davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
REPUBLICANS WILL
WAGE FIGHT ON THE
DEMOCRATIC RULES
ImL ortant Day Is Ahead of
House in Second nay of
Extra SeSSion---HouSe In
SurgentS at Sea

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 5.-Demo-
cratic congressman who have served in
previous congresses experienced a novel
sensation today when they voted aye
on the call for the previous question in
the rules fight. During the 16 years of
Republican control the Democratic mem
bership invariably opposed the calling of
the previous question on the adoption of
the rules.
1T was a novel sensation and pleas
ant one," said Representative Hardwick,
today And it was made the more
pleasant by the realization that the Re-
publican minority is torn by factional
strife and unable TO present united
front"
The rules for the government of the
house will be adopted late this afternoon.
after four hours debate. The rules were
agreed upon by the Democrats in their
caucus last Saturday night, and embrace
many reforms that will tend to facilitate
legislation and restore the power of gov
eminent to the people. The rules also
embody the provision for the election of
the standing committees. and make the
house a genuine legislative forum
The action of the Democrats IN allow
ing four hours debate on the rules is a
radical departure from the Republican
practices of days gone by Under the Can
non regime the rules of the house were
adopted under gag rule that permitted
of no debate at all, and it was so with
practically all legislation. The Demo-
Gratis. however, propose to allow the MI
nority to debate. illuminate, riddle and
expose all of the legislation that comes up
for consideration. confident that in the
end the Democratic majority will do the
right thing.
President Taft's message urging the
ratification of the reciprocity agreement
with Canada was read in both houses
of congress today. 1t was listened to
without applause and referred to the APP
propriate committees.
The senate session lasted only % min
utes. The senate will continue to mark
time" until the house does some
thing.
The house took up the adoption of it's
new rules limiting general debate to four
hours, to be equally divided, and grant
ing the privilege of offering one substi-
tute set of rules. The insurgents, through
Mr. Norris, pleaded for the privilege of
separate amendments but were told by
the Democratic leaders that their amend
ments would have to be included in the
proposed Republican substitute.
The rules offered by the Democrats and
which will be adopted make comparative
" few changes. They provide for the
election of committees instead Of their
appointment by the speaker, and en-
large the membership of several of the
committees. Six old committees are abol-
ished.
The principal change is rule which
permits germane legislation on an appro-
priation bill when it tends to retrench
expenditures. The Democrats continue
calendar Wednesday" and enlarge the
rule for the discharge Of committees.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
MEMBERS OF HOUSE
STILL CONFRONTED
BY MANY PROBLEMS
Third Day of Extra Session of
Sixty-SeCond Congress Finds
Democrats Program Not
Yet Decided Upon.
By RALPH SMITH.

WASHINGTON. d. c.. April 6.-None of
the bills introduced in the house on the
first and second days Of the extra session
will have any legal standing If the point
is made against them. 1t is possible that
the authors of several of these measures
may reintroduce them in order to protect
themselves against the contingency of
such a question.
On the first day OF the session S39 bills
were introduced. and on the second day
179 measures found their way to the
clerks desk. That all of these bills may
be invalidated comes from the fact that
they were introduced before any of the
standing committees had been appointed
and before the adoption of any rules for
the government of procedure in the
house. There were no committees to
which the bills could be referred and
there were no rules directing the method
of their reference Consequently, the
bills really have no legal standing in the
house and viii be thrown out If the point
is raised
Judge Crisp, of Americas. the house
parliamentarian. has charge of the ref
erence of all bills introduced and he will
have his hands full for several days send
ing proposed legislation to the proper
committees. The judge tackled his first
parliamentary problem today, when a
point of order was made against the con-
sideratiou of a resolution for the further
revision of the laws. He advised
Speaker Clark that the point was good,
the speaker so ruled and the house agreed
to the parliamentary correctness of the
ruling.
The third day of extra session of SD
congress found the Democratic members
of the house still confronted by several
problems of organization and the legis-
lative program not yet finally decided
upon,
1t was the hope OF the leaders that a
number of the new committees could be
organized today. Representative Mann,
the minority leader. entrusted with the
duty of selecting the minority member
ship, expected to be ready with nominal
tions for several of the more important
committees soon after the house should
meet today The house then would wit
ness the inauguration of anew era In
national legislative affairs. The new COM
mittees are to be elected by the house
itself. The Democratic nominations have
all been prepared by the ways and means
committee acting as a committee on COM
mittees and the slate thus made up will
go through without a change. The Dem
ocrats also are expected to vote for the
minority selections
LIBERAL ASSIGNMENTS.
Considerable interest centers in the as
signments that are to be given to the
Republican insurgents in the house 1t
has been reported that Mr.. Mann would
prove liberal.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07

