The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-04
COUNTY TAX BOOKS
 ARE COMPLETED
Will Be Turned Oyer To CaI-
 houn Commissioners
FIGHTING FOR CHILD
Mir. and Mrs. Gilmore Renew Struggle for Possession of Annie Gordon Saunders at Anniston-Unu-
 sual Line of Procedure.

Anniston, June 3.-(Special 1.-The coun- ty tax books have been completed by the assessor, and will be submitted to the county board of commissioners next Mon day for correction. The present figures show an increase of valuations to the amount of S1,67O,27 over last year.
 The total valuation of taxable prop erty last year was s12,229,761. The valua- ton for 1909, as the books now stand, but which is subject to correction by the county commissioners, is s13, 3,90O, ,032, show ing an increase of $1, ,67021.
 These figures are subject to chaS,A by contests before the county commissioners, and 1t will be some time yet before the corrected figures can be secured; but they make gratifying showing for Calhoun county, and speak volumes in praise of the efficient and persistent effort of Tax Assessor Dave Cowden and his deputy, Sharp Stewart, to compel an equitable assessment of tax values.
 Of the above assessment the railroad furnish $2,4O2, 12O. The amount of in tangible tax values, which will not be changed, is s486,36O. The total value of exempt property is set at s3s9, $40.
 All these various items are included in the total valuation given above.
 e Fight for Child.
 MT. and Mrs. J. B. Gilmore, who have heretofore had considerable litigation with c. W. Saunders and wife over the cus- tody of Annie Gordon Saunders, the daughter of c. w Saunders and grand daughter of MT. and Mrs. Gilmore, are now renewing their efforts to secure the custody of the child.
 The case had formerly been tried on habeas corpus proceedings, the usual pro- ceeding in such matters, and, on the former hearing, the decision was in fa- vor of the father, c. w. Saunders. At torneys Neil P. Sterne and P. F. Whar- ton are now representing MT. and Mrs. Gilmore and Thursday they filed in the chancery court petition seeking either the custody of the child or that certain restrictions and privileges as to its cus- tody be decreed by the chancellor.
 The proceedings is one to declare the child ward of chancery, an ancient Eng fish form of procedure. This is the first time such proceeding has ever been Instituted in the state of Alabama. The case is set for hearing before Chancellor Whiteside Saturday, June 5. at a. m. Memorial Exercises. Confederate Memorial Day, which is now observed in Alabama on the birth day of the Confederacy's first and only president, was suitably commorated today in Anniston with exercises conducted by the Daughters of the Confederacy, when the programme outlined below was rem dered in Blue Mountain hall on Noble street, in the block between Ninth and Tenth, beginning promptly at 10 a. m
 Open chorus, "The Bonnie Blue Flag R. F. Lee chapter, Children of the Con federacy.
 Reading, Jefferson Davis" Miss Han nah Reynolds.
 Instrumental poem, tThe Alabama Sol- dier." Mrs. Columbus Smith
 Vocal solo, Alabama" Miss Florine Smith
 Reading, "The Confederate Farewell. ,, Mrs. H. D. McCarty.
 Conferring of crosses of honor by Will liam Forney chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy.
 Final chorus, Dixie" by the audience.
 Refreshments were served to the vet erans at the conclusion of the programme and committees were sent to both the city cemeteries and Oxford cemetery to decorate the graves of about 50 vet erans who have gone on before.
 Only one cross was bestowed E. A. Aderhold being the person honored. The others'who were to have received crosses were absent.
 After the singing of the "Bonnie Blue Flag" by the children, H. T. Persons, county superintendent of education, arose and said:
 T beg your pardon for this interrup- tion, but I feel constrained to say that if the fires of southern patriotism ever shoulder the singing og that song as 1t has been sung today by these chil- dren will rekindle the flame" MT Per- sons is a survivor of the Lost Cause and as he resumed his seat he was given an ovation