The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-23
THREEFOLD INVESTIGATION OF DISASTROUS WRECK IN WHICH
 JAS. T. HARAHAN MET DEATH
CAPT. J. v. ALLEN IS
 TAX COMMISSIONER
Governor After Careful Deliberation Fills Office Which Has Been Eagerly Sought By Many of His Warm Sup porters-Capt. Allen One of Birminghams
 Best Known Citizens
By sERRYMAN G. BETTY

Montgomery, January .2.-(Special)-- Capt. Joe Y. Allen of Birmingham, secre- tary of the Alabama Coal Operators as sociation, was tonight named tax com missioner of the county of Jefferson by Gov. Emmet O'Neal.
 Capt. Allen, the new appointee. reached the city on the o'clock train tonight, coming here on the advice of a friend, who stated that the governor had about made up his mind on the vexing question which had been bugaboo to him for sew era1 months. Immediately upon arriving in the city he went to the governors man. sion on South Perry street, where he re- ceiyed the official honors from the ex- ecutive himself. The appointment was made shortly after o'clock, only Captain Allen, the governor and another friend being present.
 Tn accepting the important office en- trusted to his care Captain Allen stated to the governor that he intended to give up all other duties which now devolve upon him. and that 1t was his intention to serve his county and state faithfully In the performance of the tasks of his new office.
 Captain Allen Interviewed
 When interviewed by this correspondent few minutes after his appointment ne said.
 q have formulated no particular sched- ule at this time for the performance of the duties of the office, other than to promise the citizens of Jefferson county and the state of Alabama that l shall deal squarely by all, endeavoring at all times to carry out the duties of the office in a way that's fair It is my intention to devote my time unsehshly to the office, to study its requirements, and to gauge my activities thereby"
 Governor O'Neal stated after his ap- pointment of Captain Allen that he was more than pleased with his selection. While admitting that the question or who should fill the office had been troublous one, the governor stated that he had i'm plicit and absolute faith in his appointee, and that he felt assured that the inter- ests of the state would be conserved in every possible way.
 Every politician in Montgomery who was interviewed tonight on the appoint ment expressed satisfaction over 1t. They all stated that they felt sure that the office, under tine management of Captain Allen, would be ably conducted. To the citizen of Montgomery, especially. the ap- pointment came as very happy surprise. Captain Allen was reared In Montgomery. and was a son of the late Gen. William A. Allen one of the most unselfsh patriots that the state has possessed
 Is Lucrative Office
 The office to which Captain Allen is appointed is considered one of the most lucrative in the state. Under the new tax commission laws, it is thought that the income may be somewhat reduced, but despite all reductions it is thought that it will remain one of the best plums in the commonwealth. Captain Allen is considered to be well fitted by his experience to. adorn the office.
 For several years he was promi- nent citizen of Sheffield, was in the Alabama national guard, and has at all times taken an active and acute in- terest in the taxation system of the state He is universally liked, and Is Dopular with all. He was one of Gov ernor O'NeaPs first supporters, was local optionist to the bone and was ono of the first of the citizens of Alabama to sign the petition for the Montgomery convention which went on record op- posing the writing of prohibition in the constitution of the state.
 He will enter upon the duties of his
  present affairs in shape, certainly by the first of next week.
 Came Like Thunderclap To the newspaper men gathered about the capitol the news of the appoint ment of a successor to tax commis- sioner Bowman came like thunder clap. Almost every day since the re- moval of MT Bowman from the office the governor personally was asked the question of whether he had reached any conclusion on the matter lnvap- ably the answer came back, Not yet. The question had become so much or stereotyped one that his excellency on spying reporters would shake his head in negative way a block off, the sig nifcance being lost to none or thein' They all knew that the shake meant Nothing doing on the tax commlssloh- ship appointment"
 Tonight, however, the uneXpecteo happened, the cataclysm occurred With jingle jingle" of the telephone bell, The Age Herald correspondent, the first to be notified, was informed of the ap-