The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-26

anxious to show the pathfinder' l Crawford Johnson, president of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, presided over the meeting and kept the gathering in a continuous state of mirth by his witty sallies in the introduction of the several speakers. Members of the pathfindng committee would make no statement whatever con cerning the nature of the report they will file with the board of directors of
 the Jackson highway commission in Nashville on November 10, but in their addresses in the banquet hall they did say that they encountered more good roads, more beautiful scenery, more en- thusiastic acclaim along the route from Pelham to Birmingham than they had encountered in the 1900 miles previously traversed in the pathfinding tour.
 Leave This Morning l The committee will leave nere this morning at 9:30 o'clock, after tour of the city, which is expected to last two hours. They will leave the Tutwiler at 7:S0 o'clock, visiting the several beauti- ful residential sections of the city, and being given an opportunity of viewing the wonderful scenic effects to be ob- tained from the mountains on either side of the city, proceeding thence to the | industrial section and back to the hotel, from which they will leave promptly at 9:SO o'clock for Decatur, where they ex- pect to spend tonight. The committee will be entertained at lunch today in Culman.
 Miss Alma Rittenberry was the first speaker of last evening. President John son introduced her as the mother of the Jackson highway" Miss Rittenberry said that the only logical route for the Jackson highway was through Tennes- see, on down through Decatur Cullman. Birmingham, thence to Montgomery and Mobile, to New Orleans along the won derful gulf coast.
 l Senator Frank s. White was the next speaker, and delivered poetic rhapsody on the climate and scenic conditions of the south, with especial reference to the states through which the Jackson high way must pass. Senator White said that the most logical route to follow was the Alabama route, because there were 10 times as many people on this route as there were on the route proposed by Mis- sissippi. He paid a very high tribute to Birmingham referring particularly to It's short history, replete with things accom- plished, the beautiful scenery here and the excellent roads.
 Senator John H. Bankhead of Jasper came in rather, late, and followed Sena- tor White. He was introduced as presi- dent of the United States Good Roads association, and gave it as his belief that out of the present agitation for preparedness against possible enemies would come great system of national highways that no country could sur pass.
 Senator Bankhead Speaks
 'The United States can never be pre- Ipared for its defense until great high ways have been built through the coun- try, so that the armies and commissaries and cannons may be moved. do not doubt but that the national government at the next session of Congress will in- augurate scheme or project for build- ing great highways throughout the coun- try in co-operataion with the states and the people Just as sure as I stand be- fore this audience tonight, the national government will appropriate largely for highways and I believe it will be done in the next Congress.
 As for this Jackson highway we be- lieve that these pathinders have come here with open minds. We believe that they will make a report that, to the best of their knowledge, covers the entire sit uation. Believing this, we know that ~~~ gard the election and its probable result that it is known that even had the law not made it mandatory that they deposit the money, they would have done so rather than invalidate the elec- tion. For it Is generally known that unless the revenue of Birmingham is increased, the city cannot expand and assume the proportions borne by other cities of similar size and importance.
 Barber Feels Outraged
 MT. Barber, when seen by an Age Herald reporter subsequent to the fil- ing of his oral protest, declared that i he felt outraged in that the city of Birmin gham was required to pay $10,- l 900 for the holding of a state election.
 'I am in favor of elections-frequent | elections" he said. but I do think it | outS Sageous that bankrupt city must pay such a large sum of money in order that state election might be held.
 q am not criticizing the members of l the commission. for am informed that | unless they had taken the, action they ] did take they would have been in vio- lation of their oaths of office
 However. from an individual stand point, I am free to admit that rather [ than pay out that sum of money. pleasure of holding the election.
 1T feel hurt, indignant and out ragged"
 Governor Issues Proclamation
 Montgomery, october 9.-(specia' .)--De- member 27 was today set aside by Cover nor Henderson as the date on which to ! hold the election on the constitutional amendment which will permit Brming- ham to levy tax not to exceed one and one-half cent per annum, in a proclama- ton issued by the governor The procla- nation calling the election on this amend nent will be published in all the coun- ties in the state. Copies of a poster con taining the proclamation were today mailed to the sherifks of the state by the | governor. These posters must be placed ! in each county and copies must be placed It every polling place.