The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-03

| casioned by Mr.. Miller's bill, to secure
speedy trials for criminals in capital cases.
| The bill had barely had its third reading
before Mr.. Foster was on his feet with an
amendment to have Tuscaloosa county ex-
! cluded from the provisions of the bill. Mr.
| Tunstall wanted Hale. Perry, Dallas, Will
cox and Bibb excluded. At this juncture
there were a dozen members on the floor
! waving amendments which they desired TO
| exclude their counties. Henry, Cieburne,
| st. Clair Walker, Pike. Etowah, Montgom-
| cry, =DeKalb, Calhoun, Greene, jackson,
Taladega, Choctaw, Clarke, Bullock. Dale,
Lee, Russell and Barbour were all quickly
! withdrawn.
mittee, gained the floor to explain the BILL
| with the hope that all amendments would
be Withdrawn. The bill was, be ex-
| planned, intended to secure speedy trial
| for capital offenses. The courts are too
| slow. This bill merely provides that when
a capital case has been on the docket two
| years without going to trial, the judge shall
| call a special term of the court to be con-
vened within two months after the adjourn
| ment of the regular term for the trial OF
the cause. This procedure is to be kept
up until the case is finally disposed of.
When a judge is faced with the fact that
the postponement of a case means extra
work for himself, the continuation is not
| likely to be granted unless the facts be ex-
ceptionally strong. If this bill be enacted
into a law, the cry against delay will be
abated. 1t will stop mob law. He believed
it to be a good law, and wanted 1t to pass.
Mr. Miller argued that the bill would pre-
vent mob law, He made the capitol ring
with south Marengo eloquence telling of
| the good points in his bill.
Mr.. Vaughan of Dallas interrupted Mr..
Miller with the question as to whether or
not the same excuse given for the postpone
ment of a case at the regular term could
not also be given at the regular session
mo, sir" said Mr.. Miller. The judges
are but creatures of public opinion" I'm
der the provisions of this law the circuit
judges would not accept poor excuses for
combinations.
Mr. Smith of Escambia resented the call
ing of the judges creatures of public opn-
ion" They were creatures of the law.
Many members were opposed to this law.
The judges can always find way for
speedy trials. This bill will heap up addi-
tional costs on the fine and forfeiture funds.
Mr. Tunstall had no desire to oppose the
bill provided the Fourth judicial circuit was
excluded. Otherwise he would oppose it.
The bill will not accomplish the purpose for
which it was drafted. The only charges
made by the advocates of the measure were
against the judges Mr. Arlington spoke in
opposition to the bill. Mr.. Brandon called
attention to section 914 of the CODE which
provides that judge may now call special
terms of the court, when in his opinion the
same is necessary. Mr.. Kyle again strong
ly advocated the bill.
Mr.. Mcqueen made a clear logical speech
against the measure. Mr. Lacey saw
reason for all this debate Let all members
who opposed the measure exclude their
counties. Mr.. Miller agreed to this, and
faster than the speaker could recognize
them the following counties were excluded:
Randolph, Chambers, Cherokee, Calhoun,
Limestone, Franklin, Madison, Lawrence,
Winston, Macon, Sumter, Jefferson, Bald
win, Washington, Coffee, Conecuh, Butler,
UIGnn f.,bf C1.A1L f-Ir~
tauga, Chiffon, Clay, Blount, Crenshaw and
Monroe. Mr. Miller moved to reeommit the
bill, and the house let him down easy by
So ordering
The following new bills were introduced
today: -,
H. 493-Mr Jones of Bullock. To amend
section 1910 of the code of Alabama, regard
ing amount of poll tax and ages between
which same shall be collected. Education.
H. 494-Mr. Jones of Covngton. To es-
tabliSh uniform system for the examina-
ton and licensing of teacher of public
schools. Education. e
, H. s4s5-Also. To regulate the pay of
teachers holding second or third grade GER
tificates. Education.
HI. 496-Mr Thigpen. To amend section
of an act entitled IAN act to establish a
charter for the town of7Luverne. in Cren-
shaw county. Alabama" approved Februa-
Ey 6, 1891. Corporations. =
H 497-Mr. Davidson. To require the
county commissioners of the county of JEFF
ferson to have prepared and published a
complete and accurate map of all public
highways and principal streams of said
county, with accurate mileage of said pub
lie highways. Local legislation.
H. 49S-Also. To repeal section 544S of the
criminal code of 1896. Judiciary.
| H 499-Mr. Mitchell. To amend an act to
provide for the more efficient assessment
and collection of taxes in the state of Ala
bama, approved February 3, 1897. Ways and
means. sa--e-,.,s Sessions.
H. 5OO-Mr. Rogers. For the better pro-
teton of passengers on railway trains in
this state. Commerce and common car
riers. 't
H. 501-Mr. Brandon. To give full power
and authority to. "The North Alabama
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South" to convey certain proper
| ty. real and personal, chooses in action,
franchises, rights and privileges to "the
Annual Alabama Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church, South" Corpora
tons.
II. 5O2-Also To provide for the taxing of
all costs against the prosecution In all
criminal cases tried in the Tuscaloosa
County Law and Equity court, not based
on an Indictment where the state fails;
and to provide for the collection of the,
same and for the Relief of the prosecution
| in certain cases. Judiciary.
II. 5O3-Mr Sullivan. To increase the ex-
officio fees of the sheriff of Washington
| county from s25O.00 to $4,000 per annum.
| Claims and fees.
| H. 5O4-Mr. Smith of Escambia. To pro-
| vide for the payment of the costs of con-
yiction of Jonah Harden, who was Illegally
| sentenced at the adjourned term, 1898, of
| the circuit court of Escambia county, and
| payment of costs refused by the convict
department of the state by reason of such
Illegal sentence. Judiciary.
| H. 505-Mr. Henry by request. To amend
section 344S of the code. Revision of laws.
| H. 5O6-Mr Reynolds. To regulate the
| fees of witneshes in criminal cases In the
| county of Chiffon. Revision of laws.
| H. 5O7-Mr. Moody. To require all cor
poratons dooing business in this state. tav-
| ing capital stock of $500 or over. to make
4 return of the taxable property thereof to
the state board of assessment which shall
4 assess such property for taxation. Ways
4 and means. -
H. 5Os-Mr. HARDWOOD. To amend section
4 s12 of the code so far as the same applies