The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-30
RATES ON SUGAR
 UP FOR HEARING
Fight Started Five Years Ago By Montgomery
 GrOcers
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU

A member of the interstate commerce commission will come to Montgomery March 21 to receive testimony in the general investigation of sugar rates in the southeast, according to informa- tion received by NJ. NJ. Caskie, traffic manager of the Chamber of Commerce. It will be the first time in 15 years that commissioner has been here, Examiners' of the commission hear cases in Montgomery at frequent in- tervals.
 Montgomery wholesale grocers started the sugar investigation about five years ago but the case was recently reopened by the commission following complaints about the rates proposed. The interstate commerce commission ordered reduction of 10 per cent in the rates from New Orleans to Mont gOmery but the matter of reparations was never settled and the entire case was reopened for further investigation. Testimony will be received at New Or leans, Jackson and Savannah while the commissioner is in the south.
 Bonds Are Burned
 Fire at the state capitol this after noon destroyed state highway bonds of a face value of S728,O00 The de- struction was not accidental, however as the bonds had been purchased by the state from sinking funds of the highway department and retired. Their destruction was effected by State Treasurer George w. Ellis, in the presence of the governor and attor- ney general as provided for by the legislative act authorizing the retire. ment of highway bonds.
 Gas Tax Returns
 Returns from the state gasoline tax for December amounted to $117,- 501.42. according to figures today from the office of the state tax commis- sion. This brings the total collected since the leyying of the tax last March to $1,140, ,5S691.
 Has No Apologies
 Speaking before the kiwanis club, Governor Brandon today declared he had no apologies to make when he granted parole to moonshiner when his sentence was about to expire and when his product had been purchased by the citizens. He said he intended to continue his policy of granting pa roles whenever he believed good citi- zens coald be made of convicts even though the criticism of him continued
 Referring particularly to his parole record, Governor Brandon said :: When q mountain woman comes into my office. withs children of tender years and with tattered clothing to appeal for a husband who is in the penitentiary for moonshining and when I know that you Kiwanians have bought the whisky which sent him to the penitentiary, I rea.ize that he has been influenced by men who are my associates, and when his sen tence has nearly expired and 1 grant him a parolei in an effort to make better citizen for Alabama, I have no apologies to make"
 Imperial Potentate Coming
 Conrad V. Dykeman of Brooklyn, imperial potentate of the Shrine, ad- vised David W. Crosland. potentate of Alcazar temple, today that he will be in Montgomery for the annual spring ceremonial which will be held April IA. The temple plans to ini- tiate one of the largest classes in it's history. Potentate Dykeman will vis- it all temples in the southeast during his visit.
 Bureau Distributes Funds
 Members of the Alabama Farm Bu- reau Cotton association will receive $2,374, ,O00 as the third distribution of revenue received from last years cotton crop. Checks for the amount will be mailed to the members begin ming February l. This will give the farmers "A cents pound for the cot ton placed with the association which was chased as middling. Members who needed funds were granted an advance of 16 cents pound before the cotton season opened and another advance of four cents a pound was al- lowed before the holiday season began.
 Want Fire Station Reopened
 R. E. Nixon, fire chief, submitted his annual report to the city commis- sion today with an appeal for the reopening of the fire station in South Montgomery which was closed several years ago because of lack of funds. Chief Nixon declared the need for ad- ditional fire fighting facilities had been shown many times recently and he believed it would be in the city $ interest to place a captain and at | IaaSf civ firop,an ha