The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-02
PROPOSED COUNTY
IS GIVING TROUBLE
Mississippi Attorney General
Hands Down Opinion
PRISON YIELDS $75,250
Cotton Raised ON Convict Farm IL soio'
Dent Resigns District Attorney
ship-Missfss1ppi Travellers
VIII Meet soon

Jackson. Miss. May 1.-(Specal)-in
view of the trouble in the proposed new
county of Walthall over the electloh re-
turns, Secretary OF State Power au
dressed a letter to Attorney General HUI
son, asking his opinion as to what shouiu
be done in the premises, and feceiVeo
the following reply:
your favor of recent cate referring 10
me the report of the commissioners APP
pointed by the governor under the terms
of the senate bill, No. 1893, entitled, An
act authorizing the creation of ne"
county called Walthall, and providing ior
the organization of the same mas oeeh
received, and in answer l will say Una.
[ have exceeded their powers by taxing
oral testimony as to the legality of the
hallots which were contained in the box
This was an error on their part and they
were illegally advised In doing THIS Iheir
duty, as the law defines, Is that they are
IN see that the ballots contained In the
box are correctly counted, and if any
thing appears on the face OF the paiio. "
be illegally made, it Is their duty "
throw such ballot out, OF II the taliy
sheets are not added correctly, or Things
of that character, then 1t is their DUTY 10
make such correction, but they have no
power to take oral testimony or 10 near
testimony as TO whether or not the Dali
lots contained in the box are legal OF
illegal. That power rests with the cleo
ton managers and nobody else, ana II
fba hQ1lntE
they were put in the box, then the COM
missioners have no power to usurp their
authority in other powers and do SO 1or
them, and 1 would ask you to nave the
commissioners to make their returns in
accordance with the instructions con-
tanned in my letter to you, and you Will
oblge.''
The commissioners of election had
very strenuous time of it, and after count
ing the ballots made recount, ana nnaiiy
threw out an entire box which gave the
election to those opposed to the new coun-
ty by a very small vote. some or 10,
and there has been a great deal OF III
feeling and dissatisfaction. In the event
that the courts decide the attorney geP-
eral is correct in his declaration that the
commissioners exceeded their authority
the county of Walthall is established.
The board of trustees of the state peni-
Tertiary have sold tho 1915 bales OF cotton
remaining on the Sunfower county con-
Wet farm at the uniform price OF IA cents
per pound. Boyce & Co. OF New Orleans
being the purchasers. This means 49,
25O for tho state treasurer, and in view
of the fact that the cotton was of very
low grade, the price Is considered good.
The Mississippi penitentiary does not
have the direct handling of the money 1t
makes, being operated on appropriations
made by the legislature and mace avail
able just as are the funds appropriated
to other state institutions. The cash de-
rived from the sale of all products of
the farm are turned into the general state
fund.- just as are taxes or money de-
rived from any other source.
However the penitentiary generally
shows I'D at the end of the fiscal year
with a profit of about $4,000 over ana
above the expenses of management, and
cotton planting has been found very
good business, especially when the large
increase in the value of the property is
taken into consideration.
The Liberty White Railroad company
has fled the report of its business for
the quarter ending on March 81 with the
railroad commission. showing receipts
from passenger business to have been
81. 0a2 81; from freight business. $50. PSI. 50;
telegraph businSss. $es rs. or a total of
S24, $50. n.
The expenses of operation for the same
period were s26 105 30. the taxes paid $542. 81
or total Of $26,e47sl. This shows a de-
felt of $225s1
X D. Brabston Of vicksburg succeeds
Harry Murray as clerk in the off'ce %
the attorney general. Mr. Murray is pri-
vate secretary to Congressman Collier
of this district, and has decided that he
will continue In that capacity, instead of
entering the employ of the state. Mr..
Brabston Is a nephew OF Mrs. Charles B.
Galloway, and Will make his home at her
house. at least for the present.
A. r Dent of Macon has rendered to
Governor Noel his resignation as district
attorney OF the Sixteenth district an
office recently created because of the
cult court districts. Mr.. Dent states that
he cannot afford to give up his practice
for the salary that Is paid district attor-
neys, 1880 per annum.
Governor Noel accepted the resignation
and named Mr.. H. H. Brooks of Macon as
the successor OF Mr.. Dent. Mr.. Brooks Is
one Of the most prominent attorneys of
his section Of the state, and will no doubt
make a good and competent official.
The Mississippi Travellers. the most pro-
gressive organization of drummers and
travelling men generally in this state. are
even thus far in advance making prepa-
rations for the annual meeting at Column
bus on June "a and 25. proposing to make
It the greatest IN the history Of their
association.
Organized here only two or three years
ago the Travellers has made 4 most re-
markable growth. numbering over 100, and
having about $500 cash in the treasury
| with no indebtedness.
The stockholders OF the Georgetown
bank met Saturday at Hazlehurst and or
sanized for business. The directors elect.
ed were as follows: r. w. Millsaps, 2
D. Davis and w. j. Davis of Jackson
I. N. Ellis. D. NJ. Miller and s. Kemp
/ of Hazlehurst: J. W. Ashley. F. q. Catch
ings, c. A. shumaker and H. c. Moran Of