Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-02
ALL EYES ON MONTGOMERY
The City Chock-a-BIock With
Filbustering Parties,
ALL OF THEM HARD AT WORK
Ccstitutional Convention Has the Day and a
Hot Fight Is On.
INCH BY INCH THE CONTEST
Is Being Waged and the End Cannot be Pre-
dicted Though Friends of the Measure
Say They Will Certainly Win.
Police Commission Bill Goes Before the
House Judiciary Committee Tomor-
row wNight-Lobbyists at Work
On the Measure-What
Was Done in Both
Houses.

Montgomery, Feb. 1.-(Special Staff
Correspondence.)-The Birmingham po-
lice commission bill will come up before
the house judiciary committee Wednes-
day night. The pros and antis are we'll
and ably represented here, and lively
trial is expected when the committee
meets.
How the report will be made on this
measure is beyond conjecture. though
those opposing the present status of af-
fairs say they will win.
THE EVANGEL IN LUCK.
Private information comes from Wash
ington that j. C. Manning, the apostle of
populism in Alabama who turned repub-
Iican in the last campaign, has been
slated for third assistant postmaster
general. Manning has the Endorsement
of the republican executive committees of
every southern and about half of the
northern states.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONvEN-
TION.
Wednesday promises to be the greatest
day of the entire session of the general
assembly. On that day the question of
constitutional convention" will be set
tied.
A strong fight is being made in behalf
of the measure. There is a large and in
fluential lobby of the commercial bodies
of Alabama here pushing the bill. The
railroads and corporate influences of the
state are fighting the bill and using ev
cry conceivable means to defeat 1t, but
the judiciary committee in both branches
of the Legislature have reported favora-
bly, on it.
Both sides are bitterly contesting every
inch Of the ground and the fight grows
hotter and hotter. One of the objections
urged is that the convention is in the in
terest of Birmingham and aims at In
creased burdens of taxation and the ap-
prehension of Acknowledgement of the
illterate white and negro citizens.
Montgomery, Ala, Feb. 1.-(Special)-
The house, in committee of the whole,
wasted another morning of its limited
time in the consideration of the first
amendment to the first section of the
bill which proposes the creation of a
new railroad commission for Alabama
and the establishment of new code of
railway laws
After roll call and the Introduction of a
number of unimportant bills, very few of
which will ever be reached should they
get on the calendar, the house at 1890 re-
solved itself into a committee of the whole
for the purpose of continuing considera-
tion of the now famous Barnes railroad
bill. Mr.. Glover, of Greene, who so ably
opposed the measure on Saturday, had
the floor when the committee adjourned,
but was compelled, though unwillingly,
to surrender this morning on account of
a severe cold and sore throat.
Davis, of Marion, moved to lay Mr..
Longshore's amendment, which provides
that the railroad commissioners be ap-
pointed from the three dominant parties,
upon the table. This motion was pro-
nounced out of order In a committee of
the whole. Mr.. Kyle, OF Morgan, moved
that Mr.. Longshores amendment be acted
upon Immediately. The chair ruled Mr..
Kyle out of order, whereupon he appealed
from the decision and the chair was over
ruled. Discussion of the amendment then
began and Mr. Barnes, of Lee, author of
the bill, led the discussion in opposition
to the amendment. Mr.. Barnes argued
ably in the interests of his bill, making
one Of the strongest speeches of the ses-
sion. He said, in answer to a question,
that he was willing to amend the bill SO as
to have the commissioners elected by the
people.
2 Mr.. Wiley next took the floor, and made
an able argument against the bill from
which the following paragraphs are ap-
proximate abstracts:
We have in our law substantially ev-
cry provision of the Georgia law except
that which places absolute and autocratic
power In the hands of the commission
ers with the extreme and excessive pen
alties with which to enforce the same,
which Is the marked and distinguishing
feature of the latter.
The railroads of this state pay more
than one-fifth of all our taxes. The re-
cent report of our commission shows
that the assessed value of railroad prop
critics in this state approximates $780,
O00, ,000 upon which they pay into the
state treasury annually more than $780,
OO0 In consideration of this, the state
owes to them, and Is supposed to guar
antee to them, protection in their prop
erty rights, and not confscation.
BY the bill now proposed absolute and
autocratic power is conferred upon three
commissioners. not merely to regulate,
but absolutely to prescribe the terms to
and conditions upon which the railroad
properties of this state shall be operated
and conducted, and from the decision of
which tribunal there is nc appeal
The railroad business perhaps more
than any other, requires as q condition
to proficiency, years of study, appren-
ticeship, and practical experience. 1t is
out of the question to say that any man,
no matter how gifted, Is competent with
out training or experience to assume abb
solute control and management of rail-
road properties valued at more than $780,
900. .000--and yet by the provisions Of the
bill IN question 1t is proposed 10 confer
this power upon three of our citiZens,
one of whom must be an attorney, the
other farmer or business man, and
the other q person supposed to know
something of railroad business. In spite
of the plausible phraseology with which
the act is clothed, it Is impossible to
conceal the fact that it confers absolute
and autocratic power upon the commits
sioners. While it is provided that the
commissioners shall prescribe rates
~ 'ah are just and reasonable. the same