davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
INSURANCE AGENTS PASS CASES ALONG Indictments Referred to Home Offices-Rate- Making As- sociation Thought the
 Objective

Local representatives and special agents of fire insurance companies in dicted by the Jefferson county grand jury arc of the opinion that this is a matter to be handled by the main offices of the companies.
 Ed S. Moore, secretary of the insurance exchange, declared he knew nothing at all about the cause of the trouble. and was ignorant as to the facts in the case.
 Henry G. Seibels, who heads the in- surance department of the Jemison Real Estate and Insurance company, stated that this same question had been through the courts before. and that in every state it had been taken up the com- panies had won out. He pointed out that the same point is now being fought through the courts of Mississippi. Prac- tically every fire insurance company op- erating in the state belongs to the South eastern Underwriters association, he de- clared, and this association inspects and rates the properties involved, and the companies abide by the rate made by that association.
 MT. Sefbels stated that this association was not combination in restraint of trade, as the maintenance of adequate rates is in the interest of the public, and it would be against public policy not to maintain that rate. It was pointed out that the action of legislators and others in Alabama had resulted in there being fewer companies doing bus mess in this state than any other state. Credit of these companies must be main- tained so they can pay the losses as they occur, and they are merely acting in the capacity of collectors.
 Fire insurance can be bought from mutuals or any other companies who are not members of the association, he declared While the insurance companies which Mir. Seibels department represents were not made parties to the indictments in his opinion they would come under the same rule, as they fix an adequate rate for tho protection of the public.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
ASSASSINATION
 ENVAbLE POSITION
Common Stock Net Earnings for 1920 Said to Exceed
 $25 a Share

The SIoss-Sheffield Steel and Iron com pany, largest merchant iron producer in the south. has made net earnings, for common stock in 1920, Of s25. to over ss per share. according to the Wall Street Journal.
 Speaking of the status of the company and it's policies,/ the Journal says:
 'tSloss-sheffields earnings have been progressively upward for years. In the year now ending record earnings are as- sured, estimates of net for common stock running from s25 a share to over $3O compared with the previous record ol $16.2 share in 1913.
 Some time ago when the pig iron mar ket was booming certain stockholders en- deavored to persuade the management to increase the dividend rate. But directors declined to consider paying more than $6 a share annually. taking the stand point that it would be better to pay a comparatively small return during good times and to assure the continuation of this rate over a possible depression. This policy has not changed. and there is every reason to expect that the S a share rate will be maintained.
 "Sloss-Sheffield is in a strong position financially Its liabilities. outside of funded debt, are confined to small cur rent accounts, and it has an ample sup ply of cash. It is not piling iron so that it's needs of working capital are small. At the end of last year Sioss reported current assets of ss,oso,631, while it's cur rent liabilities were only s1,44l, 4os. In other words, current assets were more than four times as great as current iia- bilities Holdings of government securi- ties alone, 1,666. .sS9, exceeded all current liabilities.
 Orders now on the books are suffi- cient to enable the company to main cain operations until end of February"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
TOM vARLOS SHOT,
 WOMAN ARRESTED,
 BLOOD TRANSFUSED

Tom varIos was shot and sert- ously injured yesterday morning about 3 o'clock at his home, 24O6 Fifth avenue, north.
 A woman giving her name as Mrs. Clara varIOs was arrested and plnced in the city jail charged with assault with intent to murder. When seen Inst night Mrs. Vartos refused to make any statement further than thnt the trouble arose over dOmestfc affairs-
 varlos was taken to . local Inc firmary by Shaw's ambuiance. Blood trnnsfusion was considered necessary yesterday afternoon. The wounded mans brother, TheO Var los, furnished . pint of his blood in an effort to save the patient. 1t is xaid that immediately following the transfusion the wounded man showed improvement. hut his cOndi- tion is still considered very critf- cal
 One bullet is said to have pierced his abdomen
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
APPOINTED RECEIVER
 OF HUSBANDS CAFES

