The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-26
REVIEW OF WORK
Accomplished at Late Session of the
Legislature.

Montgomery, February 25.-(SpeciaL)-A
review of the work of the general assem-
bly, just adjourned shows that it disposed
OF plenty of business. The striking fea-
lures of the legislative acts are, of course,
the passage of the constitutional conven-
tion bill and the measures which guaran-
tee more revenue to the public schools.
Another feature of more than passing in
terest is the fact that the governor started
the ball rolling by sending in a message
calling for .close-fisted" session and this
was almost totally disregarded. He rec
commended that the salaries of several state
officers be cut, but the assembly has not
agreed with the governor in a single in
stance-not even in the conduct of his
own office. The governor asked that the
office of recording secretary TO the gov
ernor be abolished. This was not done.
Even after the house had passed the ap-
propriations bill leaving OFT the appropria-
tion for the secretary, the senate amended
the bill, placing the appropriation back.
In his annual message the governor made
the following suggestions:
II advise that the appropriation of $15,-
OOO per annum for expenses of temporary
iOduS DC ISduCSQ " Pl,VVV, thtt thS SoAteAA-
gent fund of the governor be reduced from
5000 to $500, and of the superintendent Of
education from 81 0U0 to $lvU, and that the
following appropriation for pay of other
officials pe abolished or reduced, as fol-
lows:
That the salary of the president and
associates of the railroad commission
be reduced $5UO each, in all.... ..$1 500
Recording secretary to the governor
oe aDohshed... - ..'.. 1'oVo
Clerk to attorney-general... 6OO
One clerk to commissioner of agricul-
ture... l,zvV
Assistant to marshe and librarian.... 800
Clerical assistant to secretary of state 1000
That the clerk to ,ne railroad comms-
sion be reduced to 81 ,zOO... $40
Secretary to chief justice be reduced
to 81 ,2VO... oVV
That the reporter of supreme court be
paid 500 per volume instead OF S5OO,
making REDUCTION of about. ...... 600
Il suggest also that no solicitor be per-
mitted to draw any money from the treas
ury in excess of the fees actually paid in
from his circuit that commissions on sums
above their salaries be reduced to 10 per
cent, and that no stamps or stationery be
allowed the reporter, clerk or marshal or
the supreme court.
II am aware that every effort to reduce
expenses will be seriously resisted by those
affected, and every argument and persua-
but l trust that you will remember that
your highest duty is to see that not dol
lar of the peoples money is uselessiy ex-
pended. The necessity now upon every
citizen of the state to maintain the most
rigid economy in his personal affairs
should extend to every department OF the
state government. The reduction named
will not prevent hundreds of competent
men from seeking with aVidity the places
to be filed"
He then entered into a discussion OF the
expenses of the previous session or the
laqislature in the matter of clerical as
sistance, stating that several thousand DOL
lars had been useessly spent in the en-
ploy of clerical assistance.
There was hardly a suggestion as to re-
duction of salaries carried through But
the following increases were made:
Auditors salary ....... .......''''.~ ~ w
President convict board ........ ....... ooo
Physician convict board ....'. .......' @ W.
.nsp .nspeo.o. -. governor ,,,,.. 800
1ness1nS M1s."I.,ss,,, ......... $40
State tax commissioner ................ ' 6'1oo
.ai4t .anarai ........ 1900
49, teth section fund ,,.......,. $500
Asen' "A ~, psl1s,d of treasurer .,...... 500
ro.., ......... .$l1 ,79)
Increase in public school appropria-
tion ........... .................slVV'ooo
,usnn.atorv s,o school ~ ......... 5000
.s114 ,79o
pesides this comes the raise in tax rate
of one mill for the public scnooi luho,
which will amount to about s25o,00o, anu
the raise of one-half mill for the tension Oh
Confederate soldiers which Will amount TO
abnnt s125 900. Besides the above increases
~ the annual appropriations, there were
many smaller appropriations Ior aiherehe
nurnoses estimated at about SoooVo.
After the general assenpiy hau .o.a,y a,;
a;sregarded his recommendations the gov
ornor sent a message to the senate on lts
,ast session. saying he had not made sug-
nast,on To the assembly that had not been
carried out
Tho session Just closed has been record
breaker for the passage OF piiis. Ihere
nassed 956 bills-seyeral having peeh Vetoeo
and failed because they were not reached
~, the governor. In the house 1.407 bills
,ere introduced, and 532 in the senate. Pre-
,;ous TO the session just adjourned, the
greatest number of bills passed was by the
sass;on of 1S96-97, the number being G66.
A. that session 1888 were introduced into
the house and 494 in the senate.
The present session has not been quite
so expensive, however, as the session two
years ago. Up to tonight the auoltor naa
issued warrants to the amount OF $o3,53l.SI
for expenses of the present session. He
estimates that there are outstanding claims
of nrobably 500 yet to be presented. or
This amount $44120 was paid the special
revenue committee which sat during the re-
cess The total expenses of the session of
1867 were $53, 1926 or this amount 3d.
4SO.Ss was paid to special committees sit
ting during the recess. kEHSa.