The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-26
WILL BECOME THE LAW
Senator Screws Tried to Exempt Montgomery.
Members Offered Many Frivolous Amendments to Filibuster and Lieutenant Governor on Test
 Voted With Friends of Bill.


 The playing of baseball and other games In Alabama on Sunday was effectually prohibited yesterday afternoon In the chamber of the Senate, but the battle waged against the bill was decidedly the bitterest and hardest fought contest since the Senate reconvened after the recess For awhile it seemed that the bill would live through the storm. but when the Morrow amendment, striking golf and tennis from the list of prohibited games, was lost by the vote of Lieutenant GOV ernor Cunningham. the end was inevita- ble. The opponents or the bill, however, fought with desperation, seeking to ioao the Dill with amendments in oroer that the House might non-concur and the bill thus be stavea of from its tinalspassage The opponents of the bill endeavored to prohibit ping pong, croquet, tiddlede- winks, automopilins. hot suppers, buggy drives, and all other amusements on Sum day. These were all submitted in sepa- rate amendments and on each, the Sena- tor who proposed the amendments called for the ayes and nays
 Until o'clock the Senate considered tho bill and when it was finally passed, there was hardly enough energy in the Senate to pass three local bills called up.
 Opposed by Senator Screws.
 When the Senate met at o'clock, the Sunday baseball bill was immediately called up.
 Senator Screws of Montgomery offered to amend by providing that the bill should not affect counties of 60 1000 inhabitants or more where 1t is elected to play the game on Sunday.
 In supporting his amendment, the Sena- tor from Montgomery called the attention of the Senate to the fact that Montgom- cry could not hold its own in the South ern League were 1t not for the Sunday games. He urged that if baseball died in Montgomery it meant practical ruin to the Montgomery Traction Company, ena-t the Pickett Springs park. In the name of the children of Montgomery, to whom the park is a source of pleasure, of the working people of Montgomery. who enjoy clean sport, he appealed to the Senate. He said that throughout the season, there had been no acts of rowdy- ism committed at the ball park and that the sport had been of the cleanest and most enjoyable variety. The people of Montgomery he declared to be almost unanimously against the suppression of the game and he saw no reason why the
 
 pleasure.
 Acreo Against Amendment.
 Senator Acree of Dale, took the floor against the amendment. He declared that the moral sentiment of the people cried aloud against the practice of Sun day ball playing. He quoted the city code of Montgomery, where Sunday base ball Is prohibited inside the corporate limits of tho city.
 If the people of Montgomery want Sunday ball so badly. asked the Senator from Dale, why don't they allow it in their own city,?
 He then spoke at length on the moral aspect of the bill and asked that the bill in it's original form be passed.
 Senator Morrow of Jefferson spoke against the bill, on the ground that the innocent amusements of golf, tennis, and football are prohibited on Sunday. This he declared would work a hardship on the miners of Jefferson County, whose sole recreation is the playing of the old Eng fish football game on Sunday.
 Senator Johnston of Tuscaloosa said that there are ten laws laid down by God which it Is the duty of every Christian man to observe One of these is Re member the Sabbath Day to keep it holy" The purport of the bill was to this end and for that reason, he opposed any amendment which might jeopardize the passage of the bill. Senator Johnston went into a lengthy argument on the morals involved. In conclusion he said: ''If I knew that my vote could aid in the passage of this bill and I do know it, there is not enough money in the State of Alabama to keep me from casting it."
 Ssnatol Johnston Questioned.
 "Is the Senator from Tuscaloosa op- posed to running trains on Sunday" ask ed the Senator from Jefferson.
 He is," responded Senator Johnston. "Win the Senator read a secular news paper on Sunday" asked Senator Colds by of Mobile.
 He will not" replied the Senator from Tuscaloosa.
 The amendment was then voted on, be- ing defeated, + nays, Il ayes.
 Senator Morrow offered to amend oy striking out the words golf. football and tennis" He said that this in no way intefered with the main purpose of the bill, the obliteration of Sunday baseball and he urged that the amendment be adopted.
 Senator Hogue of Perry, wanted a pro- vision in the amendment, so that the term football only applied to the kicking game played by the miners, and not the collegiate game.
 Senator Morrow was willing to accept. Senator Norman of Chambers. spoke against the amendment He was of the opinion that it might prejudice the finaI passage of the bill.
 "I don't want to vote for anything, ' said the Senator from Chambers, which will endanger the passing of a bill that the praying people of Alabama want. He moved to table the amendment.
 A tie vote resulted, 16 ayes. 16 nays. Leiutenant-Governor Cunningham arose to annouce his vote. Then the hopes of the opponents were sent skyward by Senator Spragins announcing that he had neglected to announce a pair between himself and the Senator from Talladega The Spragins vote was accordingly killed The vote was Is nays, 15 ayes, and the Senate refused to table.
 Harrison Voted for It.
 Senator Harrison of Lee, had in the meantime entered the chamber. and when the amendment was voted on for it's final passage Senator Harrison joined the friends of the measure and tie resulted