The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-08
Suggestions Continue to Pour in as to Best Method of
 Finishing Work
WIVES OF MEMBERS ARE
 OPPOSED 10 TIE RECESS
Mir. London Thinks Incompetent Com mittee Clerks Are Largely to Blame for Delay--Senator Rogers
 Makes Filthy Remarks.

Montgomery, February 7.-(Special)- The question of recess or no recess is still paramount with the Alabama legis- lature and the no recess idea seems to grow in favor. The recess proposition had its origin in the additional proposition to have the present legislature preside for and adopt a new code. No expert seems willing to indicate less time than two years for the preparation of a code, so the code adoption is no longer to be con- sdered But the death of the code idea has resulted in the birth of another idea, or sentiment, that the present session cannot properly handle all of the inn portant questions to come before them without a recess. The orlginators of this thought point out that with the con sumption of twenty-one of the sixty working days that practically nothing in the way of important legislation has been accomplished and it may be stated as a fact that the Bankhead election bill is the only one of the most important and im- perative bills that has yet reached the house calendar. Many bills of more or less importance are on the calendar, but the revenue bill, the municipal co-opera- tion bil the primary election law bill the dispensary bill. the railroad commission bill, the text book bill and several bills bearing upon the question of local legisla-
 ton are stilll with the various commit- tees. wt London Blames Committee. Mir. London of Jefferson was very frank today In an interview with representa- tive of The Age 4erald to place the blame with the inoompetency of committee clerks He asserted as a fact that only two committees had employed clerks competent stenographers. Within the next few days these committee clerks who have not, in the opinion of MT. London, properly attended to their work, will hear in open session something more than a mild rebuke.
 But returning to the question of recess, 1t appears that many members are being pettloned for a continuous session from a source that is hard to overcome. As an illustration: In the house chamber today three south Alabama members who sat together received by the same mail let ters from their wives at home.
 'I see you have a letter from home" remarked one to another.
 ''Yes, and my wife writes that if I vote for this recess that I need not expect to receive very cordial welcome home" the member replied
 1t developed that the wives of each of the members had instructed their hus-
 bands to vote for a continuous session
 adding that they desired them to remain
 here until the close, and that they should
 never again return One of the members
 joculary remarked that ne thought the best safeguard against his coming to a future session was merely to cast his vote for recess.
 Senator Rogers Talks.
 Senator John Rogers of Sumter, who is the author of the provision in the con- stitution for quadrennial sessions of the
 legislature. is very pronounced in his views in opposition to a recess. He says
 that recess would be a direct violation | of the spirit of the const.eution. Discuss l ing the proposition, Senator Rogers said: "I am opposed to the recess first, be- i cause 1t would destroy that action of the
 constitution which provides for quadren-
 nial sessions of the legislature.
 l Second, the framers of the constitu
 tion, having in mind the extra work of
 the present session. granted sixty days
 in which to accomplish 1t, and after that | all sessions are to be confined or limited | to fifty days. Whenever the legislature | is in session the great business interests | of the state holds it's breath in the fear
 that some bills might be enacted Into
 laws which would prove injurious to that l interest. By the term business man l l do not mean a member of some corpora | tion, a merchant lawyer or farmer, but 1 every man. who by honest labor. is en- I deavoring to procure a competency for 1 himself and family. An adjournment at l this time is a virtual admission on the | part of the legislature of its incompe- | tency, and this Is accentuated by the | propositions first of a committee or two l senators and three representatives, sec ond. five senators and ten representa- i lives. and third. that the governor shall l appoint a committee of lawyers to draft | legislation to be submitted to the legis-
 lature for approval or rejection,
 Have Some Members shlrked? | "Wbat are the great needs of the hour | or the profound subjects or such uep.h | that the legislature Is not able to grap- 1 pIe with and solve? When the constitu- l ents of the legislators elected their repre- | sentatives they expected that the vote | of every member should be equal to mat | of every other member not perhaps. that | his influence should be co-equaf of that | of every other member, this being mat | of personality and ability but no ldea I ever entered the minds of any constitu- I ency even of the humblest and lowest Tn | the state that it's accredited representa- l lives in the legislative halls would shirk either willingly or by acquiesence any re- | sponsbility however grave upon the 1 shoulders of others.
 It is understood that the house commit tee on commerce and common carriers | has agreed upon an adverse report on the Starr bill providing for an elective rail- road commission. and practically enact- I ing the Texas law. The bill will probably be reported to the house next Tuesday. THE SENATE.