The age-herald., 1900-12-05
LIVELY DEBATE
 IN LOWER HOUSE While the Alabama Senate Was
 Very Quiet TWENTY-FOUR BILLS PASSED Proposition to Change Rule of Evi- dence Regarding Husband and Wife Brought Some Strong op-
 position-Two Resolutions
TWENTY-FOUR BILLS PASSED

Age-Herald Bureau Hotel Clancey, Montgomery, December 4.-(Special.) = There was very little occurring during the eighteenth days session of the General As- sembly of Alabama of general public in- terest. The session of the upper House was extremely quiet, but in the lower branch there were discussions over three measures to enliven the session. The House made a record for the session in the passage of bills, twenty-four local measures having passed at the afternoon session. This, notwithstanding the fact that a quorum was broken before the reg ular hour of adjournment.
 Husband and Wife Bill.
 MT. Arnold's bill to make the wife competent witness for or against the hus- band and to make the husband a compe- tent witness for or against the wife In all criminal prosecutions in any of the courts in this State, was debated at some length, and it brought forth the maiden speech of the young representative from Calhoun His effort readily stamped him as one of the strong debaters of the House. Ills style was pleasing and forcible, and his argument was logical and strong. ak
 MT. Wilson of Clarke was first to attack the measure. He said he had never ob- served any hardship worked by the pres ent law, and he felt assured that it's pass age would merely be the means of increas- ing the crime of perjury.
 Mir Arnold proposed a substitute, making the law applicable only in case where the wife or husband is called for by the defend ant. MT, Arnold argued at sume length in support of his substitute, saying that the present statute was worn and out of date. He submitted several arguments why the bill should be adopted.
 Mr. Long of Walker in his usual witty manner, opposed the bill. He said that some married men were already having to bear many hardships. He was opposed to any law which would permit him to go on the stand and tell family secrets. MT. Longs facetious argument caused much laughter
 Mir Simpson of Lauderdale and MT. liar alson of DeKalb both argued for the bill. The latter made strong plea for the meas ure, saying he believed the jures of the State were fully capable of taking due coH- sideration of the weight to be given testi- mony of either the wife or husband. MT. Pettus of Limestone spoke in opposition to the bill and this opposition brought rather short reply from MT. Arnold.
 The bill went over until tomorrow as ur- finished business.
 The Normal Schools.
 The bill to equalze the appropriations of the State Normal Schools at Troy, Florence, Livingston and Jacksonville also caused lengthy discussion, but had to give way to privileged matter, and went over until to- morrow The bill seeks to appropriate $7500 f1 of schools The OreSPnt proprfat ton is $7500 for Florence, $5O0O for Troy and $2500 each for Livingston and Jacksonville.
 MT. Buiger offered an amendment, still pending, to make the appropriation $5OOO for each school The vote tomorrow prom ises to be close. There is strong lobby of Normal School people here.
 The bill to appropriate to the Alabama Normal College at Florence S2O000 tor i'm proving the building was the special order for Il o'clock, and its consideration caused some discussion Mir Bulger started the debate by offering an amendment substi- tutlng $5000 as the appropriatio Chairman Wallace of the Appropriations Committee, was quick upon his feet in opposition to the amendment. He said that he had re- gently visited the school and noted the very urgent need for money to improve the buildings. The buildings were the proper , ty of the State, and without quick relief they would soon be so decayed to rem der them valueless. MT. Bulger withdrew his amendment and MT. Brandon substi- tuted it with one appropriating $10,000. MT. Bulger spoke in advocacy of the latter amendment. He believes that this amount was all that the treasury could stand in face of the heavy appropriations necessary for the support of other schools.
 The Brandon amendment was adopted by a vote of 27 to q. The bill was then pasS- ed by vote of 53 to 2S.
 MT. Spears Resolution.
 MT. Spears of St. Clair presented two res olutins of special importance. Ore is In the shape of a memorial to Congress to refund money to the southern states for cotton seized by the federal troops during the six ties. The other Is a memorial to have the public lands in this State donated to the public schools.
 The text of the resolutions follows:
 Whereas, there is large sun of money. amounting to millions of dollars in the hands of the Unfted States government at Washington, which was collected from the southern people, snd which is known as the cotton tax; and whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has decided that said tax was illegally collected and does not rishtfnly belong to the government; fore, be 1t resolved by the General As sembly of Alabama, the House and Senate concurrng, that our Senators and Repre- senta tives in Congress be, and they are
 
 crable means to secure the passage of a lay by Congress authorizing the payment of all that part of said cotton tax which was collected from the people of Alabama for the exclusive use of the common schools
 Be it further resolved. That a copy of this resolution be furnished to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress duly signed by the Governor, president of the Senate, and speaker of the House of Representatives, with the seal of the State attached.
 Whereas. The Government of the United States during the last few years has been very liberal in the donation of public lands in Alabama to the universities, high schools and colleges of the State in an amount exceeding 100,000 acres, and where as, the common schools of Alabama arg greatly in need of assistance, therefore, be it resolved by the General Assembly of Alabama, the House and Senate concur ring, that our Senators and Representa- lives Ia Congress be and they are hereby requested to use all honorable means to