The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-09

Inaugural day, December 1, 1896, dawned upon heavy skies and sloppy streets of the capital. The governor elect had not encouraged any elaborate ceremony. Especially did he prefer one without the usual military parade. The people, however, looked forward to a holiday and the citizen soldiers were willing to appear for the sake of the practice they needed in the revolutions. Governor Oates omitted to take vote on the preference of his successor, so several companies of state troops were on hand in full uniform.
 The hotels were packed the evening before with arrivals.
 The military formed near the Ex- change hotel at noon. Governor Oates and other state officers called for the governor-elect and seated him in their carriage. Mrs. Johnston and Mrs. oates escorted by Private Secretary J. Kirk man Jackson, rode in the next follow ing carriage.
 Arrived at the front porch of the capitol, Governor Oates in happy phrases, introduced his incoming sue cessor Bishop Coadjutor Jackson Of the Episcopal diocese said the prayer and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Thomas w. Coleman admins tered the oath of office.
 The governor thus installed delivered an address quite remarkable, put ih- stantly. before beginning, he tenderly embraced the wife of his youth ana the mother of his children. who had so earnestly and affectionately watched and waited through the years the com in of that hour of triumph
 The address was brief, but pregnant with the rightful claims of the people of Alabama to faithful and efhclent service from the department Of their government The conception specially of the part the chief executive shouid act, was bold, yet reverent-
 The inaugural commenced remark Ill many quarters far away. The buoyancy of thought as the resources of the state were enumerated so easy Of developments so carried and limitless in abundance the eyer expanding rail facilities and the phenomenal water route mileage, attract ed general attention. We are destined 10 become one of the great beef raising states of the union." the inaugural pre- dicted "The day has passed, the gov ernor said, "when men or states may wait for the things they want. Alabama wanted certain class Of immigrant set tlers The state in its corporate capac- itv should find them and locate them.
 The first official act of the governor was to put the executive chamber Tn or der for business, and this consisted Tn the appointment of the executive secre- tary, known officially as private secre- tary." The position was given to mature man of wide observation in public mat ters and general acquaintance with men, MT Chappell Cory, lately returned from residence in London.
 Immediately the governor sent to the legislature a remarkable message, an in- dice to his executive policy. lie said in thousands of homes the payment of taxes imposed self deniel in the comforts Of home He had given painstaking inquiry to the subject. and no doubt lay on his mind that officers and their clerks in many instances received salaries out of all proportion to the net earnings Of the taxpayers. The taxes thus unscien- tifically expended did nothing for the dignity of the commonwealth The sur plus available for such disbursement could with proprety be devoted to other purposes. The public debt might be re- duced by it. The public schools might be improved by 1t.
 The election laws might now be im-