The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-12-03
GOvE ERNOR-ELECT
 NUT QUITE READY TO SHAKE LIMBS
Judge Brandon's Attitude Re- SponsibIe For Consider <, able Speculation at
 State Capital
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU I THE AGE-HERALD

Although the Inauguration ot
 Judge w. W. Brandon as governor oe
 Alabama Is only one month and one
 half removed from the present time
 citizens of Alabama have no idea
 what the next governor proposes to
 do with the various appointive
 offices which he will be called upon
 to fill There is great speculation
 today regarding the positions than
 there has ever been just preceding
 change in state administrations.
 Governor Brandon has indi-
 cated that he will not be In a hurry
 to fill the positions. In fact. he has
 announced that no appointments need
 be expected until the legislature has
 taken some action on his recom-
 mendations which he will make dur
 ing 1923. Governor Brandon in his
 campaign insisted that some offices
 should be abolished, though he did
 not say which of tae offices were not
 needed n the state government. His
 latest statement was that he would
 make thorough study of the situa
 ton in the capitol, after which he
 would make recommendation to ths
 legislature. He stated that he would
 not make appointments until the
 law-makers had taken time to study
 his recommendations
 Several important positions in the
 state government must be filled by
 the next governor. Judge Brandon
 has the authority under the law to
 make the changes thA moment he
 takes the oath of office. The legs- lature of 1919 gave the governor authority to remove his officials at any time with or without cause. Judge Brandon his indicated that he will not exercise this authority until he has reached conclusion regarding the needs of the state. Among the positions Tn the state government which are filled by the appointment of the gov ernor are;
 Positions to He Filled Three members of the state tax commission. two members of the state board of control and economy | one state insurance commissioner. | one state fire marshall one head ot | the state military department, one secretary to the governor and ward ems of the various state prisons. The | governor also will be called upon ro name ten members of the state | highway commission and six members l of the state harbor commission. Although Judge Brandon has said
 not a word and no one professes to
 have inside information, the general opinion Is that Archie L. Tyson of
 Montgomery will become secretary to the governor, n position now held by | w. A. Darden of Anniston in the ad- jmlnistration of Governor Thomas E. | Kilby. Mir. Darden, of course. will return to Anniston as soon as possible and take up his duties with the busi- ness interests of Governor Kilby. MT. Tyson Is a on-in-law of Judge Bran- don and throughout his two cam- paigns for governor was one of Judge Brandon's right-hand men. He has taken prominent place in various interests. business and civic, of Mont gomery for many years. and Is looked upon as well fitted for the respon- sibilties of the office, which Is al- ways one of the most important to be filled by the governor, as it becomes one in which the governor must place complete confidence at all times
 Frank N. Julian of Sheffield. former secretary of state. former state rail- road commissioner, and now one of the publishers of the Sheffield Stand ard. Is looked upon as the leader for state insurance commissioner. MT. Julian is well-known among insur- ance men of Alabama and, in addi- ton, was prominent supporter of Judge Brandon in his two campaigns. Colonel Moon Being Urged Although no name has been mem toned for the position, military men throughout Alabama are appealing for the reappointment of Col. Hartley A. Moon as adjutant-general and head of the state military department. Colonel Moon has headed the military department during the trying period of reorganization following the close of the World war and the military forces under Colonel Moon are just now completing the task. When the World war ended and Alabama men returned to their homes this state was without national guard. It was necessary to reorganize the mili- tary forces. starting at the bottom and working upward. The responsi- bility for this task was thrust upon Colonel Moon by Governor Kilby and the success has been such that Judge
 Brandon is being urged to retain Colonel Moon in the position. No one has the least idea who will be named to the positions in the state board of control and economy. in the state tax Commission and in the con yict department where a large num- Der of wardens must be appointed. If Judge Brandon himself knows who will receive the positions he has kepb~ ] his own counsel and has not given an indication to the outside world. Positions -on the state highway
 commission and state harbor commits sion are purely honorary, but are
 among the most important in thes
 state government. Upon the state highway commission will fall the duty of determining how the state shall expend the highway bond issue
 of S2o,000,000 for the construction of
 system of trunk roads connecting the various county seats. Upon the
 state harbor commission will be placed the duty of using wisely the
 states credit to the amount of
 s10.00o,000 in reconstructing the
 states seaport at Mobile so that it
 may have the facilities for competi-
 ton with the other ports on the gulf coast and with the ports on the Att
 lantic. Judge Brandon has indicated
 that he proposes to make a thorough
 study of the needs of the various de-
 partments and offices before an-
 nouncing his appointments.
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