The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-06
LAWS FORMED ID AGREE
 WITH NEW CONSTITUTION
Sessions Brought Out Some New TaI- ent and When Work Was Ended Strange Stars Adorned
 Political Firmament.
BY E. E. KERSH.

Gs Es NEh0Fts Montgomery October 5.-(special.)-No withstanding that it Is liable to be placed upon the unfair list" the session of the legislature just adjourned continues to re- ceive the very high compliment of &C., complaining more for the advancement of the state than any that has been held within the last quarter century.
 A comprehensive review of the good laws enacted would require many columns of space, but 1t can be briefly summed up with the statement that almost everything was done that was necessary for the prop CT enforcement of the new constitution. 1 Barring the municipal code, which died
 in committee of conference, there was not a really important or necessary bill | left on the calendar of either house. Much hard work has been necessary to attain this result with the constitutional limit of sixty working days, but the peo- pie had sent as their representatives men who were equal to the task and willing. Those who have kept up with legislative affairs do not recall when so many mem- bers of exceptional ability have set to- l True, there were really no very great set speeches made on the | floor of either house, but so much more to the credit to the ability and judgment of the members who were capable of speeches that could have added to their fame as statesmen. In running debate the ability of the membership was frequently revealed, and may it not be asserted, af- far all hot ic xxbO chooses and accomplishes that which Is | expected of him, rather than to spend the time in an effort to make fame for him self to be used to further his ambition to rise to a higher place in the govern ment of the country.
 Men of Great Ability.
 Those who have from day to day watch | ed the sessions will not question the abil- l ity of such men as Walker, Simpson, Lusk, Foster, Benners Bankhead, Tun- stall, Rich, Callahan Blackburn, Davis, Arnold, in the lower house, and Morrow, Craig, Godsby, Thomas, Harrison, Fra ser Rogers. Spraggins, in the upper house, to battle against the foremost men in the state. Besides this list does not include all the able members by one fourth
 The constitution of 1901 imposed many great duties upon the first legislature fol- lowing it's adjournment first among them the proper restrictions for a perfectly fair and honest count of the votes cast at future elections. It is believed that the Bankhead bill provides this, both in the primary and the general election. Following these bills reference may be made to many others, such as the broad and liberal corporation laws, text book uniformity, banking regulations the speedy administration of justice in fla o1, enlarged powers for the state railroad commission, better protection for the old soldiers of the state authority for the better handling of convicts, comprehen- sive health laws, the restriction of child labor, the prevention of boycotts and en- largement of the supreme court.
 Of course all these laws may not prove wise and perfect, and covering the wide scope of important subjects it is certain that all of them cannot be satisfactory to all the people,
 Local Bills Kept Down.
 The restriction of local bills kept down the list of bills introduced and passed, but the lists are still large. In the lower house 1056 bills were introduced, but 174 of these that met favor in committee were left upon the calendar About one- third of them were either adversed or pigeon -holed. In the senate, 567 bills were lntrOuuceu BOln houses passed Ol5 bills, but 11s of these still remain in the executive office unsigned. The governor has ten days in which to consider these measures, and practically all of them will become laws. One important bill hangs upon a very weak thread-the Lusk bill re-arranging and increasing the judicial circuits of the state. It will probably be vetoed.
 One Bill Died.
 It was discovered today that one bill, which passed both houses by good ma jority votes, did not reach the governor. This Is not the fault of the clerks, how ever. The Hipp bill, appropriating s50- 900 annually for four years to assist in the building of school houses, was passed by the house in the rush of the last hours Representative Goldsmith of Lowndes moved to reconsider, and the motion was temporarily laid aside. It was the purpose of the Lowndes mem- Der to offer an amendment so as to make the aid available for the real country dis tricts, but in the rush that followed he did not again see fit to have his motion to reconsider considered, so the bill was thus killed.
 Governor Jelks is at his home in Fu- faua, and consequently no bills were ap- proved today. He will return tomorrow morning. Very few of the members re- mained in the city today A half dozen or so called at the different departments during the day. closing up some matters left