The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-06
MANY BILLS
 BECOME LAWS 118 Measures Now Before
 the Governor. AWAIT HIS APPROVAL Some Work Done by Legisla-
 ture of l9o3. Total Cost of Sesson Will Approxi- mate SIT, ,5oo-Fewer bills In- troduted Became Laws Than in Recent Years.

Members of the Alabama Legislature of 1903 have departed from Montgomery leaving behind great mass of work for the clerical forces at the Capitol l When Governor Jelks returns this morning from his home in Eufaula. he will find llS bills which passed both houses awaiting his approval or rejec- ton He has ten days after the adjourn ment of the Legislature within which | to approve bills. If he fails to sign | bill within this period 1t Is a nullity. l Bills do not become laws without the | approval of the Governor when the Leg islature is not in session
 IL will require several days for the Governor to read all of the bills which 1 he will find on his desk this morning, and he will be busy all of this week.
 Bills Awaiting Approval.
 Among the bills awaiting his signature before coming laws are the following: TO | prohibit importation of the boil weevil: l increasing number of Supreme Court jus tices; authorizing teaching of agriculture | in public schools: exemptlng new cotton l mills from taxation for five years: regu- lating speed of automobiles: regulating banks and providing for an examiner; Lusk judicial circuit bill: providing for | reprint of Alabama reports: providing for subscription by State for fifth volume of Mayfield's digest; authorizing sale of convict lands and cotton mill at Speig- ners; general health bill; appropriation of so0,000 for Mobile Medical College; creating Fifteenth judicial circuit. | The lawmakers were in Montgomery | fifty-three days last winter and thirty three days during the recent session. a | total of eighty-six days. In other words, the members drew pay for eighty-six days. According to tine constitution there could be but sixty workings days. and | Sundays and recess days are included in the total of eighty-six days Each mem | ber of the Legislature received $344 for | the eighty-six days. or A a day. This l would make total of $4S. .160 paid to mem- bers for per diem. although members who were absent without leave did not receive any pay for the days they were ab- sent In addition to their per diem mem- bers were paid mileage allowed by the | constitution at the rate of 10 cents a mile coming to the Capitol and returning to their homes.
 Legislature Cost $77, 300. The pay of the small army of clerks and other attaches swelled the expenses
 Up to Saturday night the State audi tors office had issued warrants amount ing to $76,7S9.32 on account Of expenses of the Legislature. The clerk of the House and the Secretary of ...e Senate are to be paid $45O each for compiling their Journals and the total disburse- ments on account of the legislative ses- sion of 1903 wui approximate $77.6oO.
 Representative Alex T. London of Jeff ferson bears the unique distinction or having declined to receive pay for the time he was absent from Montgomery. During the session of the Legislature after the recess MT. London was i'll at his home in Birmingham. He secured a leave of absence Saturday. the last day of the session he came to Montgomery and was in his seat When he appeared at the Auditors office he was informed that a warrant for $lS2. as per diem for 33 days awaited him.
 But I was absent said MT. London.
 You were absent by leave of the House" said the Warrant Clerk.
 ''The State does not owe me but & said Mir London and he would not accept but $4.
 A total of 1893 bills were introduce in the two houses-1,056 in the House and 5S7 in the Senate. Of this number 563 were passed by the two houses and were sent to the Governor.
 Fewer Laws Than Heretofore.
 It may surprise these who have argued 1 that the Constitution had failed to check the number of bills, to know that fewer measures were enacted by this Legislature than during recent years. For the session of 1sOo-0l. 11Ss bills were 1 rlssed by the two houses and went to the Governor.
 Many laws were enacted by the Leg ishature. just adjourned that make sweep ing changes in conditions heretofore ex- isting in the State,
 The act creating a uniform text book system Is in operation and the people are just beginning to feel its effect. the schools having recently opened.
 In the way of reform, the Legislature threw restrictions about Sunday viola tions that are as unusual as they are unique. It has become the law in Ala bama that if one plays baseball football tennis or golf on Sunday, he is guilty of a msdemeanor.
 l Another Sunday law passed last winter | has not been forgotten by the saloon keepers of Alabama. It provides fine | for the first offense of selling liquor on | Sunday. On the second conviction the de- fendant is to forfeit his license which amounts to large sum. As this act car ries a penalty it does not become efTec- tive until thirty days after last Saturday, the date of the adjournment of the Leg islature. This will make Sunday. No vember 8. the date on which men who have heretofore violated the Sunday law may be watchful of arrest.
 The act prohibiting the working of chill dren under 12 years old in factories Is an innovation in the way of reform as is the law prohibiting the organization of a boycott.
 Some of the New Laws.
 New primary and general election laws have been provided and the people are to elect the Railroad Commissioners when the terms of the present incumbents ex- pire.
 The Legislature increased the number of Supreme Court Justices to seven and the two additional justices are to be elect ed by the people. The number of judi ciaI circuits was increased to seventeer and a measure providing $500 a year fol expenses of the Supernumerary Judge Hon. A. II. Aston became law. Gov ernor Jelks has not yet approved the measure recircuiting the State To make sure that the Montgomery Cir cult would be changed separate bill wa passed It makes the Fifteenth Circu' consist of Montgomery Fillmore. Autaug' and Chiffon counties. The Judge is to b, appointed by the Governor and it Is un derstood that there is but one applican for the place.
 The school districts are to be reformed in accordance with the wishes of patron
 and pupils instead of geographical town ship lines.
 The State. too will aid the districts t. ! build better school houses to the exten of $200 in a district. provided the distric raises as much more for that purpose This will lead to better school houses
 The Legislature also passed bill pro | xyid raarbipArv for nYftin~ thA rnp stl