The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-27
AN OUTPOURING
OF ELOQUENCE
Legislators Break the MOnOtOny Of Dull
Daily Sessions.
FEES OF THE SOLICITORS
Subject for Much Debate In the Lower
House Yesterday.
FEW BILLS OF STATE INTEREST
Most of the Valuable Time of the Gen.
eral Assembly Has Been Consum-
ed in Enacting Measures
of Local Nature.

Montgomery, November 26.-(Special.)-A
gallery filled with pretty girls today
brought out some of the eloquence OF the
house.
The attendance of members on the session
was small but this was only an incentive
for the consideration of some important
legislation which the minority have been
anxious to defeat Their efforts have fallen
fiat, however. Democratic eloquence IN the
present assembly seems incontrovertible.
The second week of the legislature has
not accomplished much legislation OF state
interest. There are, however, some bills en-
bracing the most important legislation TO
come before the present sess- on, now before
the house-the revenue and appropriation
bills. Most of the remaining bills have been
OF local or minor interest.
The first burst of eoquence in the house
was occasioned by a motion made by MI.
Golfer to place on the calendar his Dill fX-
ing the salaries of circuit solicitors at 81, 2OO
per annum. The bill had received an adj
verse report from the committee on revis-
ion of laws. Mr.. Golfer discussed the bill
several minutes.
Cofer He made humorous speech. Jim
Miller can't make any other kind. There Is
too much humor in his makeup. He de-
sired to show the house that Mr.. Cofer' s
poses as an economist, were much more ex-
travagant than the measures which he was
opposing. He said it cost the state in
round figures $1,000 per day to hold session
of the legislature; that an average session
was two hours, fifteen minutes, five three
tenths second. MIR. Golfer had up to the
present time consumed seven hundred and
sixty-five dollars fifteen and three-tenths
cents, and had not saved the state a penny
Mr.. Miller's speech caused much amuse-
ment in the house.
Mr. Smith, of Escambia, made forcible
argument against the reduction of solicit
tors fees. He was followed by Mr.. Golfer,
who charged that the gentleman from Ma
rengo was forgetfu1 that he had consumed
considerable time distributing the elo-
quence of Marengo on the floor of the
house." Mr.. Kelly, of Choctaw, wanted the
solicitor of each ''deestrlct'' to earn his sal
airy. He would always vote to decrease,
but never to increase a salary. Said he
did not think the new political clothes of
the gentleman from Marengo fit him very
WELL
in all the dignity of my soul,' said Mr..
Miller, Il knew the gentleman from Gull
man was a bear, but L didn't know that
when you tickled him that he would dance.
l want to state to this house thatI am a
democrat-a Chicago platform democrat
and | am today standing upon that plat
form like a ton of brick. l am not only in
the democratic kitchen, as charged by the
l want to state to this house that ] am a
high up in the parlor too, sittin' by the fire.
side, with my feet cooked up on the mantel,
and spittin' in the fire, and the ID cam
move me as long as l live in this world"
No word of incompetency had been charg-
ed against the solicitors before they were
elected, and it would not now be right to
cut their salaries in two.
Mr. Helm, of Chambers, made a very
strong speech against the Golfer bill. He
could not see the reason for such legisla-
ton. 1t must prove Improbable, as it
would legislate out of Office the men just
elected. They could not afford to give up
their law practice for a salary of 81 200. If
necessary, he was willing to vote for a bill
fixing solicitors salaries al S., 900 that they
might properly prosecute criminals Mr.
Helm is one of the most forceful speakers
of the house, and his able plea for justice
to the states prosecuting attorneys had
much weight with the members.
X,
Mr. Burkhalter made the point of order
that the gentleman was speaking four
times on the same question:" and the
speaker ruled the point well taken. The
motion to place the bill on the calendar
was then tabled by vote of so to 20.
The Treasurer's Bond
House bill 81, ito provide for the deposit
ing of state funds in various banks within
the state, and to provide for the making
IF fhn and nf fhn Mt
qualified guarantee companies, and to fix
the amount of the bond of the state treas
urer, was the subject for quite lengthy
debate. 1t was moved that the bill be made
a special order for next Wednesday, and
that 200 copies of it be printed.
Mr. Mitchell explained that unless the
measure pass the house today it could not
reach the senate for passage in time to ap-
ply to the present state treasurer
The bill fixes the bond of the state treas
urer at $l5O,0OO and carries an appropria ton
of not exceeding $500 to pay the premiums
on the treasurer's bond in a guarantee COM
pany. In case, however, the treasurer and
governor fail to make satisfactory terms
with such company for the bond, the bond
OF individuals may be accepted.
1t was argued by Mr.. Kyle that the bill
was unconstitutional inasmuch as two dis.
tinct subjects matter were treated and pro.
vided for in the bill.
Mr.. Mitchell moved an amendment to ths
bill by striking ont the clauses of the bill
which referred to repositories. AS amended
| the bill was passed.
Mr.. Case Replies
| In the senate this morning Senator Cas-,
! arose to a question of privilege to reply t.
| criticisms on him in The Age-Herald of tn,
| 25th. Senator Case sa'd
| "Mr. President: On the 25th instant al
article appeared in The Age-Herald which
| is calculated to do me a great injustic,
| and destroy my usefulness as a representa-
tive of my people Mr.. President In tn,
columns of s?ifd Age-Herald it deals in {
| great many ep.thets towards me and say.
| that have by preamble attempted to plac,
| Governor Johnston in opposition to the new
| constitution.
| "Mr President, I am here to represen
| nv people. and they don't want q constl