The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-23
MusgrOVe, Moody and Others Hold Caucus Prior to h.
 tr0ducing Bill
CHILD LABOR QUESTION
 CAUSING SOME TURMOIL
1t Is Said Labor Union Men Were Not Invited to conference-Mrs. C. p. Orr Has a Talk With
 the Mill Men.

Montgomery. January 22-(Special)-A dispensary law for Alabama is one of the probable of the more interesting meas ures that the present legislature will have to deal with. It has been thought that since so many municipalities have es- tablished dispensaries which nave in most instances proven satisfactory and great sources of revenue that no attempt would be made to have bill passed for the en- tire state.
 But the original dispensary committee. at meeting here. have agitated the question of which is best for the state general dispensary bill or local option as to dispensaries.
 The state dispensary committee, as 1t is known, and composed of the foremost ad- vocates of the dispensary, held a quiet meeting today. and it is known that they had a very thorough discussion of the question. Among the more prominent of those present at the meeting were Frank S. Moody of Tuscaloosa and Breck Mus grove of Walker. There were dozen other members present.
 Harmonious Spirit.
 There was an entirely harmonious spirit in the meeting, one faction contendlng for general state law, while another desired what is known as local option. a vote by the qualified electors in the district ef- l fected as to whether or not there should be dispensary. 1t Is stated that MT. Murgrove led the fight for general state dispensary but that he was probably in the minority on the committee. For the present the matter was dis rensed with by referring all questions to | a subcommittee, which will hold an early meeting here and present bill to the legislature embodying their viewsss MT. Moody said today that he could not undertake to predict what action this sub committee would take. but that he felt that the report adopted would receive the harmonious support of all the dispensary 1 advocates.
 One of the principal objections to the | present plan Is the provision that a dis pensary established in any town must pay a state license equal to the licenses paid 1 by all the saloons in such town in the year 1898 For instance, if Tuscaloosa had six saloons fin the year stated and Gadsden had but one the former would have to pay six times as much to the 1 state as the latter.
 Child Labor Bill.
 The fight for the much-discussed child 1 labor bill gives promise of becoming one i of the livest questions before the present l session of the legislature. l Much rivalry as to who shall receive the credit for the bill, should 1t become T law, Is becoming manifest and it is not unlikely that this rivalry may cause the 1 defeat of the measure
 This bill has been before the legislature for the past three sessions and the or l ganized labor unions claim the credit for It's origin. A very strong sentiment in favor of this bill has been worked up among all classes, and more especially among the women. Some of the women z | clubs of Birmingham have taken much interest in the proposed bill, and during | the past few days Mrs. c. P Orr of Bir- mingham has been here to further in- terest It Is known while Mrs. Orr was here that she had repeated conferences i with some of the prominent mill operators | of the state, who have heretofore op- posed the bill. She has also been in con ference with the state committee ap- pointed to secure the passage of the bill.
 So far, so good, but 1t appears that a the various conferences held there were no reports of the labor organizations. and none were invited. Here is where the | trouble arises.
 Exposition Commission.
 The St. Louis exposition commission had a conference here today. The sub-com- mittee that visited St. Louis reported to the committee of the whole and it was determined to draft bill asking for an appropriation of $50000 to make a general state exhibit. Secretary Gibson of the l Birmingham Commercial club. who is here today, said that it had been determined that the state could not make a suit- ble exhibit for an amount less than that x.frl rr.tI4 | not be willing to accept as a compromise | any amount less. It Is understood that the governor is not l giving the committee any very great en- | couragement. but that on the other hand. | he is understood to hold that unless treasury conditions very materially strengthen he will veto a bill carrying s50,000 appropriation. The governor has | not publicly expressed himself on the proposition.
 The governor today appointed J. M. Armstrong to be sheriff of Baldwin | county
 THE SENATE.
 In the senate today Mir. Morrow intro | duced a bill to exempt presidents and cashiers of banks from jury duty. Mir Casteberry introduced general law for the establishing of dispensaries in the towns of Talladega county by pop | ular vote.
 Mir Acree reintroduced his bills for a 1 branch courthouse at Newton, in Dale county, with due notice.
 MT. Harrison introduced a bill for codi- flying the statutes as required by the con l stltution. and made some remarks show ing the necessity of doing something right away, and even suggested that | recess might be necessary to complete 1 the work, which will otherwise have to lie over for four years.
 MT. Screws introduced bill approprat- ing s10O to be used by the history depart ment in painting an oil painting of Mrs | Hopkins. to be preserved in the archives | The bill does not say what Mrs. Hopkins ! is referred to.
 | Bills were reported from committees. the most important being Mir. Halls series of bills for regulating the renewal of |
 | (ContInued on QAcond 0SnaN