The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-07
R. R. COMMISSION
 BILL IS TAKEN UP
Continued from First Paee)

Continued from First Page)
 sent. The people are poor. He read rom the auditors report to show that Mont gomery and Mobile are lodging assess ments on their hoarded money, neither paying as much as Marshall. Where Is the money to come from when the tax of fcer cannot find the property to be taxed? He said the railroad values are shrinking in spite of all the state board can do Moreover it was bad business to pass a bill, saying we are going to buy certain property and then asking the owners to name the price. First find out what the property can be had for and then decide whether to buy.
 MT. Goodwin of Montgomery, author of the Till and chairman of the com mittee, made the only speech for the bill or substitute. He was eloquent and im- pressve. and had his subject we'll in hand. He said the, only difference among the members was as to the amount. He urged members to look into their hearts and see If they were willing to go back to their constituents and report the facts about the building as they saw 1t here, and tell them they had voted the paltry sum of s25,0O0 to improve preserve and beautify the historic state house os the
 
 submitted to the governor and had his approval. He was the constituted guar dian of the treasury and he sanctioned the appropriation. Moreover, there was no danger of the treasury being over strained or the people suffering by the appropriation, for the substitute provided that not dollar should be paid out cx- cept on the order of the governor If the money was not In hand the governor would not allow it to be expended.
 Tax Rate Fixed.
 Moreover, the tax rate is fixed at Go cents and it Is going to stay at that figure what ever may be the fate of this bill It )s going to be neither more nor less than that for generation. MT. Goodwin went on to show how little the state has ever done for the state house of it's people. Inc land was given by citizen of Montgom- cry, and more was subsequently added for the small outlay of $7500. The citizens of Montgomery had built the first capitol here and the state had rebuilt when that burned. Then there was the appropria- ton of $25,OO) for the extension some | years ago. making about $75,000 as the whole amount the state has ever expend- ed This is less than the cost of the city buildings, court houses and even jails in half the cities of the country. He closed with an eloquent plea for the historic old house, and a building and grounds worthy the state and people. and warned the opponents of the bill that delay tneant that in few years the rising feeling on this subject would materialize in an ap- propriation of a million or even two mill lion for new capital. He denied that poverty of the people was legitimate plea. The tax values of Alabama are increasing at the rate of s2o,0Oo,Ooo a year.
 Want to Split Difference.
 MT. Callahan of Morgan thought $25,00O loo little and $25O,0GO too much. He would later offer an amendment somewhere be- tween the two amounts and moved to ta- ble the s25, 900 amendment, or the minority | report. This motion prevailed by a vote | of 69 to 26 which was exceedingly en- couraging to the friends of the bill who now confidently expect that the compro- mise that will ultimately be reached will be for at least sl00,OO0. and perhaps s15o,- 900. The hour for adjournment arrived and the bill went over as the continuing special order for tomorrow.
 | Among the bills introduced in the house was one by MT. London to make the rail- road commission elective by the people. It would seem that Mir. London is pre- pairing, In the event the Main bill on this subject now pending, should be defeated, to get a vote on the direct and single proposition of an elective commission. MT. Minge introduced a bill for putting the agricultural schools all under one state board of control.
 Mr. McTyre of Barbour offered bill to abolish justices of the peace In Eufaula and substitute for them inferior courts.
 Election Law Reported.
 Mir. Bankhead of Walker, chairman of the committee on elections, reported the new election law that has been framed bN the committee and 1t went on the cal endar. It provides for numbered ballots, a question on which the committee itself was very evenly divided. the proposition having had one majority.
 The house passed the senate bill for ceding to the United States Jurisdiction over such lands as it may acquire for ar senals. armories and postoffice and GUS tom house buildings,
 MT. Handley. from the committee on ap- propriations, reported favorably the bill to increase the salary of the governor 5 Irivate secretary to $2400
 The house is getting restless at its slow progress, and today Mir Davis intro duced resolution that hereafter the house shall meet at 10 o'clock and ad- journ at 1so MT. Lowe introduced a resolution that beginning next Tuesday, the house hold afternoon sessions for the consideration of local bills.
 MT. Rich, from the rules committed re- ported favorably the senate join resoiu- tion for a recess next Wednesday at noon for the purpose of hearing Mrs. R. D. Johnston of the Federation of Womans Clubs.
 The bills introduced in the house today by caption are as follows:
 
 Bills Introduced.
 By Mir. London-To. require the mem- bers of the railroad commission of Ala