Mrs. Cora L. swigart was appointed receiver for the Federal cafeteria, no Twenty-first street, north. and the Blue Bird cafeteria, D08 First avenue, north. by Judge Dan A. Greene in the chancery division of the circuit court yesterday.
 petition asking that a receiver be appointed to carry on the businesses of the two firms was filed by Mrs. Swigart, wife of the proprietor of them. Follow ing her appointment as receiver she was required to make bond in the sum of $100.
 According to the allegations of the petition filed by Mrs. Swigart. her hus- band operated the businesses until De- cemDer 3, 1920. when he is alleged to have abandoned the petitioner and his places of business, leaving large num- Der of debts and liabilities against the business. The petition alleged that he failed to make any provisions for the operation of them and the petitioner asked that a receiver be appointed tc conduct tb
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
TURKEY DINNER

Christmas 1920 will be a great day al the city jail Christmas Day is turkey day for the prisoners, and a big dinner
 with the festive bird and all of the fix
 ngs which go with 1t will be served ths
 prisoners.
 Earnest investigations failed to un- cover any connection between the prox- unity of Christmas and the success which the city police department has been hay
 ing in the clean-up campaign recently instituted with the ultimate object ci
 rdding the city of vagrants and law breakers.
 Preparations are already under consid- eration in the department of public safe ty for the proper entertainment of the
 prisoners during the holiday. They vii be allowed some hours of leisure besides the holiday dinner.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
MILLER HEIRS ASK PROPERTY DIVISION Petition That Estate of Late Judge Be Placed Under
 ChanCery Court

Heirs of the estate of the late Judge John H. Miller filed petition in the chancery division of the circuit court yesterday, asking that the real psopSs erty of the estate be divided.
 The suit was brought against B, Ii Miller, as administrator of the es tHta and was filed by Sallie Miller Esfc& Minnie M. Jones, Annie Brice Miller. John Miller, Molly T. Miller as guar dian of James Miller, Elizabeth Miller and Lena Miller, minors; Hugh H. Dale, Lois Dale McWilliams, Sara Dale Mose- ley Pressly Dale, Irma Dale, Daisy Dale Strother, Tom Dale as guardian of Sara Fairly Dale a minor; Hugh H. Dale as next friend of Jamie Dale, @ minor.
 The complainants petitioned the court to have the property, Il different pieces, some of which is business prop erty, described in the complaint, divided into five equal shares. That one go to Sallie Miller Brice, one to Barnette Miller Pogue, one to B. NJ. Miller one to Sara M. Bonner, John Miller, Minnie M. Jones, Annie Brice Miller, Lena Mill Ter Elizabeth Miller and James Miller. jointly one to Hugh H. Dale, Lois Dale McWilliams, Sara Dale Moseley, Press ly Dale, Irma Dale, Daisy Dale Strother, Sara Fairly Dale and Jamie Dale jointly, and to vest in them the entire and eN- elusive title in the parcel or share so set apart and allotted to them against the others as the interest of each may 2ppear. II is further asked that three 1 disinterested commissioners be appoint ed to divide the property and allot the same, so that the division may be fair, just and equitable. The removal of the administration of the estate from the probate to the chancery court is also asked
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14

At the afternoon ceremonial session various visiting Shrine notables were introduced. David w. Crosland, poten- tate, of Montgomery. and first cere- nonial master of the imperial council, presented Potentate Hubbard of Bir- mingham with honorary mem bership in Alcazar temple. Zamora temple also presented to Potentate David Heiny .of Atlanta honorary membership in za- mora.
 5,061 MOBILES
 Potentate Hubbard announced Za- mora temple now had 5,061 nobles and was the largest shrine in the south and one of the largest in the nation.
 Potentate Crosland of Montgomery started movement for bringing the imperial council to Birmingham.
 He announced that Alcazar and Abba. with Zamora temples, would appoint committees to work for the meeting or the Imperial council in Birmingha in 1927.
 Potentate Hubbard. speaking in ref erence to the meeting of the imperial council in Birmingham, stated the wear the meeting was wanted was 1927, the year Potentate Crosland would preside as imperial potentate.
 Bursting clouds, flashes of lightning. slippery sidewalks and streets filled with water 1t seems, all tried to com- bine to make the shrine day a failure.
 But the rain was the only failure that was recorded. For, though it came down in torrents, it failed to take the snap. hop and go" out of their St Sbri derful time.
 The ardor of the glad hand commit tees which were stationed at the depots at o'clock yesterday morning had not declined one bit when several hours later the rain had kept coming down in such torrents they realized that a pa- rade was out of the question.
 NO PARADE
 Birmingham missed a real treat when the parade was called off. Some one had failed to provide the necessary boats and barges, so the parade was out of the question. At 10:45 o'clock. the appointed time for the parade to start, the rain was coming down at the rate of about a gallon a minute to the square yard.
 From until o'clock yesterday morning the glad hand committees had the time of their lives welcoming all the visiting Shriners to the Magic City. At o'clock all the candidates whom the degree teams were later to operate upon and assist them in their journey across the hot sand of the desert. re- ported at the Masonic temple, Sixth avenue and Nineteenth street, north.
 At 9:15 o'clock all the members of the glad hand committees assembled at the Louisville and Nashville station. At 9;30 o'clock they got into action. for the shrine special from Montgomery had arrived. On board were 200 nobles and Imperial First Ceremonial Master Cros- land.
 Zamora temple was represented by it's hundreds of nobles and members wht
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
BOARD CONSIDERING
 MORE PAY FOR THE
 FIRE DEPARTMENT
Commissioners and Men in Council Yesterday, Both
 Sides Presented-De-
 CiSion Promised Soon

