davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
lIE[ BAL ANCE' F9R'PAST YEAR
 l6,842,5I8|
lnfeFnai Taxes. On Incomes And Custom Duties Ascribed
 By Treasury Officials AsI Causes Of SWelled Receipts
lUGE WARTIME DEBT
 s GRADUALLY REDUCED
Records Show Every Item IT,
 Miscellaneous Tax List Was More Productive During
 Past Year Than In 1922

< WASHINGTON. Dec. a1.-tBy As- sociated' Press.)--The5 government closed it's financial books for the year tonight with a record of hay Ing received s4.1s4,so7,soo almost half billion dollars more than was paid into the treasury in the calendar
 year 1922. Its expenditures were ss.sss. .oss,oss, leaving net balance of ss7s.s42,51s. h
 The year just closed was marked by unusual activity at the treasury. It funded the great British wartime debt and the smaller obligation of Finland; 1t refunded into easy. han HIing form the last of the $4.50o,000-- poo Victory loan, and more than 2,0o0.000.000 other government se- eurities, and made steady progress howard reducing the huge wartime hebf Its budget for the last fiscal year was balanced and officials are confident that the policy of re tr- confident that the policy of retrench- : ment has made possible another year of debt reduction and solid gov ernment financing.
 Swelling receipts during the call sndar year 1923 marked the govern nents two chief revenue sources internal taxes on incomes and duties rolIected at the customs houses. Treasury records show income and profits tax payments for 1923 to- taled sf, s6S, ,69S,422 as compared with A,5e1, ,6o4, ,002 for 1922. Customs rev snue for 1923, the greatest in his tory, aggregated. s5s2,5S9.015.s about 100000 mors than the previous year. ,e,s frien Tarsfs .sssess s 2 cs.ais. { ks tss N Sprsssed ls+; kae fI Is,I. 4 gs.s6 Int ltefnal tax receiptss HS S<;ariIir thA; lowered tax rates of the IQ1f tax law had borfte out the pre- dictf6n that lower rates would pro duce more revenue through stimu- lation of business.
 The higher rates of the tariff law werc regarded as responsible for the lhule xovernment income from that Esol1rce. The high duties failed to act as a barrier against imports, accord ing to official records.
 Cnstorns collections during 1923 averaged more than million and Il half dollars during the 365 days. Such figures, officials contended, tcould not fail to reflect an increased Iacfiyity of commerce and Healthier tcouditiens in world trade. sdespite ldisturbed economic conditions in some pafts of the world.
 Treasury records also show that Eeycry item in the long list of mis- ieeilaneous taxes was more produc- five in 1923 than the previous year. Excise, taxes increased generally, the records show. t
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
SEARCH AND SEIZURE
 CASES ARE CLEARED UP
Section Of Mississippi. Code Of 1906 Is Held Constitutional

JACKSON, Miss, Dec. 31.-(SpeciaD. By holding that sections of Heming ways code of 1906 is constitutional and does not violate section 23 of the Mississippi constitution (the search warrant section) the Mississippi su preme court Monday settled approx imately 30 search and seizure cases that have been appealed from various county courts of the state, The de- cision was read by Justice w. H. Cook, and was in the case styled state of Mississippi vs. E. T. Boskin, appealed from the court of Forrest county.
 The constitutionality of the section has been questioned in a number of whisky cases where searches have been made to obtain evidence both for possession and manufacturing.
 Suggestions of error and motion for new, trial before a full bench of the Hattiesburg paving cases decided several weeks ago were overruled by the court on banc. The decisions were read by Associate Justice F.. O. Sykes, presiding judge of division B.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
CITY-COUNTY FIGHT BREAKS OUT w COURT
Huge Surplus Report Reects Naon ospe,i
1924 Greetings Sent Country By President

WASHINGTON Dec. s1.-Pres- ident Coolidge tonight extended New Years greetings to the American people in a message which said:
 At the end of the old year and the beginnirE of the new, 1t is we'll to talk account of our spiritual, moral md material re- sources and seriously appraise the progress of the past 12 months and the prospect of ad- vancement in the coming year. The nation has made a record of gratifying accomplishments. There is every reason to believe advancement will continue in the coming months.
 "It Is . pleasure to extend the heartiest of New Year greet ingy to the American people and express the hope and confidence that 1924 will bring them a full measure of prosperity and hap piness." s e
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
!: REAR II ATTACk MELLON TAX BILL.
Wisconsin Representative Contends Measure Is Aid
 Only For Rich
By THOMAS l.. STOKES beased Wire To The Agc-Heraid.D }

