The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-30
PARLIAMENTARY STATUS
Friends and Opponents Had a
 Sharp Debate.
At Three Sessions House of Repre- sentatives Transacted Mass of Business-Election Law
 Considered in Com
 mittee of Whole.

The fate of the State banking bill is hanging in the balance in the House Of Representatives. The friends and opponents of the bill met in sharp fight over the bill yester- day afternoon, and both sides drew on their forces at the end of the day with the issue undecided The bill was left pending to come up the first thing this morning for final action.
 The merit of the bill was not the issue at stake in yesterdays contest. The op- ponents of the bill led an adroit attack on the parliamentary status of the bill. with no success, but the friends or the measure in foiling the attack secured only hollow victory. The opponents Of the bill, before the close of the day, had tnaugurated a movement, which will emasculate the bill if it succeeds. When the day ended the friends of the bill had not thwarted the move.
 Unique Position of Bill.
 The position of the bill to say the least, Is unique. The bill, it will be recalled, was forced from the House Committee on Banking and Insurance. It was hand ed in by the committee with this en- dorsement: This bill was considered by majority of the members of the Com mittee. and ordered reported without re- commendation."
 W Acl tHt Cdhc up yCStOA0dJ ShoAi man A. Y. Glover of the Committee on Banking and Insurance, sent forward a written motion that the bill be returned to the committee to correct an error in fits endorsement. He explained that the endorsement which said that the bill had been considered by a majority Of the committee in session, was misleading. The bill, he said, had not been consid- ered by the Committee in session. The 1F tknh hod m hoa This move of the opponents of the banking bill alarmed the friends of the measure. They contended that the adop- ion of the motion would mean, practically he death of the measure. It was pointed sut that even If the biIf was reported pack to the House in the two days that Iemained to the Legislature it's constitu- .ionality would be in, grave doubt. The pill, 1t was pointed out. would lack the constitutional requirement of a certificate from the Chairman of the Committee that the measure had been considered by a majority of the members in session.
 Trends of Measure Alarmed.
 A motion to table the written motion of MT. Glover was defeated by a vote of ayes, fl; nays. 46. This vote was rather disquieting to the friends of the measure who had seen a majority of the House force the Committee to reluctantly loosen its grasp upon the banking bill. They were explaining the effect the adop- tion of the motion would have upon the bill if passed when the House adjourned In the meanwhile the parliamentary status of the bill was the object of still another interesting fight. The point Of order was made that the bill was not in position to be brought before the House. 1t was contended that the bill was neith- CT on the adverse nor on the regular cal
 haN or- ed to be neither fish nor flesh, nor yet good red herring" It was contended that the House could do nothing with the measure until it had been either adversed or fayorably reported by the committee. This point was bitterly contested.
 Speaker Tunstall overruled the point of order, holding that the bill could properly come before the House for final action.
 Parliamentary Status Argued.
 The point of order that the bill was not on the adverce calendar nor on the regular calendar of the House was raised bv MT. Rushton of Crenshaw. Its merit and justice were argued by Messrs. Rich, Hoffman and Lusk. They contended that the bill had to be either favorably re- ported or adversed by committee before 1t could be brought before the House.
 MT. Benners of Jefferson declared his opposition to what he termed the infan-
  contended that a bill reported without recommendation was as much entitled to q place on the regular calendar of the House as one favorably reported.
 Tt is time for the House to establish the precedent" he declared, that bills must go to one of two places, the ad- verse calendar or the regular calendar of the House. There is no purgatory for bills to go to-
 In ruling upon the point of order raised by MT, Rushton the Speaker said there was no specific rule by which the presid- ing officer should be guided It had been the custom. he said. for all presiding off, fcers to have placed on the calendar bills which were reported without recommen- dation and that it was in the power of the House to pass the bill. The point of order, he said, If it could be well taken at all came too late.
 Benners Made Earnest Plea.
 After the motion to table the Glover notion had been voted down, MT Benners said that some cf the members had evil dently voted under a misapprehension The motion he said, was an effort of the committee to stultify itself, and he meant no disrespect in using the term. The committee had reported bill fairly and fin accordance with the provisions of tho Constitution. and now 1t came before the 
 take back the bill and change the endorse ment. The motion was nothing less. he said, than an effort to strike out the con- stitutional endorsement to vitiate the bill The House, he declared should not stuti- fy itself by passing bill with an uncon- atitutional endorsement. It would be a foolish and puerile thing for the House to do.
 The House adjourned before final vote was taken on the Glover motion.
 Before adjournment. MT. DuBose of Jef- serson rose to a question of personal priv tleee He said that MT. Lusk of Mar shall in the course of his remarks. had used the expression. 'cra wishing" which -s- VT 3 thought was applied to him.
 the remark and intimateu
 false if it was applied to him.
 declared he had meant no re-
 had made none. Mir, DuBose,
 under a misapprehensiOn.
 passed the General Primary
 with but little discussion.