The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-14

He stated that he operated a grist mill. cotton gin and sawrnill at his place and that just as he had things running good some little 10-year-old negro would go to the postoffice and commence yelling like he wanted to buy sl0 worth of groceries. He would go to find out what was wanted and the pickaninny would ask if there was letter for him. It would then be necessary to look through the mail only to find there was no letter for him.
 MT Manning also stated that the can cellation at his office amounted to prac- tieally nothing and expressed the opin- ion that there should be some way of paying the small postmasters for the trouble they are put to in handling the mails.
 W. R. Young of Blocton then read the report of the auditing committee, which showed a deficit of s101 .94. Eighty dollars of this amount was the railroad fare or the two delegates to the national con- vention at Des Moines last week. Pres ident Mahan stated that he had advised the delegates that the league would stand this expense and the convention ratihed this action. A motion was made that el- forts be exerted to reduce this denclt right then and that the hat be passed around in Methodist style. This was done and $31 realized from the collection
  auditing committee. each one being adopt ed separately by the meeting
 Carter Called Upon.
 J. Rivers Carter, who had been down for an address at the morning session, put in his appearance at this moment and was called on He apologized at not be- ing present at the morning session, but stated that 1t was occasioned by mat ters entirely beyond his control
 "It delights me greatly to see the large assemblage here today for l had really thought you would have scarce so large an attendance" said MT. Carter We are glad to see you here and trust that the trip will be a sort of holiday for you, and I know of no class of citizens or officeholders who are more entitled to a holiday than the fourth-class post masters. We give you the glad hand of welcome and if we have not killed the fatted calf it is because of the legal fences which have been built around us during the past year. The many gaps in it have let out the fatted calf and we have nothing but the lean goat to offer you. sr word is repugnant to some, as you are really doing a patriotic service for your country when you take a fourth class postmastership You come in closer con tact with the people than any other men in the government service and you are in measure the representative of the gov ernment in your community"
 MT. Carter concluded with d few words relative to any msg1vlngs which some of the fourth class postmasters may have had as to the government not providing sufficiently for them, assuring them that this was not the case, but rather that the government was trying to do every thing possible for them
 The report of the resolutions commit tee was next received and the matter Of the next meeting place taken up. An in vitation was extended to the league by Professor Blakemore to visit Birming- ham again next year. Some of the mem bers seated that they liked Birmingham. but thought that for the good of the league it might be well to scatter the meetings over the state for the next few years, and Montgomery was placed in nomination 1t was said, however, that no invitation had been received from Montgomery, and that the league might possibly be put to great expense in the renting of a convention hall and other things while there would be no such eX- pense attached to holding 1t here. It was finally put to vote, Birmingham win ming by an overwhelming majority
 The meeting adjourned at 4:45 o'clock for the day, and will convene this morn- ing at S30 o'clock. After attending to routine business the meeting will be ad- dressed by Congressman Oscar Under wood, his talk beginning at 9:3O o'clock Upon it's conclusion the delegates will adjourn to the steel plant and fair grounds, where they will spend the day as the guests of the association.
 Inspector Kline's address at the morn ing session was one of interest to the postmasters. lie referred to the fact that there were 61, 900 postmasters in the United States, of which 54,000 were of the fourth class, and in Alabama there were 1867, with 1414 in the fourth class. lie also stated that the inspectors were not dis ciplinarians, but teachers, and also ad- vised the postmasters to pay more at tention to the rule book and not run their business so much by ear.
 Professor Blakemore also made an ad- dress at the morning session on the in- crease of business in the money order and registry business and of the confidence which the people generally, merchants and bankers. had in it.
 The resolutions as drawn up and sub mtted by the resolutions committee and unanimously adopted by the conNntion read as follows:
 Text of Resolutions.
 We, your committee on resolutions, re- port as folloWS:
 Resolved, That it is the sense of the convention of postmasters of the fourth class, now assembled in the city of Bir- ming ham, that we be placed in the clas- sified civil service
 Resolved, That 10 per cent of the gross receipts of offices paying s75 per quarter be allowed for handling the surplus in- coming mail.
 Resolved, That we favor and recom- mend the law for parcels post.
 Resolved. That we favor the postal sav ings bank as set forth in the Burton bill.
 Resolved, That we favor an allowance be set apart for rents. lights and fuel
 The following resolutions were offered by the postmaster at Glen Allen:
 Resolved, That the postmasters of the fourth class should receive 100 per cent of the first sl00 of cancellation and 75 per cent of the second s2eo.
 Resolved, That in our judgment the postoffice department should furnish fourth-class offices with cabinet fixtures, safe and office rent.
 Resolved That we retain the present officers for the ensuing year with the eX- ception of secretary. We recommend Brother s. C. Taylor of Whatley for sec retary.
 Resolved That the thanks of the con- vention be rendered the good people of Birmingham and we especially thank Pro- lessor Blakemore for the interest taken; also The Age Herald. Birmingham Led ger and Birmingham News for their kind ness toward us; also Inspector E. H.