grown on drained swamp land.
buying swamp. They got about 5000
acres in all. cheap.
Then Wilkinson went to the N. and
S. officials and told them how badly they
needed a cutoff road from the Belhaven
branch at the main line-a Emile stretch,
and, incidentally through Wilkinson
swamp property. The railroad decided to
build the cutoff and gave Wilkinson the
contract for grading the roadbed.
wilkinson built the embankment with
steam dredge. When the work was
finished the railroad had its embankment
on the dirt piled by the dredge and VIII
kinson had a 30-foot canal. And the rail-
road had paid for it.
Through their land the Wilkinsons have
dug parallel 1S-foot canals at mile inter
walls, connected by lateral bitches every
400 feet.
The drainage Is so swift the workmen
have to build dams behind the dredges
to keep them floating. The soil of the
drained land is a porous, friable black
loan, with dense clay subsoil.
The crops are wonderful-a bale and a
half of cotton to the acre, 70 bushels OF
corn and as many as 500 bushels OF
white potatoes have been raised on this
SOIL The land is peerless for truck.
There are over 100000 acres of such
North Carolina swamp land once thought
below sea level, now known to be high
enough to drain. Many private drainage
projects have been started on the VIII
kinson plan, but none is so far advanced
as that of the pioneer.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07

is "Big John" himself. field Of corn
Young Wilkinson decided to make cut
over swamp his savings bank He
cry time he could get a few dollars
ahead he bought cut-over swamp. He
got better jobs-yard boss, foreman, SUI
perintendent manager.
At last the big opportunity came
to invest lot of money and make a
lot Wilkinson had the money. The ten
years were up. The worthless land he
had bought had become valuable again.
He had the money when the opportuni-
ty came. The swamp land savings
bank had made good
He made a pile of money in various
deals and for long time now he has
been the big man about these parts.
Now for the drainage part Wilkin-
sons fathers farmers was on a dry spot
in the, swamp. The boy had noted how
wonderfully crops grew in the black
land. He also noted how regularly the
rains drowned the crops. The richest soil
in the world, but useless because IT
wouldn't drain!
Ten years ago the Norfolk and South
ern engineers surveyed for a swamp
route and Wilkinson saw their maps
The thing that most astounded him was
that the swamp lands, supposed to be
below the sea level, were really the high
est places on -tl1e route. THE swamps
were 10 or 20 feet above sea level They
only lacked outlets through the sand
ridges to drain dry.
Wilkinson and his brother Sam began
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07

wilkinson's dredge at work-inset
BELHAvEN, N. C.-They are drain
ing the swamps of eastern North Car
DINA and turning them into rich farms
because John A. Wilkinson, of Belhaven,
showed them how. The system of ca
nails and laterals which takes the stag
nant water off the soil and dumps 1t
into Pamlico sound, where it belongs,
is called the wilkinson plan"
Most everybody on the coast between
Capes Henry and Lookout knows about
Wilkinson. The men who have worked
with him cal him big john" He is
big all over-in girth and good nature,
in ideas and in capacity for work
The drainage man was born here. He
grew up into a husky lad, left the
swamp farm and went to the saw mill.
The Jaw mill is about the only indus
try in the swamp country.
In those days timber was plenty and
the mill men wouldn't bother with small
trees. After they'd cut over the land
you could buy it for a song--50 cents
an acre, maybe. 1t wasn't worth any
thing. Just swamp with the big tim.
Der all cone.
knew the swamp pine tree would add
from a half inch to an inch to its diam
eter every year. At that rate L.
inch trees, left by the loggers in those
days, would be 2O-inch trees and more
in ten years. The land would be worth
as much as before the loggers came
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
Storm at New Orleans
Causes $4,000 Loss