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31-A bar rage of figures will be laid down for the attack on the Mellon tax bill by democrats and progressives in the House. who claim that the measure will be great help for millionaires, but will bring no corresponding re- lief to the average citizen.
 The fire will be opened Ly Rep resentative Frear of WisconslIr. progressive. in a speech to be made on Thursday or Friday after the House reconvenes. Frear is the tax expert of the progressive group, hay ing given much of the summer recess to study of tax problems,
 Frear says he will show how the bill is primarily designed to relieve tine big tax payer. in a way that the man on the street can understand" This will hinge about Melons pro- posed reduction of surtaXes on the income of million>ires from 50 to % per cent; while the normal rate, which affects the great bulk of tax payers. is reduced only from to 6 per cent and from to per cent.
 Following his speech to the House. which will go into great detail. Frear will introduce a tax program of his own. inclIding in six bills. out standing in his program is a slicinG of rates on normal incomes exactly in half. To shoulder the burden of the riCh,' he will ask that high sur taxes. affecting the income of the millionaires, be left as they are. and that excess profits taxes be re- stored to pay a soldier bonus
 o 0 c
 Democrats Prepare Attnck.
 Democrats too, are preparing the oratorical gestures they hope will fan up a whirlwind against the Mel lon tax program. Democratic mcm- CTS of the committee have reques;cd treasury experts to give them figures showing how the reduction of sur. taxes will cut the millionaire's tax. These will be used by Representative Garner of Texas, ranking minority member of the committee. when he introduces tho bill he is now pre- pairing similar in many respects to that fostered by Frear and the pro- gressive group.
 Meanwhile republican leaders arc beginning to sense danger to their whole tax program in the virtual coalition of democrats and progress sives Representative Broadway of Massachusetts, q member of the ways and means committee admitted Mon sives and democrats held solid, many parts of the Mellon program could never he enacted into law.
 TreadwaY believes, however. thau enough democrats will vote with republicans on essential portions of the law so that a measure can he en- acted. Representative Garner dis agrees strongly with this prediction. that looks anything like the pres
 They'll never get bill through cnt Mellon program he said Mon
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
BIRMINGHAM HIT BY A COLD WAVE
Mercury Tumbled IA Degrees
 In Hour And Then Drops Slowly Through Night

Citizens of Birmingham who re- yelled in the sunshine of noon yester- day probably felt that for once the weather man was wrong when he predicted a cold wave for the city Monday. Fer the close of the after noon, however, added respect for the prognostication was evident, when those who were fortunate enough. to have brought their rovercoats to the office, found them more than comfortable in the chill rain of winters day.
 The rain was the predecessor of cold wave, which, according to F.. C.. Horton of the United States weather bureau, will produce a temperature for Birmingham of from 20 to 25 de- grees above zero Tuesday morning, which is below the freezing point. This freezing temperature. he said, will continue throughout the week with additional rain Friday and Sat urday.
 The cold wave is coming from the northwest and is moving from the Rockies to the Atlantic coast and from Montana to Texas. In tie cen tral and northern-central portion of the latter state the temperature was below the freezing point Monday.
 In this section the freezing tenn perature will extend south as far as the gulf coast today.
 According to an hour-by-hour re- port from E. c. Horton of the Bir-' mingham station at Fountain Heights, when he closed at 10:3O o'clock Monday night, the greatest change came between the hours of and 4 o'clock Monday afternoon. At that time the thermometer took a tumble of 14 degrees. Standing at 73, it, suddenly dropped to 59, slack ening up to degrees in the next hour, making the reading 5S degrees.
 It dropped two more between 5 and 6 o'clock. but held it's own from to T o'clock at temperature of '51 degrees. From to o'clock it dropped to 49 degrees, and hit 46 at g o'clock. It made another little un- usual drop from 9 to 10 o'clock, the mercury hitting A degrees
 Tho reading from 10 to 10:SO o'clock, when MT. Horton closed the station, indicated that the drop by II o'clock would also be a big one, as the mercury lost, three points in the first half hour, bringing 1t down to Al degrees. He estimated that the new year will be ushered in with a temperature of 35 deRrees
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
FRANCE REDUCING OCCUPANT ARMY
Forces Being Cut In Half And Only Three Divisions
 May Stay
By JOHN O'BRIEN

