The age-herald., 1901-02-05
HOUSE SWAYEO
 BY SEN TIMENT
Continued From First Page3


 
 in opposition to the proposed increase. He recited the history of the State pension fund, it having been increased from $50, 900 to S250,00O by the two last Legislatures. He took the position that the State treasury was not in condition to stand he proposed increase, saying that if it were, he would gladly lend his support to the measure. The amount could only be appropriated by in- creasing the present big deficit in the treas- ury, with no way to decrease the deficit, as the limit of taxation had already been reached in the State. During his speech MT. Whitson took occasion to restate his opposition embarrassing the treasury condi- tion with increased appropriations.
 Attacked Present Law.
 MT. Whitson made strong attack upon the present pension law, saying that in many counties the pension boards had been all to free in their acceptance of appli- cants.
 Mir. Tefiin of Randolph did not believe in the talk about a bankrupt treasury, but if 1t must be bankrupt, he thought it could be bankrupt by no better cause than in the care of the old soldiers. MT. Clarke of Mo- bile stated briefly the causes for his support of~the bill. He said that while there is at present deficit in the treasury, he did not believe that this deficit would long last, and he stood ready to vote money to the disabled soldiers which must yet be raised Referring to MT. Whitson's charge Of the practice of frauds in securing pen- sions under the present law, he said that amendments to the law were now being drawn, so as to prevent the practice of such frauds
 Whitson Criticized.
 MT. Walden of Margan took to task Mir. Whitson for charging that some Confeder- ate soldiers falsely swore to secure pen sions That was a charge which he had hoped would never come from the son of Confederate soldier MT. Walden moved the previous question upon the passage of the bill, and for the purpose of being fur ther heard in opposition to the measure, Whitson moved indefinite postponement. He spoke with force in support of his first position.
 MT. Leath of Jefferson opposed the in- definite postponement of the measure, and spoke briefly in its favor. The motion to indefinitely postpone was withdrawn, and the bill was passed by vote of 73 to 16 The negative votes were cast by Messrs. Baldwin, Carmichael, Crenshaw Dill, Dos- ter Goldsmith Graves of Montgomery, Jones of Coneauh, McMillan, Harris, Poole of I.owndes, Pounds Porter of Coosa, Por- ter of Washington, Whitson, Williams of Covington Woolf.
 Jefferson County Bills.
 The following Jefferson County bills were passed at the night session of the House.
 To vacate and abolish certain portions of Ninth street and Ninth avenue, South, and Eight and Ninth alleys, South, in the city of Birmingham, as public streets and highways,
 To authorize the owners of the lands formerly the property of the North Birming- ham Land Company to vacate and close up a certain avenue as shown on the map and survey of the company.
 To establish a charter for the town of Sandusky, in Jefferson county.
 To compensate the clerk of the Criminal Court of Jefferson county for performing all official duties for which compensation is not otherwise provided by law.
 To establish a separate school district in the town of Adamsville.