The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-18
the subject. if any are made, will receive your careful consideration.
 ARricUlture


 is largely due to improved methods of arming, to scientific training and to the influence of our Polytechnic institute and tie active efforts of the National Depart lnent of Agriculture.
 Agriculture will continue to be the oc- cupation of the great mass of our people
 is is upon the industry and intelligence of our farming class that we must rely for our principal sources of wealth, as well as commercial supremacy. We can do nothing that will add more to the prosperity of the state, or more fully jus tify the confidence of the people, than by doing all in our power to promote the interest of our agricultural classes and to encourage better methods of farm ing.
 InGer the intensive system Of farming which has been tried so successfully in all parts of the state, there seems to be no limit to the productive capacity of our soil. The United States government through its agricultural department. is spending about s25,0O0 year in farm dem onstration work in this state. If we would contribute a similar amount, paid expert could be secured in every county of the state. No expenditure
 would yield richer return. I earnestly urge that this amount be appropriated 10 aid this important work, to be ex- pended under the direction of the state commissioner of agriculture. Under the law as it now exists the pro- l lessor of agriculture and chemistry of
 the Alabama Polytechnic institute, as ex 1 cfficio state chemist, performs the work of fertilizer analysis. He Is required, on | the application of the commissioner of l agriculture, to analyze and certify the analysis of all fertilizers. It is claimed 1 by the Incoming commissioner. of agri- 1 culture that the rapid increase in the use | of fertilizers makes it impossible for l the state chemist to furnish with suffi- cient promptness, on the application of
 bis department. analysis of fertilizers, that delays which are now seemingly un- svodable are not conducive to efficient 1 service by his department and cause se- | rious injury to our farming class, and | that the only remedy for this situation can be found by the appointment of competent assistant state chemist to be | located at the capitol. and under the di- rect control Of the commissioner of ag- riculture. I submit this matter for your careful consideration
 Child Labor Under the act approved August 29, 1908, | children under 12 years of age were for bidden to work in any mill, factory or | manufacturing establishment in this state.
 Nearly all of the states of the union have fixed the age limit at 14 years l earnestly urge that the present law
 be so amended as to prohibit children un- der IA years of age from working in our
 mills factories and manufacturing estab- lishments.
 I recommend that no child under 16 years of age be allowed to do any night work.
 recommend ndf,1 t1 t1.o statute above mentioned by striking out from section the word knowingly" where it appears therein.
 The Department of Commerce and La
 bor of the United States has made careful investigation of conditions exist ing in this state, and quote the follow ing:
 Tn Alabama. out of 145 children under l4 reporting, 95. or 65.5 per cent, were un- able to read or write. Of these 42 had never attended school and 53 reported an average attendance of 6,5 months" The age limit in this state is being openly and freely violated The employ- ment of children under the legal age of P years. as now prohibited, according to he reports of the United States Depart ment of Commerce and Labor, as made by 90 agents of the department in inves- tgating southern mills, show that 494 or
 more than one-haf of the 949 children un- der 12 years of age, were Il years old; of the remainder, S3 were 10 years old, 107 were years old. 4S were years old IS | were years old, and one-who worked as helper-was only years of age In most of the states of the union chiI- dren between the ages of IA and IS years are not allowed to work during the ses- sions of the public schools
 In New York child labor law was passed in 1909 forbidding the employment of minors under 16 years of age in dan erous employments.
 I think our legislation on this subject should be in line with that of the most advanced states in the union. Mining Laws
 our present mining laws were adopted many years ago when the mining industry was practically in it's infancy. Alabama now ranks as one of the great mining states of the union, and We should adopt such laws as will furnish every protec- ton which science and engineering skill can suggest for the protection of those upon whose labor this important and hazardous industry depends. The pres ent number of mine inspectors is wholly inadequate. There should be more ire quent and thorough examina ton of mines, and more power given to the in spectors. We should pay such salaries as will secure the services of the most thoroughly competent men that can be employed for this important duty. Men who work In our mines should receive every protection which modern engineer ing skill and science can devise Let Alabama take her rank among the most advanced states of the union on this important subject of legislation. A sys- tenn of laws suitable to the present con- Clifton of our mining industry would not cnly attract capital and labor, but would unquestionably advance it's growth and development.
 It IS unnecessary for me to call your attention to the terrible mortality which has recently occurred in some Of the mines of the state due to causes for which I am unable to account I am not prepared to say what Is responsible for this alarming condition. I suggest that it should receive your careful con- sideration and investigation, and proper remedies provided to prevent ar far as possible their recurrence.
 Corporations
 My views on this important question are so fully and clearly expressed by the democratic platform adopted on the f7.h of May. 1910. that quote 1t in full:
 The public has right to require from rublic service corporations just and inn partial service, without rebates, discrim- nations or exactions and an efficient and courteous performance of their du- ties
 Such corporations. on the other hand, are entitled to just and fair treatment, and to equal protection of the law. and capital invested in such enterprises should not be denied the opportunity of earning just and reasonable compensa-