Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-21
LEGISLATURE RECONVENES
Birmingham Largely Represent
ed at the Capital.
MANY IMPORTANT BILLS
Being introduced By Members in Both Branches
of the Assembly,
WATCHMEN FOR RAILROAD BRIDGES
Adjustment of the Australian Ballot, and
Train Wreckers Capital Offenders Are
Among the Most Prominent State
Executive Committee Meets.
WATcHMEN FOR RAILROAD BRIDGES

montgomery, Ala., Jan. zO.--ASpeCidi
staff correspondence)- 1.-THE general as
sembly reconvened in regular session this
morning at 10 o'clock, after a recess of
thirty days. The present session will
continue for twenty-five days, making a
complete term of fifty days, as provided
by The constitution.
The hotel Hobbies and points of public
meeting have assumed once more their
wonted aspect of life and activity. Many
of the members have been here for sew
eral days on account of the fact that
several special investigating committees,
sitting through recess, returned last week
to complete their reports to the general
assembly.
The lobbiss of the house and senate
were dull today on account of the politi-
cal attention being fixed almost eXclus-
lively upon the action of the state eXecu-
tive committee in sssion for the pur-
pose of deciding the Mobile municipal
difference. Prominent politicians are
here from every section of the state, es-
pecially from the gulf coast.
There were several new bills intro
duced in the morning session, some of
which are of vital Importance. A bill
was introduced in the house which pro-
poses to require of railroads in this state
to keep a watchman at all high bridges
anu lruSSISS on ID6IF TQdQ, anu TO III
crease the power of the railroad commits
sion, so as to look after this matter.
Two bills We're introduced proposing
the adjustment of the Australian bal
lot system in this state, and falling back
on the old election law of many years
standing.
Senator Hundley, of Madison, intro
duced a very important BILL which has
as one of it's provisions the exemption
from taxation for ten years of all new
manufacturing industries which may be
established in this state. 1t is claimed
for this bill that it will bring into this
state a large amount of capital and give
work to hundreds of idle men.
Mr. Hendley, member of the house from
Escambia county, introduced bill de-
clarlng what is train Wrecking, and to
provide a punishment therefor. 1t pro-
vides that any person or persons in this
state who, for the purpose of wrecking
a train, of any railroad in this state
whether carrying passengers or freight,
or to attempt to do so, removes any rail,
spike crosstie, switch, or anything ap-
pertaining to such railroad, or to place
any obstruction on the track of such rail-
road which would likely cause a wreck.
and that on conviction shall be punished
with death or Imprisonment in the peni-
tertiary for life at the discretion of the
jury trying the same.
MORNING SESSION.
The house convened at 10 o'clock and
for the next two hours and a half the
clerks were deluged with bills, local and
general, which received a, first reading
and were appropriately referred:
The following is a list of the bills in
troduced at the morning session:
By Hunt-An act to authorize the
court of county commissioners of Madi-
son county to aid in keeping the Hunts
Vile infirmary.
BY Kennamer-To provide for the col
lection of the state and county taxes of
the county of Marshall
BY lillian act to ratify and confirm
the charter of the Montgomery infirmary
and to confer additional powers on the
corpora tion.
By Kyle-An act to repeal an act en-
titled an act to further regulate elections
in the state, approved Feb. q, 1898.
BY Electromagnetic prevent obstruct-
ing or changing settlement roads.
BY Miller-To authorize the commits
sioners court of Sumpter county. in dis
tricts where stock is not allowed to run
at large al any time of the year, to fix
day on which stock of all kinds may be
allowed to run at large and also fix a day
when it must be taken up
BY Clements--To repeal the Sylvan ag
ricultural district
By Cofer-To prevent wrecking of
trains. etc.
BY Cofert-To regulate the distribution
of the fund arising from the poll tax for
school purposes.
BY Barnes-ToF provide for the regula-
tion of railroad companies in the state.
BY Davis-To further regulate electors
in the state.
This bill provides for the repeal of the
Sayre election law and re-enactment of
the code election law of 1896.
SENATE.
In the senate today, Boykin, of Rus
sell, introduced an important measure,
providing additional powers for the rail-
road commission of Alabama.
The bill is favorably mentioned by
those who are familiar with its provis-
ions and stands a good chance of pass
age. 1t provides that the railroad COM
mission shall have power to fix freight
and passenger rates to be charged by the
various railroads operated in Alabama
and bestows many additional powers
The following bills were introduced
at the morning session.:
by Rrown-Joint resolution to reduce
the expenses of the state government
1t provides that the ways and means
committee of the house and the finance
committee shall sit in joint session and
report a bill or bills to reduce state ex-
penses, salaries, etc Finance.
Also-To require the publishing of re-
ports and bulletins by directory.
By Brownie require the history, con-