Members of the Birming-
 ham fire department are ask ing for a 30 per cent raise in pay.
 At a meeting held yester-
 day afternoon in the city coun-
 cil chamber a committee of firemen and representatives of the local trades council pre- sented the case of the firemen
 to the city commissioners. John W. Altman, attorney for the To- cal council, presented the side of the firemen and John Taylor. coinmis-
 sioner of public safety, spoke briefly on behalf of the work that the city commissioners have done for the de- partment during this administration. As n possible source of revenue, Mir. Altman suggested that the commissioners not reduce any of the licenses to do business in the city as the property holders were largely the business men and they are the ones who benefit from low insurance rates and adequate pro- lection against fire.
 After hearing the evidence given on both sides of the question the commis- sioners took the matter under advise | ment and stated the firemen would be notified of their decision in the next few days
 FIREMEN'S VIEWS
 Briefly, Mr. Altman said that in Bir- | mingham there are PA firemen, more than 100 less than there are in other In Birmingham's class, that, there are not only more men in other cities but that they get larger salaries that Bir- ] mingham has in the past year had l more fires than the average city of the same size, making more work for the firemen to do, that the salaries in this department have been increased 55 per cent since 1915, while living ex- penses have increased 165 per cent in the same length of time, that the small salaries paid in the fire department are
 making skilled firemen go to other lines of work. that it takes man of high physical. mental and moral gifts to make an efficient fireman, that in surance rates in Birmingham will be raised unless an adequate fire depart ment is maintained in Birmingham, that local firemen have not salary enough to support their families and  | an adequate fire department unless | adequate salaries are paid the men. CITY'S SIDE
 MT, Taylor said he knew the fire men were underpaid, as are all city em- ployes, that during his administration l the department had been put on the
 semi monthly pay day plan, that the | minimum wage had been raised from 1 $S0 to SllO. that the city has paid l ha, fire,
 from accident and half time when they are sick for the last year or more, that
 every mans life has recently been in-
 sured for $1,000, that firemen have been put on 12-hour shifts where be- l fore they worked and lived at the fire | department, an that the cost of main taining the city departments has gont Up and up. while the revenue of the | city has not gone up a single dollar. l The new scale of salaries recon
 mended by the firemen and the Trades
 council ranges from $130 to $145.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
IDENTIFIES NEGRO
 IN GROUP AS ONE
 WHO ROBBED HIM
Fennell Picks Williams, Ac- cused of Highway Robbery, as Man Wanted-0fficerS
 Rounding Up Thugs

With the further identifica- ton of Alonzo Williams, ne- gro, as a highwayman, officers are of the opinion they are rounding up the bunch of bandits who have been operat- ing in and around Birming- ham during the past few months.
 Williams was arrested Saturday morn ing by Deputy Sheriffs Burge and Nor ris and brought to the county jail He was identified by J. E. Stuart as being the man who attempted to hold him up about 10 days ago.
 James F. Fennel appeared at the county jail yesterday and stated he had been held up and robbed Friday night and he wanted to see the man arrested. When the prisoner, together with sev- eral others, was brought out, Fennel identified Williams as the one who robbed him of about $26 just this side
 
