Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-31
BARNES RAILROAD BILL
Occupied the Entire Morning
Session of the House.
SECTION ONE IN HAND
The Bill Calls Forth Great Energy From the
Qs3''tio".
THE cUNNp sdAM CONVICT BILL
Passed the 9 late by Decisive Vote
hon. Dq L. Green Introduces the
Poll Commissioned Munic-
:ss,pal. Election Bills.
SECTION ONE IN HAND
THE cUNNpsdAM CONVICT BILL

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Montgomery, ALA, Jan. 30-(Special
Staff orrespondence.) .)-In accordance
with the motion adopted at yesterdays
session the house of representatives this
morning resolved itself into a. committee
of the whole and proceeded to take up
the Barnes railroad bill sereatum. The
entire morning session was devoted to
section l of the bill. The first twenty or
thirty minutes after the bill was called up
there was another tempest of disorder re-
sembling that of yesterday mornings ses-
sion, and it seemed for time that the
transaction of business would be a thing
impossible Finally the parliamentary
discussion was disposed of and peace
reigned supreme Cameron, of SUM-
ter, was in the chair most of the
morning session and he makes an impair
tial and able presiding officer
Section 1 of the railroad bill reads as
follows:
Be it enacted by the general assembly
of the state of Alabama. That there shall
be three commissioners appointed by the
Governor with the advice and consent of
the senate, known as the railroad COM
mssloners of Alabama, consisting OF a
president and two associates; of whom
one shall be of experience in the law and
one of experience in the railway busi-
ness. One of the commissioners to be ap-
pointed as soon as practiea BILE after the
approval of this act, and the other two to
be appointed after the expiration of two
years; the term of office of each commits
sioners shall be six years and each COM
missioner appointed hereunder shall also
continue in office until his successor is
duly appointed and qualities; provided,
that the two members of the present rail-
road commission now in office and ap-
pointed under and by virtue of authority
conferred by an act of the general assem-
bly, of Alabama, and approved on the
26th day of February 1881, and amended
December A, 1886, and whose term of Of
flee under said act does not expire until
--- A. D., 1899, shall remain in Of
fee till the expiration of such term and
until their successors are appointed and
qualified. The salary of each eommis-
sioner shall be twenty-five hundred doll
lars per annum to be paid from the treas
ury of the state. Any commissioner may
be suspended from office by order of the
Governor, who shall report the fact of
such suspension and reasons therefor to
the next state senate, and il q majority
of that body declare that said commits
soner shall be removed from office, his
term of office shall expire. The Cover
nor shall have the same power to fill va
cancies in the Office of commissioner as to
fill other vacancies. Said commissioners
shall take an oath to be framed by the
Governor and shall not jointly or sever
ally or in any way, be the holders of any
railroad stock or bonds or to be agent
or employe of any railroad company, or
have any interest in any way in any rail-
road and shall Sc continue during the
term of office: and in case any comnls-
sioner becomes disqualified In any way he
shall at once remove the disqualification
or resign, and on failure so to dc he must
be suspended from office by the Governor
and dealt with as hereinafter provided.
In case of suspension the Governor may
fill the vacancy until the suspended COM
missioner Is restored or removed.
Longshore Cpop. of Shelby, offered an
amendment to this section providing that
members of the railroad commission ap-
pointed by the governor shall be CHOSEN
from the three dominant parties, demo-
cratic. republican and populist. respect
lively Discussion of this amendment
consumed the remainder of the morning
session and when the hour of adjourn
ment arrived the first amendment to the
first section of the lengthy bill had not
been acted upon.
Hon. A. Y. Glover, of Greene. made a
strong speech in opposition to the meas
ure and had the floor when the house ad-
journed.
Barnes, of Lee, author of the bill. led
the fight in favor of section / In its en-
tirety.
Timberlake, of Jackson. and Glover, of
Greene, opposed the provisions of the
entire bill, and while they were the only
members who participated in the discus
sion of the merits of section !, there was
considerable private work done on the
floor on both sides.
The following bills were introduced:
H. 1888, BY Mr.. Burns,-To amend sec
tions / and of an act to incorporate the
South Alabama and Gulf Railroad COM
pany, approved Feb Is, 1895. Corpora
tions.
H. 1884 BY Mr.. Glover-To incorporate
the Eutaw Presbyterian church Cor
porations
the Alabama Accident Life association,
of Birmingham, Ala. Corporations.
H. 1896, By Mr.. Altman-To create
board of police commissioners for the
city of Birmingham, to provide for their
election by the qualified voters of the
city of Birmingham, the corporate name
of this city being the mayor and alder
men of Birmingham, and to prescribe
the powers and duties of the same, and to
better regulate the police department of
said city. Judiciary.
H. 1887, Also-To provide for the collec-
tion of local assessments for public inn
provements of the mayor and aldermen
of Birmingham. Ways and means.
H. 1888, Also-To amend the charter of
the city of Birmingham so as to change
and establish the time for holding cleo
tions for mayor and aldermen in said
city; to alter define and fix the term of
office of the present mayor and aldermen
of such city, and the mayor and alder
men hereafter to be elected and to pro-
vide for the drawing of lots to determine
which of the present aldermen Of said
city shall hold for the short term and the
long term respectively. Corporations.
H. 1899. Also--To prescribe a manner OF
filling vacancies in the office of mayor
and aldermen of the city Of Birmingham.
Judiciary.
H. 1910, A1so-To authorize. ratify and
confirm the schedule of licenses for the
city OF Birmingham, and the ordinances
of the board of mayor and aldermen Of
said city adopting and establishing the
same. Ways and means
H 1041, by Lipscomb--To authorize the
owners Of certain real estate In Birming-