The age-herald., 1898-11-24

CLUBBING CORPORATION.
Unexpected Opposition to Such Legis-
 1ation.

Montgomery November 23.-(SpecialJ- Senator Cunninghams bill to incorporate the Phoenix club of Birmingham was taken up in the senate this morning for it's final passage, but it met serious opposition, and was re-committed to the corporations com mittee.
 The result of the debate on this bill may affect every social club In Alabama.
 Senator Moody, of Tuscaloosa, took the floor In opposition to the bill, for the req son, he said, that it was the intent of the bill to give the Phoenix club the right to sell and give away liquors to its members without paying license.
 Senator Cunningham said that the propo- sition to incorporate the club was in the interest of morals, and he hoped that as the bill was local one 1t would be passed.
 Senator Wiley was convinced that the use of liquor could not be regulated by legisla- tion and he knew of no good reason why who wished to take a social drink should be restrained from so doing by leg islation In Birmingham, he said, a drink could be obtained anywhere, and at any time and such legislation as was proposed in the Phoenix bill certainly contained nothing wrong, with the proper restraints and restrictions that were contained in the bill.
 Senator Horton explained that it. was the 1pinion Of the corporations committee that the club was liable for both state and county license. Senator Meador opposed the bill on the ground that it was not local in it's character when relieved of the license tax. He asked a postponement of, action on the bill until he could prepare bill requiring all clubs to pay license for selling liquor
 Senator Cunningham urged immediate &C., ton on the bill
 Senator Moody again spoke in opposition Ae &l,<. falrf fne fha sfan law should be suspended for the benefit of individuals or corporations.
 Senator Thompson spoke in opposition to the bill He said he had but recently been the guest of club In Birmingham when he was mortified that one of Its members had invited him to take a drink at the clubs own bar. He did not drink himself, and thought 1t a great temptation to be extended such an invitation while the clubs guest, and the senate of Alabama should not be party to providing this temptation to the young men of the state. He was op- posed to this bill and would hereafter op- pose all similar ones He also said that ne had been invited to drink in the presence of ladies in Birmingham, and once gen. tleman had actually ordered cocktail in the presence of a lady
 Senator Cunningham in a very able and viyorous manner resented the above attack unon the clubs and society of Birmingham. Such an attack was unjust inasmuch as the clubs of Mobile, Montgomery and other cities of the state were on the sanie foot ing with those of Birmingham, and nothing had been said about them. His remarks in reply to Senator Thompson were at times very sarcastic.
 Senator Moody offered an amendment to strike out the clause permitting the sale of liouor and Senator Meador offered a sub stItute for Senator Moodys amendment re- curing the club to pay the license as re- quired by law.
 Senator Wiley again spoke in behalf of the bill but upon motion of Senator Gun ningham the bill was re-committed to the corporations committed