wind and rain storm did very little dam
age to property in this section, although
telegraphic communication to the north
and east is partially paralyzed. Twenty
thousand dollars will cover the damage
done to property along the louisiana
coast and on Lake Pontchartrain.
At Dunbar and Gulfport. Miss, seVeral
small boats suffered slight damage but
no serious injury to shipping has been re-
ported
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
Chattanooga Is LaShed
By Storm of Wind and Rain

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, April 5.-This
rty and vicinity was Visited by a fierce
storm of rain, thunder and lightning last
ing throughout Tuesday.
In less than II hours the precipitation
was 5.95 inches and damage to gardens
and truck farms is inestmable
All trains are from one TO six hours
late as a result of washouts. one man,
Ambrose Arthur, was struck by lightning,
but will recover.
Wind, Rain and Hail
Sweep Over Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. April 5.TThis
(Continued on Page Three)
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
2 SEVERE WIND STORMS
SWEEP GADSDEN, ALA.

CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, April "a
special from Gadsden, Ala. says: Lees
burg, Is miles from Gadsden suffered.
many farm houses and buildings were
blown down. No lives were lost.
Outbuildings were blown down in
Gadsden and the court house was slight
ly damaged. There were two severe. wind
storms. one following the other half an
hour.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
Storm His Wacn

WACO. Ga, April 6.-Wednesday after
noon a severe wind and rain storm pass
ed through this place. doing great dam
age to property blowing down several
houses and destroying orchards. twisting
dwellings from the pillows
Parker and Cheney seem to be the
heaviest losers from the loss OF barns
and outhouses.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
Mobile Stores Swept
BV Gale GaIe-DrNen IIde

MOBILE, Ala, April 5.-One OF inc
most terrific transforms in the history OF
the city began last night at O'Clock and
continued until a. m. The total pre-
cipitation in that period was in excess
Of six inches.
During FIVE minutes shortly after IL
O'Clock the precipitation was half an
inch. The tide, driven by S5-mile gale.
reached a point within a foot of the top
of the city wharves, and the lower sec
ton of the city was flooded, owing to
the backing up of water in the storm
sewers.
The rain was accompanied by heavy
thunderstorm. 1t is believed that stocks
of merchants in the lower section of the
city, where the water was over the side
walks. will be damaged to some extent.
Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-07
HUNTER Is AGAIN
GIVEN DEATH PENALTY

SAVANNAH, Ga, April 81. c. Hunter.
convicted of having slain his wife at the
time she and two other women were muir
dered in the Perry street house in Decem-
Der, 1909. and who was recently refused
a new trial by the supreme court was re-
sentenced today by Judge Charlton to be
hanged on May u.
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06
dept. OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Detroit, Mich. Dec 81. 1910.
PROPOSALS FOR FURNISHING
IRON CASTINGS FOR SEWER
CRATES, FOUNTAINS, ETC.

