The age-herald., 1898-11-20
 YOUNG MEN APPROXIMATE Have Led in All Legislation Up to the Present Time. SOME DEFECTS OF CONSTITUTION Events So Far Have Proven That Ger tain Amendments Are in Much
 Need-Foster Hits At Root
 of the Evil.
SOME DEFECTS OF CONSTITUTION


 The first weeks session of the Alabama legislature closes with today. This week demonstrates that 1t is to be one of the best working sessions ever held in this state It is composed of many able men, for the most part young men, but they come for the purpose of representing their constituents, as their close attention to business demonstrates.
 The young men are power in this house, and have so far led in all legislation And many of them are shrewd politicians, too They came to stand together In the fights for solicitors this week, without exception, the successful candidates were young men. Yet probably never in Alabama's history has she had a more able set of prosecutors. Each of them are lawyers of ability.
 But it is sad thought to see the old southern veteran, who fought for what he believed to be the right, and many of whom have an empty sleeve, or perhaps wooden limb. turned down. Here in the capitol building, the birthplace of the confederacy, there are now but few to remind us of the hard struggles back in the eos. There were three of them remembered, howev- er At the door of the house stands gallant Robert Hasson, who sacrificed limb for the country ne lONGu anu upOH tiiC HUI of that body the empty sleeve of Thomas Fain is a reminder of the terrible struggle
 The dignified senators are each day greet ed by that noble old veteran, Judge John son, of CuIlman, who, while he has no scars of battle, his features tell of his life's struggle, devoted to the beautiful work of educating and enlightening his fellow-men. He is the grand old Nestor of the Alabama press.
 Defects of the Constitution
 This weeks session has convinced the state that its constitution is in sore need of amendment Reference Is had to the hard struggle for the relationships. True the successful cand dates are able and com petent men, yet the Hobbies have presented scenes that do not tend to the elevation or the state. There has been much "trading" in the various races, and 1t is sometimes charged that even important Legislation has been bartered. Certainly 1t has been re- tarded. The struggle has been fierce and hard and to the good of the whole state, let us hope 1t is at an end
 Representative Foster. of Tuscaloosa, to- day hit at the root of the evil. when he presented a bill for the consideration of the house. which seeks to amend section 25, ar ticle 6, of the state constitution, which relates to the election of solicitors by the legislature. It is the purpose of MT. Fosters bill to have submitted to the peo- ple at the general election in August 1900 an amendment to the above section and article providing for the election of cir cult solicitors by the qualified voters of the several circuits. Tn this bill the term of office is sought to be made six years, and a man cannot succeed himself in the of- flee. This measure. or similar one will be passed by the present legislature. and if presented for a final vote next Monday 1t would carry by almost unanimous vote. The people want no more such struggles as the one of this week.
 But notwithstanding all this worry and pulling and tugging at the members, in the senate ssxty-four bills have been presented, while in the house the clerk has recorded IA.
 General Revenue Bill
 The most important of these bills, is house bill No. 1, introduced by Representa- tive Mitchell, and now in the hands of the ways and means committed. This is the general revenue bill. It embodies many amendments to the present law of great importance, and in full accord with the ideas and recommendations of the best fnancier who has ever occupied the chief executives chair in this state.
 Among the salient points is a provision for . state board to equalize values in the several counties There Is a very wide diff ference in the values reported by the dif-