The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-28

LEGISLATION ,rO LEGISLATORS.


 Representative Hammer of Etowah in- troduced yesterday a general stock law bill, measure of great importance to all parts of Alabama. Mir. Hammers bill provides method of procedure whereby the stock laws of county may be made operative by the citizens of any county within the State without recourse to the Legislature. Mir. Hammers bill makes the Judge of Probate of each county the executive officer Iii providing for and enforcing stock laws. The Ham ner bill provides that the Judge of Pro- bate may, on petition of ten or more free holders, order an election for d stock law. The bill requires that the limits of the proposed stock law district shall be plainly set out in the petition filed with the Judge of Probate by the frechoders. The election regulation for the stock law election are set out at length in the bill. The bill further provides that the stock law district shall be fenced in and that the owner of property within, the district shall furnish the fencing where the line crosses his land The bill it. is claimed will. if passed, remove the necessity for any local stock law legislation.
 Hon. Alex T. London of Jefferson yes- terday introduced in the House bill amending the laws for the assessment of property in Alabama. MT. London's bill, which amends Section 39i0 of the Code, provides thar real and personal property shall be estimated and assessed at its value in money taking into consideration whether the property is rented or vacant or whether it is timbered or has mineral deposits, and the~ricnness of Its soil.
 In another short bill introduced yester- day Mir. London provides that railroad property in Alabama shall be assessed as any other property in the State is assessed and according to tho same regu- lations.
 Representative Blackburn of Jefferson introduced yesterday in the House R bill of great importance to Confederate sol diers and their widows who. are entitled to the benefits of the law providing pen sions for those classes of the residents of Alabama. The Dill is directed al one of the chief objections of the original measure and it is said to be backed by some of the most prominent Confederate soldiers in the State. Under the original law a time is set In which proof of the service of the soldier on whose account the pension is to be allowed must be made In the past two years, 1t is pointed out. that a number of deserving applicants were deprived of the benefits of the act because their proof had not been made in time. Mir. Blackburn's bill removes the time limit for making of proof and provides that applicants for pensions who made proof after the limits shall receive a pension for the past two years.
 The Montgomery Police Commission bill is not having plain sailing in the House. The bill, it will be recalled, passed the Senate without hitch, but in the House Representative R. T.~Goodwyn is oppos- ed to some of the details of the bill as Gar T1o ence of opinion between the Senator and the Representative is not great and they are being discussed with view to their adjustment.
 The Board of Police Commissioners un- der the bill as prepared by Senator Screws provides that the entire police department with the exception of the Chief and Captain of Police shall be un- der, the control of the Board The Chief and the Captain. according to the bill of Senator Screws, are to be appointed by the Mayor and to be subject to him.
 Representative Goodwyn's idea is that the entire department, including the Chief and the Captain, shall be under the con- trol of the Board.
 Senator Screws's bill provides that the entire five Commissioners shall be elected by the people at the forthcoming May orally election to serve terms of four years. Mir. Goodwyn's contemplated amendment proposes to make them elect i've by the present and each succeeding City Council.
 Senator Screws said yesterday that he would not accede to the Goodwin amend ment.
 'There ought to be a law passed mak- ing it unlawful to tamper with or in any manner change or alter bill that is pending before or has been passed by the Legislature" remarked an Alabama citizen visiting Montgomery yesterday. T recall that two years ago the Calera court house bill was passed by deception and the Constitutional Convention right ed It. The Uniontown liquor bill was distorted by the change of a figure that defeated the purpose of the bill: the Montgomery charter bill was so tampered with as 10 defeat 1t. and there is not any law to punish such wrong-doing. hope that bill will be introduced at once and become a law to make any such thing as this crime and punishable with severe fine, for it is a great an- noyance and should not be permitted.''
 Representative Lusk of Marshall ir troduced in the House yesterday 4 bir which seeks to utterly destroy Inc free passes except by persons authorized Inv law. It seeks to prevent their use altogether. It Is entitled an act ..'ro prohibit the issue. gift. sale or use of an,. free bass. free transportation, or discrini nation in passenger rates hy any person corporation. company or association.
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