The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1911-02-04
Birmingham Had Big Day
Among The Lawmakers
Coroners Fees Charitable Institutions Viaduct Bill Mining
Bill and Banking Law Are Of Special Import
To This City
BY HUGH w. ROBERTS

MONTGOMERY, February 3.-(Special.)-
The day was practically turned over to
Birmingham and Jefferson county and
the people thereof.
One of the most important matters OF
legislation accomplished was the passage
by the house of Mr.. Notions bill regulat-
ing the fees of coroners. That Dill is
one of the series directed against the fee
grabbers of the state.
BY the terms of the bill no coroner,
following those in office at the present
ceeding $1,000 per annum.
This sum is to be collected in fees and
all collections in excess of the 1920 per
annum will be turned into the treasury OF
the several counties of the state.
There was very little opposition to the
bill in the house, and it is expected that
it will have easy sailing In the senate.
To Inspect Schools
Another matter which concerns Biz
mingham and Jefferson county was the
appointment of joint committee of the
house and senate to visit Birmingham for
the purpose of inspecting the Alabama
Boys Industrial school, the Mercy Home
and the Alabama Refuge Home.
This committee consists of Senators
Plowman. Godbold and Norman; Repre-
sentatives Rylance. Walden, McGowen
and Mulkey.
Each of the institutions to be visited is
seeking appropriation at the hands of
the legislature and Senator Morrow con-
ceved the idea that it would be wise to
have the institutions inspected.
There is a strong lobby in the city at
the present time urging an appropria-
ton for the Industrial Home for De-
pendent and Delinquent Girls. This lobby
consists of Mrs. w H. Jeffries, Mrs. C..
B. Spencer, Mrs. A. T. London, Mrs. G..
A. Bissell. Mrs Robert Smith, Mrs. d. e.
Wilson, Mrs. w. B. Dickerson and Mrs.
George H. Estes; and DR.. j. II. Phillips,
7. Bowie, George H. Estes and Frank
Nelson, Jr
The Viaduct Bill
Another matter concerning Birmingham
was the introduction in the senate this
morning by Senator Morrow of the via
duct bill.
This bill grew out of the dispute be-
tween the council and the railroads and
the people of that section of the city
where 1t was planned to construct via
ducts.
Ey the provisions of the bill the city is
empowered to close certain streets and
to pay owners Of abutting property fer
any damage that might be done property
In discussing the bill, Senator Morrow
states that by the bill people will be au-
thorized to recover for damages, whereas
bow 1t is very improbable that such dam
ages could be recovered.
There is another bill dealing with the
same subject. 1t was drawn by Col. John
w. Tomlinson of Birmingham, and was
introduced several days ago by Repre-
sentative O'Neill. As far as known the
principal difference between the bills is
that the Morrow bill provides damages
for AUDITING property and the O'Neill bill
damages for abutting and adjacent prop
erty.
MAYOR Exum is in the city in the in
terest of the Morrow bill and City Attor-
news Boyd and Smith are here also. In
the interest of the O'Neill bill Colonel
TomIinson has often been in the city. as
has John W. Altman and other prominent
citizens.
Mining Bill Introduced
This mornings session, too, brought
about the introduction of the much-dis-
cussed mining bill, bill drawn, it is
claimed, for the greater safeguarding OF
human lives.
The bill was introduced in the senate
by Senator Morrow. George E. McCor-
mack, Col. Jones G. Moore, Frank Mel
son, Jr., and other prominent operators
from birmingham have been here for sew
eral days in the interest of this BILL
The new banking bill. which is of es-
pecial interest to Birmingham, walked
through the house this afternoon with
marvellous ease, considering the difficult
ties it encountered YESTERDAY The vote
was 70 to in its favor, and as stated
some days ago the senate committee on
banking, having already discussed the
measure, has agreed to report it favor
ably.
w. H. Manly. cashier of the Birming-
ham Trust and Savings bank, has been
on the scene for several days in the in
terest of this bill, and Chappell Corey,
w. p. G. Harding and Webb Crawford
have paid several visits to MONTGOMERY
concerning the same measure. The pre-
diction is general that the bill Will be-