case" which is declared to be "the most drastic and far-reaching decision which ever has been handed down." and as affecting directly all labor and the whole people,"
 The editorial begins with the state ment that Tabor organizations must not be outlawed," and then proceeds at great length to review the courts decision, point by point, with a view to showing that the court erred.
 Says MT. Gompers:
 We trust it will not be Iese majeste if we say in our opinion the supreme court in this and other recent decisions affecting labor tends to revert to the mediaeval procedure rather than to make the application of legal princl- ples to the present industrial situa- tion.
 The language of the hatter's de- csion makes it clear that the supreme court has not informed itself on mod ern economies. In it's opinion the rights of hats seems to be greater than tfe rights of men. In fact, this decis- ion goes to an unheard-of length in punishing the workers for the exercise of their rights"
 It is denied that a labor union is 0 trust" for there cannot be a trust in something which is not produced" Tn e editorial, continuing, declares that while the conscience of large majority of employers will not permit them 60 take advantage of this decision, there is always the selfish, avaricious, con scienceless type of employer which might infiict great hardships under the protection of such decree.
 It is noticeable that the columns of the Federationist omit the usual i've do not patronize" list but instead a paragraph at the end of the editorial declares:
 Tt should be borne in mind there Is no law, or any court decision compell- ing union men and friends of labor to buy" - (naming the particular arr ticles which form the basis of the su- preme courts decision).
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
ALIo FROM CHICAGO.
Chancellor Dunne Says Plot Orisl-
 mated in Chicago.

Chicago. February 24.-That a society exists with warfare on the church as it's aim Is the conviction of the Right Rev Edward M. Dunne, chancellor of the arch diocese of Chicago. Chancellor Dunne said tonight that he believed that Alo received his inspiration to murder at meeting of the society in Chicago last December.
 ''I have reason to think,' he said, that the Denver tragedy was nothing less than a step in a general scheme to make good the anti-clerical society in civilization. I believe that Alio attended a meeting of the society in Hod-Carriers hall. 1 am told by competent authority that he was in Chicago at that time. So far as I am concerned, and I voice the sentiment of many Catholics of Chicago, the impress sion is strong that Alio gained whatever inspiration he had for the Denver trag- edy at that meeting on December 15.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
CORTBLYOU CALLS
 FOR PUBLIC FUNDS
NATIONAL BANKS MUST TURN INTO UNITED STATES TREAS URY 25 PER CENT OF PUBLIC MONEY ON HAND.

Washington, February A.-The Secreta- " of the Treasury today announced a call upon national banks for approximately z5 per cent of the public funds now held in active depositaries having such funds in the sum of s1Oo.O00 or more, and 25 per cent of the public funds now held by ac- tive depositaries where the deposit is Sl0O,- 600 of such funds, or in excess thereof, and where such withdrawal can be made without inconvenience to the treasury de- partment in the transaction of public bus mess.
 Under the call approximately s35, ,00O, 900 will be returned to the treasury.
 Payments under this call will be made as follows:
 Ten per cent of the amount called on or before March g, and the remaining 15 per cent on or before March 23.
 Secretary Cortelyou stated that advices from all portions of the country are to the effect that this proportion of the govern ment funds now on deposit with these na- tional banks can be withdrawn without detriment to financial conditions in any section.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
Congressman Warns tho Msn- bss Against Useless Ex-
 psndIturss
HUMAN HAPPINESS
 AGAINST MAYS MISERY
Mr. Slayden Declares That if Members Want Rivers and Harbors Inn proved and Commerce Aided
 Army Bill Must Suffer.

Washington, February 24.-The army ap- propriation bill was taken up in the House of Representatives today No agreement 1t will continue indefinitely
 MT. Slayden of Texas, member of the committee on military affairs, called att tention to what he said were extravagan- ces Of the military establishment.
 We are now almost if not quite s2OOo,00O0OO Congress-. he said.
 At the rate we are travelling we will soon have s2,Oeo, ,Ooo,0Oo sessions" He coun- seled retrenchment of expenditures in all branches of the government.
 Referring to the annual expenditure for pensions, MT. Slayden said 1t amounted to 65,S6900o, "a remarkable total that may well make the richest nation in the world sit up and take notice.'" If the pace was kept up. he argued, after a while. when we shall have government ownership of railways. telegraphs, coal mines, water works and bakeshops, all among the necessities of modern life and all vehemently urged by certain earnest men who have not thought out the conse- quences, we will have condition that will make government of. for and by pen- sioners not only possible, but probable Where in Gods name 1t is all to end, I cannot even guess. Let us hope that if this madness cannot be arrested, it will soon develop to a stage where every body will be on tie rolls at the same lib- eral rate and the plane of equality estab- lshed."
 He took up seratim the army pay bill. appropriating SS5000.o00 and said it was sure to be increased by s7000,000: the naval bill, which he estimated would carry at the lowest $125,000000, and the volunteer retired list, which would carry an ap- propriation anywhere from 900 to $65,000,0 GOO. He warned the members that if they want their rivers and harbors inn proved and their commerce developed they must call halt in extrayaganc in mili- tary appropriations. because "one spells construction, the other destruction; one will add to the sum of human happiness, the other to it's misery"
 Declaring that inducement must be held out to the men who enlist in the army. MT. Holiday of Indiana supported the proposition for an increase in their pay. Somebody" he said. should pay tribute to the gallant men behind the guns and in the trenches"
 It would be, he said, an act of tardy justice on the part of the government. The officers he charged. had plenty of men to take care of them, "who have no lobbies here and no representation, and who could not get here unless they left their posts of duty, in which case they would wear a ball and chain
 The bill was being considered when the House at 4:57 D. m. adjourned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
REMEDY FOR COMPLAINT.
MT. Gompers Appears in Defense of
 Labor Organizations.

