The age-herald., 1901-02-03
OF JEFFERSON INTRODUCES
 BILL ID REAPPORT|ON LEGISLATORS

Age-Herald Bureau, Clanceys Hotel Montgomery, February 2.-(Special 1.-Two bills were introduced into the lower house of the General Assembly of Alabama which seek to reapportion the representation from the several counties in the assembly. These bills were presented by Messrs Benners of Jefferson and Long of Walker
 There is very wide difference between the provisions of the two bills, though either ask only slight changes. The change made in the present representation by the Ben- nerS bill is to take one representative each from Ladderdale and Russell Counties, which no v have two, and add them both to Jefferson. which at present has six repre- sentatives, The only change suggested by the LoneNhill is to take one from Jeffer- son and add the same to Walker. The bills were referred to the committee on state and fede al apportionment. This committee is composed of Messrs, Craig of Dallas, Foster of Tuscaloosa Woolf of Morengo, Jones of Wilcox, Graves of Barbour, Hal alson of DeKalb, Tunstall of Hale Dill of Jefferson, Chapman of Sumter, Alman of Lawrence, Screws of Montgomery, Wallace of Madison, Long of Walker, McMillan of Wilcox, Merrill of Cleburne Doster of Au- tauga, Stringfellow of Barbour.
 Benners Bill Will Win.
 There seems every indication that the Benners bill will secure a favorable report from the committee. The present basis of representation, as fixed at the session of 1S9O-1S91, is in round figures 15,0oO, providing that each county shall have at least one Representative The total population of the State in 1890 was 1,513,017. The population as reported by the census of 1900 is l,S2S- 697, which divided by loo makes the basis of representation to be fixed this year at Is, 2S6 This basis will justly entitle Jeffer- con to eipht Renrasentatiye in the Lower House. .
 MT. Long's Views.
 MT. Long basis the claim for his bill upon the proposition that Jefferson County has not six times greater population than Wal ker Jefferson being reported at l4o4zo' while Walker is accredited 25,163. There IS little danger of MT. Longs Dill recelvmB seriuos consideration, as there are three other counties to claim an additional Rep resentative ahead of Walker. Etowah IS accredited 27,361, Elmore 26,099, Butler zo'- 761 of population, while the census report gives Walker only 25,162. Etowah Is thus given greater population than eltnr Rus sell or lauderdale, which counties now have two Representatives each.
 Neither the, Benners or Long bills sug- gest a change in the Senatorial districts, though it is probable that Dale VIII pc taken from the district at present com posed of Geneva, Henry and Dale, ana added to Barbour. .
 The discussion of the re-apportionment becomes quite heated among the members in the Hobbies. As is natural to. presume the members from Lauderdale and Russeii are bitterly opposed to the Benners pili' one of the members from Lauderdale stat ing tonight that he would be willing to any compromise that would keep Jefferson rom gaining representative, and that ne would favor taking from that county one or more of the members at present allowed to IL; MT. Long said tonight that he felt assured that he would get his bill favoraoiy re- ported. :
 6st The House.
 Sneaker Pettus was too unwell to attend the session of the House today and MT Wilson O. Clarke was designated as speak CT pro tenn. Only few local bills were presented today.
 Mr Craft of Mobile offered a memorial form the Knights of Labor praying TOT re- lief from the present convict lease system. The memorial sets forth that the present system is injurious to wage earners, caus- ing the destruction of villages and iml- gra ton from the sections where convicts are leased It is set out that wage earners cannot earn livelihood where convict la bor is in competition. The memorial threatens the Democratic party unless re- lief is granted
 MT. Spears Rep Pop, of St. Clair, who is contesting the seat of Hon. John l.. Bur nett in Congress, presented memorial to the members in Congress from this State to use their influence to secure the passage of Mark Hanna's ship subsidy bill
 Spears Subsidy Motion Lost.
 The House was quick to express disap- proval of the bill. MT. Hogue moved sus- pension of the rules in order that the reso- lution might be immediately considered. Messrs Hogue and Whitson spoke briefly in opposition to the measure, and on mo- tion to table the ayes came as one unanimous voice from all sections of the hall. MT. Spears cast the only negative vote that was heard.
 The bill by MT. Wallace to appropriate $25OO for4each year for next succeeding two years to keep iA repair the capital building