Sealed proposals Will be received at
the office Of the Department OF Public
Works. Detroit, Mich, until Saturday,
Jan. I, 1911, at 10 o'clock a m, stand
ard time, at which time and place
they will he opened for furntshing
Jan. 81. 1912, with iron castings tor
sewer CRATES and basin bars; bidS tp
be at the rate Ler 100 lbs, 100000 lbsy
more or less Also with round man :
more or less; with receiving basin In
let's. 200. more or less-bid on COM
,,I..te -ifIst@ and also or Extra covers.
with round-locking receiving basin
and with horse drinking fountains.
complete. four 90. more or less, at so
much apiece in each instance, all TO
be I'm accordance with diagrams ana
Bidders must indorse on outside OF
envelope containing bid the kind OF
material bid upon,
All OF the above castings TO be ne,
Western yards tds reUuifedD, AMI or
dered by me Department OF Public
Works. by contractor. without extra
charge
fed bank check In the sum OF $500.
payable 10 the order OF the DEPART
inent. with the Department or Public
Works before the proposals are open
found 20 be the lowest bidders the
will within FIVE days after bein
awarded the contract by the Depar,
ment. enter into a contract with S9s,r D.,
performance OF CONTRACT
Checks and proposals TO be placed
In separate envelopes III
The right TO reject any or all pro-
po soai Is expressly r : HSARER.
(25D Commissioner
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06

no longer required TO be turned into
the primary school interest fund.
] believe that much OF significance
and promise for betterment Of tax
alton conditions in Michigan lies IN
these two changes In our constitutional
law.
OF our taxation agitation in late years
has been to displace the old system OF
specific taxation. particularly of rail-
roads; and that a system has been
evolved of taxing the property OF rail-
roads and other public service cor
porations on an ad valorem basis and
according TO, average. rate, which is
working we'll and advantageously TO
the state and as to wl.ch 1 suggest no
change.
But. in the agitation against specific
ferred to. certain merits and advan-
tages OF that method OF taxation, I
fear have been lost sight OF. firmly
believe that there are classes of prop
erty listed as the subjects OF taxation
under our general tax law that can
never be taxed adequately or fairly or
method. which might be taxed fairly,
adequately and without oppression and
to the>relief OF the general taxpayer II
withdrawn from general taxation and
subjected solely to specific taxation.
a few instances / have In mind will
illustrate my point: Take. for instance.
mining royalties These values are
listed with annuities as personal prop
erty subject TO be taxed under our gen
eral tax law: but these valuable rights,
representing an income to their holders
mines Of very substantial amounts.
are absolutely escaping taxation In
Michigan, because the general tax law
is inadequate to reach and to subject TO
property. The imposition OF a reason
a ble specific tax upon all mining royal
upon the mines and TO be deducted by
them from the royalties otherwise pay
able would be a fair, simple and eftica-
ctous method Of subjecting this class Of
levied could. with pfopriety. be turned
into the general fund OF the state.
Another species oil property not prop
erly taxed under our present general
tax law Is vessel property. Michigan IL
one OF the gTcatet ship owning states
in the union. but its vessels -are-regis-
able specific tonnage tax is imposed or
in outlying townships far from the
actual residence Of its owners and
where good bargr for practiGSl
a complainant supervisor. All such
properly should be withdrawn rom
general taxation and should be taxed
solely by the state specifically. and
mOre-lReome would he derived from a
reasonable and fair tonnage tax. such
a. | understand is imposed Mime
by continuation OF the present
method 81 vessel taxation under the
general tax law.
Further, the general tax law at
tcmpts, very inadequatcly and with no
possibility Of uniform or fair \results.
10 assess individual credits Less Lndi-
vidual debts. \ fairer method of tax
ing individual holdings OF securities,
notes and similar values, or. rather. net
individual worth, would be by a SPECIFIC
iuCome tax. 20 the imposition OF which
by the state no arTier now exists
under our constitution. u Might he
wcn To abant IN the attempt 10 assess
credits under the geneCal TAX law and
therefor an individual income tax.
graduated or otherwise. according to
some reasonable specific rate.
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06