Washington, February 24.-President Gompers of the American Federation of Labor, before the House committee on the judiciary today, asserted that labor organizations are not going to be driven out of existence" notwithstanding ad- verse decisions by the courts. He ex- pressed confidence that the President of the United States sincerely sympathizcs with "all our people" and added: q have reasons to believe that the President is not thoroughly informed as to the real remedy for the cause of complaint
 These statements were made in an argu- ment on the Pearre bill to regulate the s- suance of restraining orders and injunc- tions. and to limit the meaning of "con- spiracy'' in certain cases.
 "Of all the measures before the judi ciary committee" said MT Gompers. "the Pearre bill comes the nearest to giving the working people what they want.
 Events have demonstrated clearly in my mind" he said, that it is the only bill that can be at all effective to deal with these invasions of human rights"
 The Pearre bill, MT. Gompers said, is in tended to bring the injunction process where it was before it was abused in its application to labor disputes.
 'The trend of the decisions of the courts,'' said MT. Gompers, "have been to take away from the workingman the principle of effective defense against en- croachments or imposition of onerous con- ditions. The climax was reached when the supreme court handed down it's de- cisions in what are known as the hat cases. Under that decision, it has made labor organizations combinations and con- spiracies in restraint of trade. I don't t know what the courts will do and what executives will do, goaded on by our vic- torious enemies. but I want to say to yon, just as solemnly as I can say, or ganizations of labor which have done so much to protect and improve the condi- tions of the working people, will not be driven out. You cannot afford to place the stigma of unlawfulness upon the or ganizations which have done so much within the law to improve the condition of the working people,"
 MT. Gompers made the prediction that the labor organizations would be heard from in the impending campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
EDUCATIONAL MEETING.
School Superintendents Discuss Meth
 ods of Mutual Help.

Washington, February 24.-Superin- tendents of public schools from almost every state and territory in the Union met here today in conference with Dr. F. E. Brown, United States commissions CT of education, to discuss methods of mutual help and practical ways in which one state may avail itself from the legislative and administrative ex- perience of other states in educa- tional affairs and the service of a cen tral bureau of information.
 Commissioner Brown was chosen chairman. It was voted to ask Con- gress for an additional appropriation for the bureau of education to be used to issue bulletin containing informa- tion of contemporary educational move- ments in the various states.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
CALL TO COTTON MEN.
Manufacturers Are Trying to Prevent
 General Shutdown.

New York February 24.-Manufac- turers representing the largest cotton, yarn and colored cotton goods mill ir- terests in the country have issued a call for meeting to be held at the Hotel Belmont tomorrow to make some arrangement whereby the mills throughout the country can not only maintain wages on the present basis, but can continue to run their plants without a shutdown
 The present movement is led by one of the largest cotton manufacturers in the south with mills both in North Carolina and South Carolina, and hts attempt to bring about an understand ing between large manufacturers or the country is being backed by manu- lecturers here.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
FOR GOOD OF THE CHILD.
Congress Will Be Held at Washington
 By International Delegates.

Philadelphia, February 24-The official programme for the first international con- gress for the welfare of the child to be held under the auspices of the National Mothers congress in Washington. March 10 to r, was completed today. The con- gross will be opened by President Roose- welt at the White House with an address Delegates will attend from all over the world. The United States will be officially represented by Elmer Ellsworth Brown, appointed by President Roosevelt. Each state will be represented by a delegate appointed by its governor The congress promises to be the most important of the kind ever held and many questions bear ing upon the life and training of children will be discussed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-02-25
CROPS A FAILURE.
No Rain Has Fallen in Coahuila Since
 Last Sumer.

San Antonio, Tex, February 24--A special to the Express from Saltillo, Mex, says:
 The entire wheat crop throughout the section of Coahuiia is failure this year owing to a lack of rain. no rain having fallen since last summer In the Galina district in Nuevo Leon, and toward San Louis Potosi the same condition prevails. The conditions are all the more serious as both the frijole and corn crop fell short this year. The early frost this winter was also a par tial cause of the corn failure.