The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-17
v ~ &Xx\N O4AA
 ON CALENDAR House ReverSeS Judgment
 Of Committee. IT WILL COME UP TODAY It Makes Railroad Commission
 Elective by People. Is Pending Question in Committee of Whole-Mr. Hoffman Has
 Amendment Providing for
 Nine Commissioners.

At the morning session of the House of Representatives yesterday the Starr bill. making the members oft he Alaba- ma Railroad Commission elective by the people was by unanimous vote called from the adverse calendar of the House and referred to the Committee. of the Whole.
 Whatver opposition there is to an elect i've Railroad Commission 1t took refuge in silence and not voice was raised In pro- test against it's removal from the adverse calendar.
 The action of the House established precedent. The Starr bill is the only measure which has so far been taken from the adverse calendar. That the bill will pass the House with votes to spare is conceded.
 The opposition to the measure will make it's last stand in the Senate. All opposition will be centered In blocking the measure either before the Senate Committee or before the Senate itself.
 Committee Stood Alone.
 The Committee on Commerce and Com- mon Carriers of the House appeared 10 be the only fraction of the lower law making body which was opposed to an elective Railroad Commission. The com mittee had two bills before it, one by MT Starr of Dallas and one by MT. London Of Jefferson. Thte Starr Dill not only made the Commission elective but 1t gave 1t widely increased power. The committee went on record as against this bill in gtv- ing 1t an adverse report The London bill provided simply for an elective Rail- road Commission, the friends of this measure proposing to give the Commis- sioners more power in separate bills. The London bill was not well liked by the Committee on Commerce and Common Carriers and the committee put it before the House without recommendation.
 So far as the House is concerned the elective Railroad Commission bill has easy sailing. Its consideration was not completed yesterday and it will come up again this morning.
 The House met yesterday at noon in or der to give the out of town members who had spent Sunday with their families and who came in on the morning trains an opportunity of participating in the session.
 The session was begun with prayer by Dr. Johnson, a member of the House from Russell.
 The roll call showed the presence of 73 members, a good attendance considering the fact that fierce rain storm was rag ing outside the Capitol.
 The motion of MT. Starr made several days ago to take his elective Railroad Commission bill from the adverse calen- dar and refer 1t to the Committee of the Whole had been made the special order for yesterday as soon as the call of the roll had been completed. The motion was read by the Clerk and was adopted unanimously. the House immediately go- ing into the Committee of the Whole to consider the bill.
 As the reading began MT. Hoffman of Mobile offered an amendment making the Alabama Railroad Commission to consist of nine members, one to be elected from each Congressional district in the State The point of order was made that the amendment was not in order at that time. desk to be taken up when the proper time arrives.
 The bill Is quite lengthy one. Reading Clerk W. w Brandon was nearly an hour reading the measure to the House. The reading was without Interruption and was completed at three minutes to l o'clock At the suggestion of MT Starr the bill was to be read by sections in order that | amendments might be offered but Colonel Brandon had read only the first section when the hour of 1 o'clock struck and the committee rose to report progress to the House.
 The House adjourned to meet at 2:SO | p. m.
 An echo of the Starr bill was heard at | the afternoon session when MT Hoffman of Mobile endeavored to provide for the printing of 200 copies of the bill for the