The age-herald., 1901-02-06
TEXT BOOK BILL
 HAS AN INNING No One Openly Opposed Meas uTe Before Committee BUTTON HOLE SCHEME USED Florida Delegation Appears Be-
 fore Joint Session VERY ANXIOUS FOR ANNE RATION There Will be No Objection to the Plan in Alabama Unless it Will Cause
 Friction With Florida.
 The rool Bill.
VERY ANXIOUS FOR ANNE RATION

<aSt-l1tIdlu OldHcSy IlOlSi Mabson, Montgomery, February 5.-(Spe- cial)-The school text book bill had it's first inning before the committee this afternoon A joint session of the Senate and House educational committees was had for the purpose of hearing arguments on the meas ure. Messrs. John V. Smith, president of the railroad commisslon Robert J. Lowe and Superintendent Abercrombie spoke in behalf of text book uniformity. There were no arguments before the committee against the measure, and it was charged by the advocates of the measure that the paid at torneys of the opposition were afraid to come out in the open and discuss the meas ure on it's merits There is a very strong lobby against the bill, but the button-hole plan seems to be the scheme for work. Further hearings will be had tomorrow on the measure
 Graham Appointed.
 Governor Stanford today sent to the Sen ate the name of J. B. Graham of Talla- dega to be trustee of the Montevallo school in place of Thomas s. Plowman, whose nomination was withdrawn at his own re- quest. The nomination was confirmed. The House passed the bill creating an advisory pardon board to consist of the members of the railroad commission.
 There were seventy-three members of the House present at the roll call this morning, prayer being offered by Rev. A. L. An drews.7
 MT. Doster called for the unfinished busi- ness of yesterday, which was the considera- tion of the bill regulating the sale of CO., caine and morphine. MT. Doster discussed briefly the merits of the measure, when upon motion of MT. Wallace of Madison the bill was tabled by a vote of 39 to 34.
 Several important bills were presented this morning. MT. SiebelS of Montgomery pre- scented bill to repeal the anti-pool selling bill, In so far as the same refers to the county of Montgomery.
 MT. Dickson of Blount presented bill to transfer Blount County from the Ninth to the Seventh Congressional District. MT. Tunstall of Hale also has a bill to transfer that county from the Ninth to the Sixth Congressional District. Should these bills be enacted it would leave the Ninth Dis trict composed of the counties of Jefferson, Bibb and Perry.
 MT. Clarke of Mobile presented a very inn portant hgl. It seeks to empower county commissioners courts to establish stock law districts.
 The Craig bill for the protection of the sureties on the bonds. of ustees was passed.
 Board or RardonS.
 The Clarke bill creating a State advisory board of pardons, to be composed of the members of the railroad commissioners, was passed by vote of 49 to g. The nega- tive votes were cast by Messrs. Curry, Har- ris and hong of Walker.
 MT. Clarke,s bill to facilitate the trial of issues and questions of fact in all civil pro- ceedings In courts of law without the in tervention of jury, was passed after the eliru atiuu of majority of the counties from the operations of the bill. Jefferson was among the counties excluded
 Florida Citizens Received.
 At 1 o'clock a. joint session of the two Houses was held for the purpose of receiv- ing a delegation of Florida citizens who had come in the interest of securing the annex ation of the western portion of that State to Alabama.
 On motion a committee consisting of Sen ators Nunnelle and Hall and Representa- tive Jones of Connecuh, Sentell and Ander- son were appointed to invite the Floridians into the ball.
 John J. Sullivan of Pensacola, chairman of the visiting committee, was first present. ed to the Assembly. He was received with liberal applause, and his remarks in support of annexation were accorded closest atten- tion by the members. MT. Sullivan gave many reasons why in his opinion Western Florida should become a part of Alabama, and he extended to the members most cordial invitation to visit Pensacola upon the occasion of the visit to that port on Feb ruary IS and 19 of the fleet of the United States navy The eloquence of the orator from the Gulf City won frequent applause. The sentiment among the members of the Geenral Assembly seems to be that not dissenting voice will be raised If the an nexation can be accomplished without fric- tion between Alabama and Florida. The committee on the part of Alabama will probably accompany Florida's commit tee back to Tallahassee where they will seek to make terms with the Florida Leg islature for the proposed annexation.
 The Pool Law. Dr. O. P. Fitzsimons of Birmingham is hert leading the fight against the O'Brien pool selling bill. He is circulating among the members of the Legislature and putting up strong fight against the measure Rep resentative OBrien stated today that he | introduced the bill by request and that he is not welded to 1t and does not feel called upon to campaign for it. Mir Seibels today introduced a similar bill in the House. but 1t will meet with much opposition and will probably never become law
 Resolution of Sympathy. Representative Dill of Jefferson returned to the House today, he having been de-