queneies, etc. The states 4 -refer 10
have effected complete severance be.
tween the systems of state and local
taxation 10 the very decided advantage
OF both. and the results In most IN
stances have been brought about by
the gradual increase OF the revenue
realized by these states through vari-
Gus forms OF specific taxation.
1 nave ALREADY referred tnALe- fact
that specific taxes applied 60 any new
subject OF taxation may now 10 into
the general fund, and. 10 the extent
that the totals OF such taxes are IN
creased. the less Will be the state tax
that needs 10 be taxed under the gen
eral law.
As "A tentative proposition for your
examination and consideration, i would
suggest the advisa bility or possibility
OF Imposing IA general corporate income
tax TO be levied against all corpora.
lions OF the state, except railroad ana
other public service corporations taxed
al yalorem average rate The
taxes thus imposed with other specinc
taxes that might properly go into the
general fund | believe would nearly or
even fully meet all legitimate state
needs and obviate the necessity OF any
further resort TO general taxation for
state purposes.
Please fully understand my PROPOSE
ton IL Is that this proposed corporate
income tax, In most respects To be
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06
Children Cry
FOR FlETcHER'S
Q a 8 TORIA
DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS.
Detroit. Dec 81, 1910
PROPOSALS FOR FURNISHING
VITRIFIED SEWER CROCK
AND SPECIALS.

Sealed proposals will be received al
the office OF the Department OF Public
Works, Detroit, Mich, until Saturday,
Jan. I, 1911. at 10 o'clock a. m. stand
ard time, at which time and place they
will be opened, for furnishing, in &C
cordance with the specifications TO De
had on application at this ofhce, WITH
fed sewer crock, elbows, ~ s. etc,
as may be required and ordered py
the Department OF Public WORKS our
ing the year ending Jan 81, 1917
Bidders must indorse on outside OF
envelope containing bids the KIND OIL
material bid upon.
Delivery 10 be made In such GUAM
titles and at such times and places as
directed by the Department OF PuD-
lie Works. f<-iA
Bidders shall specify discount from
tts list prices to cover each size OF
nine and specials. and bids viii be &C,
cepted only on blanks 20 be furnished
on application at this ofhce
Bidders are required 10 NE a ceru-
fed bank check In the sum OF SouO'
PAYABLE with the Department OF Puo-
tic Works, before the proposals are
opened, conditioned that SHOULD they
he found TO be the lowest bidders they
will within Ave days after being
awarded the contract by the Depart.
ment enter into contract, with COCO
and sufficient surettes, for falth1ul
nerformance OF contract
:. The right to reject any or all pro-
posals is expressly reserved
1890 j. HAAREh,
i95ID Commissioner.
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06

One furthur instance TO which 1
would refer Is the taxation OF mort
cages as credits under the general tax
law. l believe mortgages should be
entirely Withdrawn from taxation, eN-
cept a small specific tax for the priv
'ilege OF record. transfer. etc. The sub
Ject OF taxation or mortgages Will be
referred TO In more extended way In
another paragraph OF this message.
To the possible remedying and Inn
proving Of our taxation laws along the
lines indicated. 1 would invite your att
tention and consideration.
But aside from the possible improve
ment and betterment OF taxation by
withdrawal from general taxation OF
certain classes OF property and their
subsection 60 specific taxation, there is
another phase OF the subject to which
l would call your attention which may
furnish very high inducement for
more general use OF specific taxation
ia Michigan.
There are a number OF our states
that at the present time meet the needs
for state revenue solely through spc-
cihc taxation and that have no need
To resort TO the ctrcumlocution OF our
Michigan tax system OF levying state
budget. apportioning II among the
counties and primary assessment dis
tricts with cumbersome and unequal
equalization and expensive agencies for
collecting, return, handling OF delin-
The Detroit times., 1911-01-06
Message Of Michigan's New Governor
To Legislature Sparkles With
Principles of Progress.
Language Unmistakable In Gem of Official
Bravery and Daring.

he submitted 10
legislature ideas His
a
unfair
oneha a mile
he says
assessment De
railroad and other public service
general fund TO legitimate needs
OF the workngnan VINO
be creation
OF
The funds could be raised charges
Zealand Massachusetts
Osborn amended
Independent
submitted
breeding culture
that by the and brewery must
thousand population
license should
higher OF the
keeper:
Michigan
basis
abolished
culture work with the Michigan Agricultural college
confidence
The follows