The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-08-12

miles of road, at either or both ends OF
the road, II shall be the duty of the gov
ernor of the state, and he is hereby re-
quired to ndorse on the part of the state
the first mortgage bonds of said railroad
company to the extent of $4,000 per mile
for that portion thus finished, completed
and equipped. Sufficient security to the
state seemed to be assured.
The same legislature chartered more
than 100 corporations, intended to enlarge
the Industry and commerce of the people.
Among these were iron manufactures,
cotton mills, gold mining corporations.
a paper mill. loan and insurance COM
panies, banks and saving institutions.
The governor reported that under the
abnormal practice of growing cotton on
the share plan, that is, paying the
labor by given share of the product
of the fields cultivated, abuse of the labor
had been discovered In exceptional in
stances. The master had been known
TO withhold from his laborers. under one
iimsy pretext or another. their proper
claims on the crop He advised that leg
lslation be enacted to prevent the recur-
renee of that abuse. The governor added ::
I'VE have a high moral duty to perform
toward the freedmen. Their freedom was
accomplished without any agency of their
own"
The governor declared the public schools
though suspended by general conditions
of trouble and anxiety among the people,
He favored the public education of the
negroes. The laws regarding debts and
judicial proceedings to collect should be
made to suit the prevailing, condition of
debtors.
The first session of this legislature char
tered THE Tuscaloosa Scientific and Art
Association" the object OF which was to
bring aid to the university in restoring
its library, burned by the invading en-
envy Some dissatisfaction with the man
agement of the institution brought up
the matter now
Governor Patton recommended that the
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical
college be made IAN adjunct of the Uni
versity of the State"
On November % the two houses bal
lotted for United States senator, to sue
coed Houston. whose short term had ex-
plred even before the Senate opened its
doors to the state. The candidates were
b. Cooper and Charles c. Langdon. Seven
B. Cooper ard Charles c. Lungdon. Seven
ballots We're taken, the last resulting in
the choice of Winston. This senator-elect
too, was never permitted to take his seat
A joint resolution passed of thanks ito
the citizens of Huntsville. Ala. Nashville,
and Memphis. Tenn, Louisville, and Lex
ington, Ky, Cincinnati. o., st. Louis, and
Hannibal. Mo, Quincy, and Cairo, Ill.
and the Ladies' Relief associations of
Baltimore. Missouri, Illinois Kentucky
and other states,n for supplies for the
destitute, "and also to the railroads and
steamboats, for transporting them free OF
charge"
Secretary of State Albert Elmore re-
signed to take office at the custom house
at Mobile. Adjutant General of the Gov
ernor's Staff Watson died. The legisla-
ture elected Micah Taul, then secretary
of the senate, of Talladega, to succeed
Gilmore and the governor appointed Capt,
George e. Brewer to succeed Watson.
Brewer had commanded the remnant of
the Forty-sixth Alabama regiment, Army
of Tennessee, for the last two years of
the war
The governor placed the fourteenth ar
ticle before the legislature. Late In the
session a Joint resolution refusing to rat
ify passed the senate and went to the
house.
The house rules were suspended and
the joint resolution came up. sMr. Morse
of Choctaw offered a substitute for the
senate resolution, that general election
be held so that the people might express
their viii on the question of ratification.
This was tabled, 40 to "a.
Mr.. Potter from Cherokee moved as
substitute for the senate joint resolution
Alabama was q state Of the union; that
a fragment of Congress continued to de-
bar her senators and representatives from
their seats; therefore, the legislature in
sisted to be Informed by said fragment
of Congress what must be the oualifi-
cations of senator's and representatives
from Alabama Mr.. Potter's substitute
was laid on the table, IS to IS.
The senate joint resolution was adopted
90 to s.
reluctance and explained Mr.. Savage
ing may to be entered on the journal.
and there it stands, to-wit: II vote against
the ratification of the proposed amend
ment because I consider the action of
this general assembly would not give val
idity to the act tamendmenb: further
more. being denied representation In the
national council, / deem 1t inexpedient
10 ratify acts in the formation of which
we as state had no voice. fSigned).
Savage of Clarke
Governor Patton, before the vote on
ratification was taken, was visited by d
secret agent from Washington. This
agent came to assure the governor that
il Alabama refused to ratify the four
tenth article. civil government would be
entirely abolished in the state and mill
tary rule set 'up instead The governor
thereupon retracted his objections at the
opening of the session and by special
message advised ratification. 1t was after
the receipt of this advice that the leg
islature declined to ratify.
JOHN WITHERSPOON DUBOSE.