deused Wire To The Age-Herald
 PARIS, Dec. s1.--Almost on the first anniversary of the occupation of the Ruhr, France is reducing her military forces there by half their number. ,.5.t
 Only three divisions will eventually remain in the area. being stationed in the cities of Dusseldorf. Essen and Dortmund. The process of withdraw als is already underway, and troops are being gradually moved out in small units.
 As normal conditions are restored the troops will be taken out of the cities, and the invisible occupation" introduced. Under this system, troops will not be in evidence in the popu- lous areas. and the only direct con- by few high officials, whose duty will be to supervise deliveries of coal, and the payment of taxes. .-
 The occupation of the Ruhr has kept the European political pot at ssaf. IaI ssaensf "a s ,ls rssses E fss rnemort V hen the po5ve5s. with An fer ican pzfticipation, are about to launch an inquiry into ,Germany's iiuduIcs---tuSrcpy paving Ino way tO- ward possible settlement of the repa- ratfons problem. Failure to pay re- parations caused the Ruhr occupation on January II, 1923, 1t Is hoped that 1924 may see the cooperation essen- tial to the settlement Of the prob lem.
 France, despite endless statistics on deliveries. gained little tangible reparations for the Ruhr. But out of the disorder, the warfare of passive resistence, and the suppression of sabotage, came the agreement with German industrialists by which pay ment in kind were to be resumed. The agreement terminates in April, 1924, by which time 1t Is hoped a general reparations settlement will have been reached.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
CAMPBELL HEADS LAW FRATERNITY
Los Angeles Chosen For Next Convention By Phi
 Delta Phi

JACKSONVILLE. Fla, Dec. 31.- Phi Delta Phi. international legal fraternity. will hold it's 1925 conven- tion in Los Angeles. it was decided at the closing session of the frater- mites here.
 Officers for the next year were elected as follows:
 RLffner Campbell, Ashville, N. C., president; Paul F. Horb, Washing ton, vice president; NJ. Donneily, Cincinnati. reelected secretary treasurer; J. E. Kennison. The re- tiring president, was elected to the court of appeals
 Many members of the fraternity were touring the state today before returning to their homes.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
VETERANS DEMAND 01[ DEA[ INQUIRY
Claim They Were Sold Stock In Concern Headed By
 Leonard Wood, Jr.
BY JAMES MCLEAN Leased Wire to Age-HeraIdl

E. CHICAGO, Dec. 31.-Evidence dis covered here of the sale to World war veterans of stock in the Acme Producing company. of which Leon ard Wood. Jr., son of the governor general of the Philippines. is presi- dent demands a thorough investiga- tion of the concerns operations. As sistant States Attorney Bronson de- clared late Monday.
 More than a score of former serv- ice men. who said they had faith in the company because of young Woods connection with it, claimed they had been victimized in com- plaints filed with Bronson during the day.
 Apparently the Acme is a Fort Worth, Tex, .concern. and 1t seems to be up to Fort Worth authorities to investigate and prosecute the charges" Bronson said.
 "we will be glad to cooperate, but there can be no other action taken in Chicago unless federal, au- thorities take up the case"
 Veterans of the World war were allowed to buy the oil stock. those who claim to have been vctimized, were told. The Acme has several al
 
