The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
STATE FINANCES
 FOR SIX MONTHS Disbursements Exceed Receipts
 By S52,823.35 PREPARE FOR THE WEEVIL Commissioner Wilkinson Plans Warm Reception for Cotton Plant Pest
 Due In Alabama In About
 Three Years.
PREPARE FOR THE WEEVIL

a statement of the receipts and disburse- ments of the state. as shown hy the books of the auditor, it Is shown that the receipts for the first six months of the fiscal year were $S, ,s95, ,046 .2s, with dis bursements of sS.447, ,s6s.5S, the balance being to the bad ia the sum of s52. .S23 35 However this will be offset by the de- layed March returns, which are getting in every day, one item alone amounting to S7SS450, just in from the Secretary of state.
 Heavy receipts included the following: School tax, sl,097,547.SS: general tax, ss14,- 47S.S7; soldier tax, ss65, ,624.5l; poll tax, S10S o6625 licenses, $179.S7S.9s; convicts, $40, .S4; agricultural department, $1O1, . 6SS1O.
 Heavy disbursements were included in the following, few of the items Insane hospital, s16S,25s; pensions s476s91; ed- ucation, sl,576, 46S.S2; judiciary, s107 ,S61 IS; interest on bonds. s17B.725; university, s157,ooO; convict department. s2e1, ,O23.sl.
 A fine showing is made by the fish and game section, which hands in receipts of $ll,SSs.29, with expenses of $S,26OSS The department of insurance turns in SAG 4os.9S, with expenses of only sl,971.44 or the disbursements is one item of $21, 800 for the new county high schools
 Prepare for WeeviI.
 Figuring that the boil weevil will reach Alabama in three years, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilkinson is laying the ground work for a warm reception. He is reading up on all the law that he can find and getting all the information possible from the chemical department at Auburn. The weevil came into Texas Il years ago and the calculations are that he will land on Alabama soil by the end of three years more. It is hoped that by that time the scientists will be able to put him out of business.
 To Look at Schools.
 The entire membership of the board of education is off to St. Louis, Chicago, Louisville and other points, for a study of high school and other buildings. The party includes President B. J. Baldwin. Judge A. D. Sayre, Dr. J. l.. Gaston, E. J. Meyer, George w. Jones and Supt C. l.. Floyd. The city is not only to erect modern high school building but will put in number of improvements on the elementary schools.
 Coast Artillery.
 AoJt Gen. Bibb Graves has made a battalion of artillery of Companies A at Mobile and B at Selma, calling them coast artillery and ordering them into camp with the regulars at Fort Nor gan, May 1 to 10. It is the purpose of the general to make this force one of the most important in the national guard.
 Better Insurance Laws.
 At meeting of the insurance com mittee of the Commercial club a move ment has been started to secure 11ni- formity and reduction in taxes on in- surance companies. For a long time the cities and towns have laid heavy tribute in the way of municipal license and it is hoped that an arrangement can be made by which there will be reason and justice as well as uniformity along this line.
 Nearly Bad Fire.
 Fire caught just before noon Saturday in a stable in the rear of w. B. Jones' place on South Court street and spread to the outhouses of Sam Gerson and the residences of both Captain Jones and MT. Gerson. The damage amounted to about $10,000. There was a hard fight to keep the fire down and it looked for a while as if the houses on fire and several others would go.
 For New County.
 Citizens of PheniX City and Girard are moving for new county, as a part of the plans of the two to become one town. There is also a suggestion that that part of Russell county where Mar win is located be given to Lee county and part of Lee county be transferred to Russell. It is thought that with the influence and population it would not be hard to get new county, or to move the Russell county courthouse to the new town.
 Will Be Busy Week.
 Attorney General A. M. Garber has sent the papers in the case of the West ern Union Telegraph company to the clerk of the federal court at Birming- ham. it having been agreed that the question would De submitted without ar gufnent. This is an application for in- junction to prevent the revocation of state license when the telegraph com pany takes a suit from the state to the federal court. Colonel Garber will file the impeachment proceedings against Sheriff Cazalas of Mobile os1 Monday. the supreme court having agreed to take it up at that time. And there are a num- Der of other matter coming, not the least of which is the discussion of the rates on the river.