The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-28
DEBATE WAS ACRIMONIOUS
Governor and Dr. Abercr0m-
 bic Were Criticised.
House Refused to Concur in Confer ence Report on Montgomery Revenue Board Bill-Op- z posed to Raising Re-
 cess Committee.

The friends and the enemies of State uniformity of textbooks fought the ques- tion out on the floor of the House of Rep resentatives yesterday fairly and square, ly, and the friends of the Johnston uni form textbook bill won out all along the lire, and took 1t from the adverse calendar.
 Only miracle can today prevent the final passage of the bill which has already received the endorsement of the Senate.
 An overwhelming majority of the House yesterday went on record as unqualfhedly in favor of the measure. A test vote of the House showed that fifty-nine mem bers favored State uniformity to twenty nine who opposed it.
 A condition demanding Immediate &C., ton faced the friends of the measure in the House yesterday when they assem- bled in the hall The majority had com pelled the Committee on Education. which had delayed action on the bill so long. to report the measure to the House. It was sent up with the disadvantage of an un- favor able report. This, under the rules of the House, rendered 1t impossible for the bill to be passed yesterday. The most that the majority could do was to have 1t taken from the adverse calendar reported to the Committee of the Whole and fa- vorably reported to the House which would enable them to pass the bill today, the last day of the first session
 With energy and determination the majority accomplished its object, not withstanding the strenuous opposition of bitter and resourceful minority, com posed at is was. of some of the ablest members of the House.
 Made Special Order.
 The bill has been made the special or der for Il o'clock today. The friends of the measure are confident that the de- cisive victory of yesterday will be re- peated.
 The debate on the bill in the Committee of the Whole yesterday was one of the most notable discussions that has taken place during the present Legislature. The opponents of the bill consumed the larger part of the long morning session. The friends of the bill seemed more anxious to vote than to talk. No limit was placed on the oratory of the opposition, and they made bitter attacks on the bf1l. The friends of the measure declared that the bill meant an immense saving to the peo- pie of Alabama, and a great boon to the poor men who patronized the common schools of the State.
 ''The people want this bill, and it Is our duty to give it to them" said Mir. Gold smith of Lowndes, and in this statement he voiced the spirit of the majority.
 Arnold and Dubose Spoke.
 The chief arguments against the bill were made by Mir. Arnold of Calhoun and MT DuBose of Jefferson. MT. Arnold s speech showed careful research and thought He dealt with the question in it's every phase, quoting from the experi- ence of other States with State uniform fty and comparing the quality of the books furnished under State uniformity with those sold where the market was open. He ridiculed the idea of a book trust, declaring that monopoly on in- telligence was impossible. He asserted that the establishment of State uniform ity would cost the patrons of the common schools $70O. 900 next October.
 MT, DuBose of Jefferson, A teacher by profession, opposed the bill earnestly and sincerely. He declared that if the teach CTS of his county demanded of him that he support the bill, he would rather hand his resignation to the Governor than vote for the bill. He pronounced the bill an attempt to restrict thought and intelli- eence, and he decried the commercial spirit which he said, actuated the men who were urging the bill.
 Criticised JeIks and Abercrombie.
 He declared that the Governor in send ing in his message urging State uniform ity had not consulted the State Superin- tendent of Education, and he said that the Governor had not had educational experience. He also said that Dr. Aber- crombie, President of the State Univer- sity, who was quoted as faVoring the bill, had not had university training and had not come in close contact with university thought of the best kind.
 The bill as favorably reported contains an important amendment in that it gives the State Commission the power C eX- empt towns of more than 5000 inhabitants from its provisions.
 An interesting feature of the day was the disagreement between the House and the Senate over the Montgomery Board of Revenue bill.
 House and Senate Disagreed.
 The Senate, it will be realled, passed bill making the members of the Board appointive. The House during the Friday night session adopted 8 substitute pro- posed by Mir. Goodwyn. which made the members of the Board elective. The Sen ate refused to accept the substitute and a conference committee was appointed from each house. The conference com mittee on the part of the House was com posed of Messrs. Arlington, .Maner and Goodwin.
 The committee on the part of the two houses met and after some discussion agreed upon the Senate bill for an ap- pointive Board. The report, which was not signed by Mir Goodwin was present ed to the House yesterday afternoon The report was supported in a speech by Mir. Arlington. and for awhile 1t seemed that 1t would be adopted. Mir. Hall, however, made an address against the report and the affirmative feature and the House finally rejected the report
 An effort will probably he made today to have the vote reconsIdered. and the Senate bill adopted.
 Rejects Recess Committee.
 The House refused yesterday afternoon to authorize the appointment of special committee to sit during the recess to pre- part the general laws ernbodying the rec concentrations of the new Constitution. The leaders of the House made a strong fight to have the joint resolution raising Duch a eommtttse adopted. but the rank.