The age-herald., 1898-11-23
INCREASE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS Representative Brandon Introduces an Important Measure THE MOST FAVORABLE STEP Taken in Many Years for Educa-
 ton of the Masses. CLERK TO THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Dispensed With, the Work of the
 Office Being Light. PAY OF THE COURT REPORTER Reduced From 5000 to $7Oo Volume, and the Salary of the Clerk to
 the Chief Justice is
 Reduced.
Dispensed With, the Work of the
 Office Being Light.
PAY OF THE COURT REPORTER

Montgomery, November 22-(Spec,al) = By far the most important bill of this day, and, after all, the most important Of the session, except that one raising the reve- nues-the bill presented in the house by MT Brandon from the committee on ap- propriations, providing for the ordinary ex- penses of the three great branches of our state government.
 The greatest point of public interest is the increase of sSO,00O year for the public schools.
 That is, $SO0OO year, based on this years income from all taxes on real and per sonal property. After the present school year ends the school money from the sources mentioned be roughly estimated at si30OO0, instead of $350,O00; and th,s in crease will go on rising automatically as the value of real and personal property in the state increases. This thus becomes the most favorable step taken in many years !, for the benefit of the common schools of the state.
 There are really few changes now from the appropriations of two years ago. The clerk to the attorney-general is dis pensed with altogether; the work of that office being comparatively very light.
 The compensation of the reporter to the supreme court is reduced from S900 a vol ume of the reports as printed to $7O0 vol ume, and tie pay of the secretary to the chief justice is reduced from $l5OO to $1 200.
 Nothing is allowed for stationery or post age to the clerk and reporter of the su- pIeme court
 The secretary of the senate and clerk of the house arc allowed $50) each for copying and indexing their respective journals, as compared with $i50 heretofore.
 I,o af maid DlIt b cents a 100 word for preparing copies of the acts for the printers.
 A clerk to secretary of state is dispensed with and compensation for assistant mar shal and chairman to tne supreme court is not provided.
 A change of importance to solicitors pro- vides that each solicitor shall receive com- missions of 10 pei cent. on all sums over and above $2 400 earned by him and actually collected The law heretofore has given each solicitor 50 per cent. of the first $l GOO over S2400; 15 per cent on S2,000, and 10 per cent. on earnings that exceeded those figures.
 Here is a resolution by Senator Case, of DeKalb, which will bring on more talk:
 Whereas, It has pleased Almighty God to bring quiet and contentment to the people of Alabama, after a tumultuous wrangle of many years; and
 Whereas, The bright and radiant sun beams of prosperity are fast bursting in upon us, driving the lurid clouds of discontentment beyond the limits Of our beloved state; and,
 Whereas, We recognize in his excel lency, Governor Joseph F. Johnston, a friend of and an executive officer for the whole people of Alabama; and,
 Whereas, Being desirous of aiding him in his able administration in every way possible, and compatible with our feel ings; and,
 Whereas, He Is opposed, at this time to constitutional convention, which would mar the contentment and happi- ness of our people; and,
 Whereas, The defects of the constitu- tion have been greatly exaggerated and
 Whereas, Adequate provisions are made under the organic law for the raising of revenue sufficient to educate the children of Alabama, notwithstand- ing the contrary by some argued; now, therefore,
 Be it resolved, That 1t is the sense of this senate that any movement by the legislature, at this time, looking to the calling of a constitutional convention for the state, would be improper. Re- ferred to the committee on rules.
 Feeding Jail Prisoners
 Senator Meadars will introduce into the senate bill which provides that in coun- ties where the average of prisoners is un- der six the fee for feeding shall be 40 cents a day each; in excess of that number and not over twenty, 30 cents a day. In all cases where the average exceeds twenty prisoners the fee shall be 25 cents day.
 President Cunningham's Convict Bill The convict bill introduced by President Cunningham is, of course, not only of un- usual interest to the people of the state, but of special interest 10 the people of Jef- ferson county.
 Senator Cunningham was seen in regard to the bill. He said:,
 saThe bill provides for the following changes in the present laws upon the subject:
 Il All persons convicted of felony shall be sentenced to hard labor for the state.
 '.2 All persons sentenced for misde- meanors shall be sentenced to hard labor for the county.
 "3. No misdemeanor convict shall work in mines. Of the felony convicts, not more than sixty per cent. shall be