The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-07
WILL REACH THE CALENDAR
And Probably be Passed by Two
Thirds Vote.
NO ACTION ON DIsPENsARY BILL
Leaders of the Two Sides Are Evident
ly Sparring for Points Before the
FinalBattle Begins-The APP
preparation Measures.

Montgomery, February 6.-(Special.)-The
bill abolishing the commissioners court of
Jefferson county reached the senate this
afternoon. The predicted fight on the
reference of the bill to committee did
not occur.
The bill was read in the senate and re-
ferred to the committee on local legislation.
This committee is composed of Senators
Sowell, of Walker; Pulley, Thomson and
Nunnelee.
There will be no fight on the bill in the
committee, it is said. Such fight would
be useless The senate rules in regard to
placing bill on the calendar are very dit
ferent from the house rules. In the SEN
ate any member may by request place a bill
on the calendar, while it requires a three
fifths vote of the house to take bill from
the adverse report and place 1t on the cal
endar. So whatever may be the action Of
the senate committee. the bill will reach the
calendar. That it will then be passed no
one seems to have the slightest doubt.
1t will get something like a two-thirds
vote.
There is some talk tonight that the bill
may be amended, so as to have the new
board of revenue elected by the people in
the July election, the governor appointing
board to serve in the interim. This amend
ment would reconcile some of the enemies
of the bill. No time has yet been set for
hearing of the case by the senate. The
committee may act on the bill tomorrow,
in which case 1t would probably be set as
a special order for Thursday There are
two special orders already set for Wednes-
aminers of teachers for the public schools
and the tax commission bill. Both these
measures will cause lengthy debates.
The Dispensary Bill
The dispensary bill did not come up in
the house today. Both sides seem to be
sparring for points, little fearful to enter
the fierce battle There were a number of
members absent today, which was probably
one cause of postponement.
1t is almost certain that the matter will
come up tomorrow; In just what shape, it
is not known. The fact that eight of the
members of the committee have signed a
petition to have the bill placed on the cal
endar will give this motion some additional
strength. There is a large number of the
members who want the bill to have fair,
square trial before the house.
The fight to place the bill on the calendar
will be led by Wilson Brown and Judge
Hubbard, two OF the strongest members of
the house. 1t will require tomorrow to tell
the tale.
Speaker Mcqueen
Speaker Waller has been called to his
home in Greensboro on important personal
business, necessitating the house to elect a
speaker pro TEN. This honor was unani-
mously accorded to John MCQUEEN, of JEFF
ferson. This is very high compliment paid
the distinguished representative. Jefferson
county has the presiding officers Of both
houses temporarily. Mr.. Mcqueen makes a
very able presiding officer He transacts
business with dispatch. Speaker Waller
will return tomorrow or Wednesday,
The senate has passed the Pettus primary
election bill. 1t will reach the governor
tomorrow and will meet his approval.
The Appropriations Bill
The democrats of the house held a caucus
tonight on the general appropriations bill.
Different sections of the bill were discussed
and passed with an occasional amendment.
The bill carries practically the same ap-
preparations as the old BILL
Pooling Bili
The house this afternoon passed the bill
repeating the law prohibiting the selling
of pools in Montgomery. If the bill passes
the senate 1t means that Montgomery is to
have races during the coming season.