The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-10
NEW TURN IN THE
 RAILROAD FIGHT Atlantic Coast Line Claims to Be Home Corporation HITCH IN BOOK CONT TRACT Several Women Have Narrow Escape From Burning Building In Mont
 gomery-Miss Johnson
 Seriously Injured.
HITCH IN BOOK CONTRACT

Montgomery. October 9.-C Specially The fight of the rail lines to keep out of paving the new tax levied on fran chises of foreign corporations de- veloped a new trun in the case of the Atlantic Coast Line in the city court. The argument was presented that the road is not a foreign eorporationi that by absorption of the Georgia and Ala bama Midland, the Abbeville railroad and the South Alabama railroad it be- came a local corporation. However. the state holds not to this view, but to the theory that in taking over the property of other lines 1t retained it's status as a Virginia corporation.
 The road is suing for return of s2O,- 900 paid the probate judge under pro test, the allegation being that the law is not constitutional in addition to the othe CT contention of location of corpor- ation existence. In ruling made some time ago in the case of the Louis vile and Nashville, 1t was held that the law is good and the tax collectable. Its failure or success means loss or profit to the state of over s10O,000 in taxes. The roads have been trying to defeat its collection as it is an additional charge and comes every year.
 School Book Contract.
 There is a slight hitch in closing the contracts for printing and dis tributing the books recently agreed upon by the state text book commis : sion, State Superintendent of Education c.. -trr,. ha tracts between the state depositary and the publishers.
 In this it is agreed that by giving 60 days notice any contract. can be ab- rogated between the two parties. MT. Gunnels insists that this is making 1t possible to get the state into trou- ble, and holds out that it must be done with the approval of the governor and the superintendent of education.
 It is understood that this is fully in line with the views of the governor and that the attorney general also agrees that 1t is only right. As re- suit in a few days the words thought best will be added and the contracts approved As a matter of fact none of the contracts are valid until ap- proved by the governor and the super : intendent, so that the sense of the change is in the general agreement any way.
 Spectacular Fire. In fire that came near causing the loss of half dozen lives, the historic Norton place on Madison avenue was wrecked at 2 o'clock this morning. Miss Ada John son. in her fright, sprang from second story window. and besides having an arm broken, received what may be serious in ternal injuries. Mrs. M. l.. Johnson, Mrs. M. H. Johnson and Miss Ethel Johnson, other inmates of the house, were rescued by the firemen, some from windows and some from the back roof.
 The fire had made such headway that when the ladies awoke they were cut off from escape by the stairway and had to force a door and get out on the porch. Here being covered with smoke, they were out of sight of the firemen, only be- ing discovered when the wind blew the clouds away. After being taken down it was found that Mrs M H. Johnson was not in the crowd. Some of the rescued tried to rush back and bring her out but were prevented. About that time Mrs. Johnson was seen at a window and was brought down in safety
 Portrait of Ligon. A handsome life-sized portrait of the late Judge David Greenhill Ligon, pre- sented by his daughter, Mrs Mcdonald, or MOultOn, naS been fecelVeu Dy LIT. Thomas M Owen, director of the state department of archives and history, for the state gallery. Judge Ligon was a member of the supreme court from 1851 to 1854. He was born in Virginia and came to Alabama in 1923, spending much of his life He was also chancellor and late in life became q minister of the Christian church. lie died in 1855. News of State Capitol. In the suit of the town of Tallassee against the state for return of license for dspensary because the dispensary was declared Illegal by the courts, failed, the judge holding that the money could noi be returned.
 J. J. Riley has been elected principal and Oscar Ryatt assistant of the High school at Cullman.
 Malconb Carmichael, son of Judge I. Nj. Carmichael former auditor. wsa in Montgomery Friday He Is lawyer and editor st Elbs.
 Dr. ". A. Burns, physician inspector of the convict deparanent, has returned from Washington. where he stterdes she tuberculosis convention. As this is orc of the menaces to the health Of con- victs the state is interested.
 To Have Street Fair.