 stock was advertised in the Stars and Stripes. official publication of the A. F. r. It is also claimed that four of these companies occupy the same office in Fort Worth. Bronson was given several elaborate pros pectuses, in which young Woods name appeared prominently.
 David Johnson, one of the com blaming veterans, wrote the states attorneys office Monday inquiring if there could be any connection be- tween Leonard Wood. Jr.'s. business deals and the sudden wealth accu- mulated by Lieut. Osborne Wood.
 "I am in the same position that many more of my fellow men and eX- service men are" Johnson wrote. When the stocks were sold to me l was told they were exclusively for ex-servicc men. Since that time have received two letters asking for more money to put the project through. I have never received a statement as to what the company had done or spent tho money on. All that was ever written was in re- gard to plans to drill in the north west part of the. United States. where the company claimed to have some 100000 acres of land, and re- quests for money.
 q have 54 shares of stock. and I can name many more ex-serVice men who were told the same story so that they would buy shares. I am asking you to do all in your power to get to the bottom of this"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
DETAILS. LACKING ON FATE OF AMERICANS
Information Momentarily Expected
 From Legation In China :.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31.-official advices to the state department, re- porting the catpure of American mis- sionaries in China by bandits. still were lacking tonight, although some word was expected momentarily from the legation in Picking.
 Owing to the confused situation in China and to the difficulties of swift communication between the legation and Washington, it has been custo- mary for years to leave much to the discretion of the minister there in meeting emergencies involving the safety of American lives and proper ty in China.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01

ment basis and without disturbance to business or a strain on the finan- cial' market. This has included the completion of the refunding of the Victory loan, aggregating over S4.050, 100000, and the retirement of over half a billion, dollars of war savings certificates. The year just closed has also witnessed the fund.- ing of the debt owed to this country by Great Britain into bonds aggre- gating s4,600, 100000, with satisfac- tory arrangements for their gradual retirement.
 "As result of the present favor able condition of the governments finances, the treasury has recom mended a reduction of taxes in the belief that the country should be re- lieyed, so far IS may be possible, of the excessive burden of tbxation, which has been borne so unc6mplain- ingly during and after the war. The treasury has accordingly recom- mended to Congress that legislation be enacted which will distribute the benefits of reduction among all classes of taxpayers, and release, for Investment in productive enterprise funds which are necessary for the country's expansion and future healthy development
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
DOINGS OF DAY M WASHINGTON

The weather bureau warned of cold waves headed eastward.
 The House immigration committee continued hearings on immediate leg islation.
 Louis M. Hill resigned as head of the bureau of engraving and printing.
 Prohibition officers throughout the country were ordered to make New Years parties dry"
 Mexican revolutionary agents filed a protest against the sale of American arms to the Obregou government.
 Total government receipts for 1923 were said at the treasury to be S4.i64, ,905. 600, an increase of nearly half a billion over 1922.
 Electric railways of the country carried 15,331, ,401.S01 passengers last year and their net operating revenues were placed at S246,914,37S by the census bureau.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
To Introduce Two Measures Designed To Procure Ma tionaI Help To Perpetuate River Service
 $5,OOO,00O GOVERNMENT CORPORATION PROPOSED Plan Provides That U. s. Eventually Dispose Of Part Of Its Holdings To Private Individuals
WASHINGTON BUREAU l
 THE AGE HERALD ! Washington. D. O.. Dec. 81

The commerce committees of the two Houses of Congress, immediate ly after the reconvening of Congress, January 3, will have before then bills designed to protect and perpetuate tho barge line service on the War rior and Mississippi rivers.
 It will be provided that . corpor- ation be formed to be known as the finland Waterways Navigation Cor poratfon," and that it be capitalized by $5,o00,o of government securities. The corporation will be empowered to continue operations wherever now under way, and to make improve ments and extensions.
 Its officers will be under the super vision of the war department and not the commerce department as orig inally contemplated.
 The proposed law is not regarded as perfect. Representative W. B. Oli- yer of Alabama, who is interested deeply on account of the operations on the Warrior. declares that certain amendments or improvement in language is necessary.
 He intimates, however, that for a time. at least, 1t might be well to permit the projects to remain under the department of war. The formation of corporation, adequately financed, however, means the perpetuation of the Warrior and Mississippi service and will eventually give the govern ment an opportunity to dispose of a part of It's interest to private individ- uals. . .@5
 The inability Sof the warrior, up to The SsreseEt time hecsuse sof TtuHx1es quate equipment and rate discrimina- : lions, to show a profit has made Congress reluctant to vote appropria- tions. The proposed measure would eliminate the annual fight in Con gross with its attendant embarrass- ment-
 It Is learned, definitely. that mem bers of Congress, residing in the ter ritory of the Warrior and the Missis- sippi do pot intend that the govern ment shall get out of the inland business until the War rior and Mississippi are able to stand alone with their future guaranteed.
 No bloc has been formed. But there certainly Is an understanding. Mem bers residing in the territory of the two rivers, the freight as we'll as geographical territory, are numerous and influential enough to put over legislation that, on it's face, is fair.
 The corporation idea was suggested by Col. T. Q. Ashburn, in charge of inland navigation, and approved by the Secretary of War. Congressmen believe that the idea "can be worked out feasibly," as they express 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
F.7 s. a
 Underwood, Musgrove, Dins- more Fly Democratic Party Banner, While ChenauIt, RusseIIvilIe, Is Republican SPIRITED FIc>. LOOMS IN sPEclA hMARIEs Surprise e csH/hen Second Birming, Eizen Formal Iy FiI9NH Secretary Of Stay Montgomery
 ATE CAPITAL. BUREAC)
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 THE -AGE-HERALD


