The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-18
REVENUE BILL
VICTORIOUS
Board Of County Commissioners
Is Abolished.
VOTE IN SENATE Z TO 5
Governor viii Affix His Sigma
ture to Measure Today
CUNNINGHAM DIED VERY HARD
His Last Effort Was Amendment for
Election in May.
SEVERAL VERY STORMY SCENES
At One Time Acting President Jelks De-
olared Body Adjourned and Senator
Wiley Tried to Recall it Amid
Great Confusion.
His Last Effort Was Amendment for
Election in May.
SEVERAL VERY STORMY SCENES

Montgomery, February II.-tSpeclai)-
The bill to abolish the commissioners
court of Jefferson county and to establish
a board of revenue passed the senate this
evening at S;15 o'clock after one of the
most exciting contests that ever occurred
in the senate chamber.
The vote was IL to 5. The vote on the
final passage of the bill was as follows:
Ayes-Senators Brown, Buchanan, Caffee,
Hail. Horton, Lee, Lyons Mathews,
Meador, Stevens, Wiley, Windham.
Nays-Senators Cunningham, Jelks,
Moody, Nunnelee, Sowell, of Walker.
Paired-Senators Rather and Deans, of
Shelby, Jenkins and Brooks, Thompson
and Moore, Mccain and Pulley. The first
named in each case would have voted for
the BILL
Senators Boykin, Case and Sowel, Of
Limestone were absent. They all favored
the bill.
Those present and not voting were Sena-
tor Deans, of Covington, Grant, Thomason
and Hurst. The first three voted against
the bill on all questions up to the final
vote, and Senator Hurst voted with the
majority. This shows the vote to be ex-
actly as predicted in the Montgomery dis
the three senators reported as doubtful
going with the minority.
Has Been Battle Royal
The contest has been a battle royal and
much feeling has been manifested. Sena-
tor Wiley, of Montgomery, led a superb
fight for the bill. The opposition was led
by Senators Cunningham and Sowell, and
they exhausted all parliamentary tactics
before they gave up to the majority. This
is probably the first case on record in the
democratic senate of Alabama where a
democrat has been cut off from senatorial
courtesy. But the argument was used with
effect that this was not local matter 1t
finally resorted to personal fight between
Governor Johnston and President Cunning
ham of the senate, in which the governor
won. His friends have stood firm.
Several Stormy Scenes.
AT times the senate presented stormy
scenes. Several times during the morning
session it looked as IL there would be per-
sonal encounters between members. But
the most sensational of all was when Sem
ator Jelks declared the senate adjourned
and Senator Wiley rushed to the presi-
dents stand and attempted to call it to
order again, but could not get a quorum
The afternoon session was devoted to gem
eral discussion of the bill.
The bill will be signed by the governor
tomorrow, and will thus become a law.
Their is much speculation as to who will
be appointed on the new board. There are
already large number of applicants from
all sections of the county. But 1t is said
that the governor will go largely on his
own judgment in the selection of capa-
BILE board, representing all the interests of
the county. 1t is also rumored that one of
the appointees will be a gentleman hold
ing high position in the business circles
of Birmingham, who has sent no letter of
application, and who, II appointed, would
doubtless be as much surprised as any one
in the city. All classes and interests can
rest assured that ne will appoint an honest
capable and conservative body.
1t is said that the commissioners will
mandamus the new board, and that the
courts will have to settle the question.
The fight came UP by some very lively
sparring for points. The first round was
a motion by Senator Wiley gfenting each
senator the privilege on roll call of the
senate to call up for confederation a bill
on the calendar. President Cunningham
ruled that this motion should go to the
committee on rules
Senator Wiley appealed from the decision
of the chair, stating that the senate had
passed similar resolutions at several morn
ing sessions He charged this as an attempt
at gag rule.
Senator Moore spoke favorably to nstain-
ing the chair. The president relinquished
tho chair to Senator Jelks and spoke in ia
vor OF sustaining his ruling Senator Wiley
again took the floor. In his sarcastic.
scathing maner he said that the ruling of
the chair was unprecedented and an uu-
heard of proceeding in the history of legis-
lation. 1t was a ruling to gag senators.
mo such ruling was ever made by any
presiding officer, Tom Reed not excepted"
Sowell. of Walker. supported the ruling Of
the chair and spoka of not allowing any
gag rule.
Senator Brown asked Senator Sowell II
he had not introduced resolution this