The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-23
Power Is Limited

Power Is Limited
 A. G. Patterson, president of the Alabama Public Service commission, announced emphatically Tuesday that his body had no power under the law to prescribe rates charged by utilities that were owned by Alabama munich palities.
 z This was called forth by state ment published in the Journal of Mon day to the. effect that the Alabama public service commission, according to Mayor Gunter, Jr., would adjust wa The paragraph in the Journal in ques- water rates for the city, placing the waterworks department on self-sup- porting and paying basis, will be made by the Alabama public service com mission at a comparatively early date, it was learned from Mayor w. A. Gun ter, Jr., Monday morning."
 To Retain Trucks
 The state highway commission at it's meeting Tuesday decided to retain ninety-eight trucks of the surplus war material donated to the state by, the federal government from its surplus war stock. Twelve other trucks will be retained and dismantled to supply parts for the ninety eight trucks that the department will use for road work.
 There are seventy-nine or eighty other trucks that the commission has condemned and which will be returned to the government if the federal forces wish to take them back. If not, the highway commission will sell these trucks.
 In addition to the trucks above men tioned, large quantity of tools, tents, etc., from the war material, at present stored in the highway departments warehouse here, will be retained for the use of the road crews.
 Train Schedule Changed
 The public service commission Tuesday granted the petition of the Southern railway to change the schedule on the mixed passenger and freight train between Ensley and Max inc, so as to have the train leave Ems ley at 9 a. m. and arrive at Maxine at 10:30 a. m. Returning the train will leave Maxine at 10 :45 a. m. and arrive at Ensley 12 80 p. m.
 Sand Shippers Win
 Two shippers of sand, Sheehan and Linen of Dothan and Hoghon and Jones of Montgomery, won victories on rates in orders issued Tuesday by the Alabama public service commis- sion. The order on the Sheehan and Linen complaint directed the Atlantic Coast Line railway to put into effect within thirty days a rate of S1 cents A ton of 2,000 pounds on sand and gravel in carloads from Montgomery to Ozark.
 The other order directed the South ern, Mobile and Ohio and Western Railway of Alabama to put into effect a rate of 90 cents per ton on sand from Jones to Montgomery via Naples vile and via Selma.
 Maxine Interested
 The petition of the Southern railroad to discontinue Maxine, Jefferson coun- ty, as a station will be heard in Bir- mingham Friday, January 25, by the Alabama public service commission. The commission will hear at Birming ham February 10 the application of the Birmingham Traffic association for a rehearing in its case against the Southern railroad involving rates on coal in carloads from Drifton, Lees peer and Paris and other Drifton branch stations to High Level.
 To Build Railroad Shops
 Hugger Bros. Montgomery contrac- tors, have been awarded the contract for the construction of the shops of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad which will replace those destroyed by fire. Announcement of the contract was made in a telegram today. The shops will cost approximately $450,000.
 Appeals To Service Men
 < Congressman J. Lister Hill of the Second district today appealed to all yex-servtce pen to pay their poll taxes not later than February 1. MT. Hill pointed out that the poll tax exemption amendment for ex-service men expired October 1 and that those who do not pay the poll tax will be disfranchised and unable to vote in the three cleo tions this year. Another amendment will be submitted at the next general election and if adopted soldiers and sailors will be exempted for all time, but the amendment cannot apply this year.
 State Bonds Proposed
 The question of issue of state high way bonds to an extent to make pos sible program of construction of roads by the state without it's funds being matched 50-50 by the federal govern ment will be taken up by the state bond commission at its meeting Tues day, February 5, information concern ing the meeting was obtained today from Senator John Rogers, chairman of the state highway commission, and one of three members of the bond com mission, the other two members being the governor and attroney general. If the bond commission favors the issu- ance and sale of bonds in sufficient vol ume to allow the state to carry out a program without waiting on federal appropriations to equal state expendi- lures, the highway building program of Alabama will be greatly accelerated.
 Sentence Is Stayed
 Gov. W. W. Brandon today granted . 30-day Htay of sentence to Monroe Dukes, Mobile negro convicted of mur. der and sentenced to hang February 1, this action being on recommendation of the trial judge.
 To Pave Road
 Bids will be opened at the state