The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-31
BOOK TRUST ACCUSATION
Somebody Had Said Commit
 tees Were Packed"
Senator from Tuscaloosa Wanted Text Book Bill Referred Elsewhere and President Resented Inti-
 mation-Tag Tax Measure
 Passed Upper House.

There was not dull moment in yes terday's session uf the Alabama Senate. The day was one of fierce debate through out-two of the members. Senators Jonn- ston Of Tuscaloosa and Goidsoy or Mo- bile. carrying matters to point where reference was made to a settlement elsewhere"-and a timely motion came'at Q moment when things apparently had reached crisis and something spectacl- lar was expected.
 A protracted and at times stormy debate was precipitated when Senator Dunn's bill to reduce the tag tax on fertilizers came up, but there was no indulgence in Dersonal discrimination here, and the measure finally passed the Senate.
 Not so with the introduction of Sena- tor Johnstons bill for a uniform system of text books for the public schools Of Alabama. This brought forth yelled ac- cusauons of dishonesty among commit tee members and implications of control by representatives of the book trust. that for time threatened to end seriously. The debate was brief, but 1t was de- cidedly warm one.
 The session opened at the usual hour, with thirty-one Senators present.
 Prayer was offered by fev. o. +. Greg ory of Montgomery and the journal of the previous day was approved without be- ing read.
 Virginia's Governor Accorded Floor. Senator Craig Of Dallas intrUduceo resolution extending the floor of the Sen ate chamber to the Governor of Virginia, Hon. A. J. Montague, who had been the guest of the city on occasion of the edu- catlcnal conference.
 kAI mittee consisting of Senators Harrison of Lee, NeSmith of Lamar and Craig or Dailas was appointed to escort the Gov srnor into the Senate chamber, when 1t was discovered that Governor Montague hs.. left the city.
 s..opy of the resolution will be for r zd to Governor Montague. however, T .h;ug that the Senate's failure to ex- VI to him the usual courtesy was mere-
 xn oversight The following bills were introduced:
 By Mir Morrow-To amend Section ss33 of the Code of 1896 relating to the sup port of the poor by relatives.
 By MT. Norman--To regulate garnish- ment on wages of laborers not receiving as much as is exempt by law.
 By MT. Goldsby-To make appropria- ticns out of the convict fund to erect additional buildings tor the Alabama h. dustrial School, and for the maintenance of the same.
 Also--To amend Section 5O49 of the Code of 1896 relating to grand larceny.
 Also-To amend Section 5050 of the Code of 1896 relating to petit larceny.
 By Mir. Bullock-To amend an act cre- ting a separate school district in Frank in County and to provide for the main- tenance of the same.
 By Mir. Johnston-To create a text book commission and to procure for use in che public schools in this State uniform series of text books.
 House bills 67, 51, 47 19. 46. 45 and II, and Senate bills and no were favorably reported by committees and sent to the calendar.
 At the call for third reading Senator Dunn of Clarke moved that House bill 167. fixing the Governors salary. be made the special order for Il 80 o'clock today. His motion prevailed
 Tag Tax Eliminates Senate.
 The consideration of Senate bill II. with a substitute pending. providing for re- duction of the fertilizer tag tax from 50 cents to 30 cents a ton, then came up and the Senate chamber was soon a scene of animation.
 The original bill called for a reduction of 25 cents per ton on this tax. but a conference OH the part of the Committee on Finance and Taxation and officials of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute at Au burn, whose support Is derived largely from the revenue from this tax, resulted in a compromise on 90 cents.
 Senator Dunn was the first speaker. and he took strong grounds in favor of the adoption of the substitute. He con tended that with the school referred to and a number of other State institutions dependent as they were on the funds de- rived from this tax. the rate could not be safely reduced. He was willing to go as far as anyone in the Senate in reduc- ton of the tax, but was not willing to 5eopardize the interests of the State schools that are fostered by the tax.
 "I am no less a friend of the schools of the State than the Senator from Clarke said Senator Norma R&at Cham bers but l do not approve N taking of money for their support from the far mers of the poorer sections of the State where the burden of this tax falls most heavily. The maintenance of these schools should come from the general fund but If this cannot be. the 25-cent rate pro- yided in the original bill can be shown to be sufficient"
 Same Old Song, Says Acree.
 That is the same old song that Nor
 
 Senator Acree of Dale
 ''The Auburn school and the nine other agricultural schools in the State have been established and are now maintained out of the proceeds of this tax. and he would now cut down or destroy their means of support. Further, the present tax. guaranteeing as 1t does the purity of fertilizers, Is a measure of protection for the farmers rather than burden. i" Senator Harrison of Lee was recognized
 ''who pays this tax" he inquired On careful investigation I have decided that it Is the farmer and the farmer alone The farmers os my section are crying for relief, and while I would not deprive any State school of needed funds I can not agree to the tax of any one section for the support of any State institution. If these schools are worthy of support let us pass a bill, providing for their maintenance by the whole State
 aenator Frazer of Bullock held that tie