 the Louisville and Nashville yards at Boyles, near the section houses on the old Tennessee pike.
 THE HOLD-UP
 According to the man, he had been going along the road when the negro ap- proached him and asked for a match. Just as he handed it to him, Williams, he stated, threw a gun on him and com manded him to hand over his money, which he did. The negro then threat ened to kill him, he declared, because he didn't have more money As result of the raids being made by the city police and deteclive depart ments large numbers of vagrants are being lodged in the city jail. Sixteen vagrants, all negroes, were arrested yes terday and their pictures and finger prints were taken.
 The purity squad is also assisting in the cleanup campaign. Several women are undergoing examination at the city laboratory.
 CLEANIN UP
 Daily visits to the pool rooms are be- ing made by the officers, 16 men being ergaged in the work of rounding up vagrants and crooks who have drifted into Birmingham from other cities.
 Due to the raids many persons of this character are leaving the city, according to George A. Lyons, chief of detectives. He declared the continuance of the war on yagrants and erSt-while crooks for the next few weeks will see Birmingham on January 1, 1921 minus this element
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14

i could be seen in every hotel and on every street corner of the city. Temples throughout the south. Montgomery Chattanooga, Meridian. Shreveport, New Orleans Atlanta, Macon and other places were we'll represented.
 All of the various temples brought their own bands with them, and while they were not able to make showing because the parade was called off, all of them rendered concerts during the course of the day in the lobbies of the
 various hotels over the city. Mont gomery's famous saxaphone sextet paid visit to The Age-Herald and gave a delightful concert inside the building.
 All other arrangements were carried out to the letter. At ? o'clock the big ceremonials sessions were started al the Jefferson theatre. What occurred inside is deep secret, though it did leak out that nearly 150 candidates got their first whiffs of a breeze blowing across the hot sands.
 BANQUETS
 At 5:30 o'clock banquets were held al the Tutwiler and the Hillmar hotels the Greenwood cafe, at the Southern club and at the Masonic temple. Toast masters were appointed for the several places and there was a lively time. A few minutes after o'clock visiting and local shriners and their ladies pro ceeded in a body to the Lyric theatre
 Every seat in the entire theatre had been reserved in advance for them and the general public was not admitted.
 The festivities during the day yester- day, it is believed, were one of the big sest in the history of Shrinedom. Invi-
 tations were extended to all imperia officers in the south, to potentates ir cities south of the Ohio river to east of the Mississippi, including Memphis
 while all the nearby cities and towns were invited to send their bands, pa trols and delegations to the big cere- monial in Birmingham.
 DEGREE TEAM
 The degree team, which began oper- ations at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon and again last night at the Jefferson theatre, was under the direction of R D. Beatty. Other members of the team are H. $. Ansley, O. F. Brock, E. N. Da- vidson, G. s. Haffner. Ed l.. Keiser, B H. Mirchel, J. T. Burke, o. S. Finch, W
 D. Hawkins, John T. Kent, IT, M. $ K Kleyensteuber. J. A. Steele, o. W. Bra gan, z. E. Cheatman, M. M. Goodwin, w A. Hood, R. P. Kirkpatrick, w. w. Ran
 som. Horace F. Shaw and Andrew Swald.
 Many distinguished visitors were tht guests of Birmingham and Zamora tenn. pie yesterday. Among them were Noble David W. Crosland of Montgomery, pro. bate judge, who in addition to beine the potentate of the Alcazar temple oi that city, is imperial first ceremonial master of the supreme body.
 Shortly after o'clock last nigh the reception and ball at the Tutwilel hotel was begun. The wives and other
 members of all the visiting and loca shriners were present. The ballroom on the secnod floor, the mezzanine ant the rear lobby floors were all taken. 4 reception was accorded to all visitor 1 and their families. Refreshments wer served, then the dance began, whicl lasted until after midnight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
WANTS MACHINE GUNS

Commissioner John l.. Taylor, head of the department of public safety of the city, is considering the purchase of F Thompson submachine guns to be used in emergencies by the police and detec- tive departments.
 G. o. Fishr of the Auto Ordnance cor poration will demonstrate the efficiency of the guns this afternoon. Chief of Po- lice T. J. Shirley. Chief of Detectives George J. Lyons and members of the two departments will be present.
 The weapon can fire 1.50O shots mn- ute and shoots the .45-calber automatic cartridge, such as is used in the army automatic pistols. It is effective at 5oc yards. It may be fired from the hip as d pistol or the shoulder as rifle being equipped with a detachable stock. The gun is the invention of Gen. J. T. Thompson.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
CORONER AVERAGES
 TWO CASES A DAY

