The age-herald., 1901-02-28
NJ REFORM
 NOR ECONOMY
 IN LEGISLATURE Senate Has to Pass a HOTi-
 zOntaI Reduction Bill TEXT BOOK BILL IS BURIED Stabbed the Peoples Measure
 In the Back BIRMINGHAM "ROUNDERS" HAPPY The Long Insurance Bill Comes Up Today, Bur Ned Brace Says Its Doom Has Aleady Been Sea ed,
BIRMINGHAM "ROuNDERS" HAPPY

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 Montgomery, February 2.-(Special.)- There be neither reforms nor economy in this Legislature. Good fellows are in 1t, but they are liberal and an expensive lot. They have appropriated at such an extravagant rate that the Senate was forced today to pass horizontal reduc tion bill, that Is, cutting down on hori zontal plane all appropriations that ex- penditures may come within the revenue of the State. Therefore, there is no tell ing what amount anything or any con- cern which has had an appropriation by this Legislature will get.
 The Boys Industrial School at Birming ham, for instance, got a $15,O0O appropria- tion, but when the cash comes 10 be bal anced this may mean only about eight or nine thousand in actual coin.
 It seems to be likewise a sort of ''peo- pie be damn" Legislature, to use fa- nous expression of a past and gone Van derbit.
 Governor Sanford made his successful fight for Governor before the people upon the promise that he would give them cheaper school h35ks and better educa- ton facilities for their children He prom i;ed them a uniform text book bill like unto that which is in vogue In Tennessee, Indiana, South Carolina and many other States This bill was passed by the House. but today the Senate shelved it and the bill is dead beyond resurrec- ton. The Senate by vote of 23 to re- ferred the bill to Senator Wiley's judic- iary committee.
 Stabbed 1t In the Back.
 In other words the Senate instead of voting directly upon the bill resorted to the subterfuge of shelving it and 1t was shelved killed by being stabbed in the back
 There are rumors of book Hobbies and hints of money being expended and all sorts of rumors, but these rumors have no written nor material evidence behind them.
 It stands out. however, that Senators Jelks. Bullock. Harrison. Johnston, Me- Cain, Morrow, Powell and Windom voted boldly against smothering and sidetrack- ing this bill.
 Senators Jones, Moore and Oliver did not vote. All the other Senators-every one of them-voted to smother the bill in the Judiciary committee, and there is where it went to be burned at the stake of it's enemies.
 The Governor was turned down by the Senate. The school children and the pa rents who buy books must continue to pay Alabama prices rather than be granted the privileges accorded in Ten nessee, but the people are only to blame; they elected these legislators Therefore they did it. So what's the use in anybody else complaining at high-priced books big appropriation, high taxes or anything else that is expensive and extravagant
 There are but few days of this Legisla- tive session remaining. In that time there promises to be some interesting con- tests.
 Long Insurance Bill.
 Tomorrow morning the Long insurance bill fight comes up before the Senate committee on banking and insurance. This is Senator Charlie Thompsons com mittee He is likewise a newly elected Congressman. a banker and many other things. He and his committee will hear all corners. The corners are largely in- surance men. There may be several hun dred of them here, and they are as sure to succeed in smothering this Long in surance bill in the Senate as the sun is to set tomorrow. Though Long of Walk CT County, the author of the bill, is primed for a hot fight and in his yer satile but rough and ready manner he is liable to pour some superheated shot in the tender skins of the fat and prosper ous insurance agents and adjusters. However, he cannot win his fight.
 The Southeastern Tariff Association will continue to do business after this Legis- lature adjourns as they have in the past, regardless of the fact that the Long bill passed the House only yesterday by an overwhelming majority. Indeed there were but three votes against it, but in the Senate there will be but few votes for it.
 Big Rock Jail Bill Dead.
 The Birmingham "big rock jail' bill Is dead. Senator Morrow took 1t off the Senate calendar today. That means its retirement from active existence, conse- quently the Birmingham Board of Alder men contingent is in high glee tonight. They are here in numbers. Mayor Dren- nen heads the bunch. With him are AL