 Alabama's preferential primary to- day brought forth four citizens of this state who filed declarations of their candidacy for nomination for President of the United States three democrats and one republican Incidentally two of the candidates hail from Birmingham. Those are as follows:
 United States Senator o W. Under wood, Birmingham, democrat @ < l.. Breck Musgrove, Jasper, demo- crat.
 M A. Dinsmore, Birmingham. democrat.
 W. L. chenauit. Russellville, re- publican.
 The contest started officially at hour the Underwood campaign com mittee filed with the secretary of state official declaration that the senator is a candidate for the demo- cratic nomination in the presidential preferential primary. to be held in Alabama the second Tuesday in March. Earlier in the day Musgrove, third declaration came at p. m, when MT. Dinsmore qualified with the secretary of state.
 Springs Surprise.
 Declarations by Senator Under wood and MT. Musgrove had been The declaration of MT. Dfnsmore, however. came as sur prise.
 MT. Dinsmore is not known po- 1itically at the capital city, He did not reach Hfonfg ofnerys in time to qualify during of fec rsss -.-aixh ssab 4out Sccf etAf of State $. II. Biarf early tonighta He was referred to W. F. Fonviile. chief clerk of the secretary of states office, whose home Is close to the capitol. and qualified as 8 candidate at s p. n., thus precipitating three-cornered race within the democratic party of Alabama for the honor of suc- ceeding Coolidge at the White House and of naming Alabama delegates to the next democratic convention.
 While these statements started the fight in the democratic party. the effort to obtain the republican dele gation to the national convention be- came a two-cornered contest. w.. L. Chenault of Russellville, without in- dicating what candidate he favors, filed his declaration several days ago. While he, like MT. Musgrove, is not considered formidable can didate for the presidency, his suc-
 (Continued On Page TwO)
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
Total ... s.1s7s.os4,ass s1.124.5s2,s24 R0TARlANS TO HEAR EXPERT ON BUSINESS.
John c. Howell Of New York To Be Speaker At Wednesday Meet

John c. Howell, consultant of the Brookmire Economic Service, Inc, of New York. will address Birminghapl Rotarians at their weekly luncheon at the Tutwiler hotel Wednesday aft ernoon on the Business Outlook for 1924"
 Carscon Adams, Rotary president, who arranged for MT. Howell to visit Birmingham on his tour of the coun- try, saNs Rotarians who miss his ad- dress will miss hearing a message by one of Americas leading economists
 The luncheon will begin at 1 o'clock p. m., and plans have been completed to take care of record crowd, MT. Adams urges the Ro- tarians of Birmingham. to start the new year right by attending the first 1924 meeting and getting information that is sure to help them, m their business activities.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-01
STORES TO CLOSE ON
 NEW YEAR HOLIDAY
Business Generally In Birmingham To Observe Beginning Of Year

All retail store represented in the membership of the Chamber of Com meree will be closed all day Tues day. New Years Day, it was an nounced Monday.
 Indications are for the most gem eral observance of New Years Day as holiday in years. according to 6. F. Yarn. assistant secretary of the Chamber of Commerce.
 'I don't know whether it's due to increased prosperity. or what" said MT. Yarn. but everybody seems to be closing all day this time"
 All wholesale establishments. like the retailers, likewise will observe a full holiday. There will be no de- livery of mall, and the advent of 1924 will be celebrated by a general. ces- sation of labor. it is indicated.