Fifty-nine deaths were investigated by the coroner during November according to the monthly report of John R. T. Rives, assistant coroner, which has just been compiled. Of this number, 23 wers white and 36 colored.
 There were no suicides for this period. Deaths investigated were 20 natural. 2l accidents and 17 homicides. The record for December is expected to exceed the one for last month, as large mum Der of deaths have been investigated by the coroner during the first 13 days of the month
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
EVENTS OF TODAY
 IN BIRMINGHAM
Statement to Comptroller (Condensed)

"SHOP EARLY"
 Inland waterway convention cnan Der of commerce.
 Society minstrel tonight
 ADJUSTMENTS Jefferson--Society minstrel. Lyric-Keith vaudeville and pictures. Locyyss Bijou-Vaudeville and pie lures.
 Strand-WalIace Reid, in "Alwaye Audacious."
 TrianOn-Mildred Harris, in cold Dad,. and a Henry Lehrman comedy, fWet and Warmer"
 AIcazar-TaThe Forbidden Thing.' Galax-Lois Weber's ssTO Please One WOmanr
 Rialto-WiIliam Farnum. in ''The Scuttlerms~
 Princeso-<eNIidnight Man." Odeon---- aVanishing Daggers." Miles School of Dancing-Dancing from to IF.
 "SHOP EARLY"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
Marriage Licenses

The following marriage licenses were issued yesterday at the office of the probate judge:
 w. M. Ingram and Miss Myrtla May Thompson. Rhodes.
 Albert B. Adams and Miss Virginia Dorr.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14

ATTENTION. KNIGHTS TEMPLAR Attend funeral service of Sir Knight T. J. Rowley at Masonic Temple tomor- row, Tuesday, 14th. at ?. m.. In full uniform. Interment at ElmwoOd.
 HENRY HIDDEN.
 Eminent Commander. CHAS. J. GEOHEGAN. Recorder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
Scorning Cloudburst,
 Shriners Haue Magic
 City Dizzy Yesterday
Bands, Gay Uniforms and Whimsical Dominoes Every where-Feastng and Speeches Mark Afternoon Later Theatre Party, Then Another and Day Is
 Closed With Dance at the Tutwiler

The Shrner had day indoors yesterday but heavy rain prevented the parade and other outdoor events
 Zamora Temple nobes declare they will again schedule anything on the thirteenth
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-14
Alamo Earn, Light Plant

TIT. Farmer-ycur opportunity .~-ahe one you have been waiting vcT Here is greatest bargain aver offered. We are going to gel at distributors cost, . limited rnmber of Alamo Farm Light FsAnts. If you have been contemplat. iz1x buying light plant for coun. try home get in touch vith vs-s ~The AlaRe b natiorzsfy Ane~ns~ The 2Aants are nsw (utvtf lng zseS) au. | ssry As regular factory gassenfa4 McClary-Jenniaois Machinery Coznparyv
 42O-22 s. 2Oth Sk
 Birmingham. Ala Le0l Phone Main x44t
 Y Diseanes Phone Mi
The New York herald., 1920-01-25
Praise Nitti for
Regaining Allies

ROME, Friday comment
on Premier Nitti's journey to Paris and
London is unanimous in the opinion
that friendliest relations have been re-
established with the Allies, and that
England. France and Italy can now
work together for the attainment OF
mutual interests
The first result of this understanding s
Is seen in the support given by the
Allies to Italy's latest proposal regard
ing the Adriatic question. 1t is be-
leved here this question will reach 4
final solution within q few days If
France and England can make Jugo-
slavia understand it is impossible to es-
cape from the dilemma, and that she
must either accept the moderate terms
Of the compromise suggested by Signor
Nitti or have the pact of London ap-
piled in Its integrity.
The Giornale d'Italia, however, favors
a militant attitude by Italy at the pres
ent juncture. This newspaper says
Our moment is now most favorable
when America refuses to follow Presi-
dent Wilson's policy; when in France
policies unfavorable to Italy fall with
Premier Clemenceau. and when Eng
land faces complications all over the
world"