The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-13
HOUSE HAD
 TWO SESSIONS Several General Bills
 Were Passed. MEETS AGAIN MONDAY Measure Restricting Money Lenders Caused Debate. Conference to Be Held of Friends of Pension Legislation - But
 Fourteen Days Remain
 to Lawmakers.

The House of Representatives yester- day passed the day in the monotonous dis cussion and passage of bills general in nature but not general in interest. An afternoon session was held, an unusual thing for Saturday.
 The members kept consistently at work through the heated morning and after noon and notwithstanding the dullness Of the proceedings a quorum was always on hand to do business.
 Regulating Money Lenders.
 The final adournment of the day was taken while the House had under consid- eration perhaps the most important meas ure of the day, the bill regulating the lending of money. This bill came up at the flag end of the days work. Ihere was a sharp division on it and when 1t was upon its final passage the House recon sdered its manifest purpose to adopt the bill and held 1t up for future consldera- ton.
 The intent of the bill Is to restrain the so-called money sharps' who prey upon the ignorant in some of the larger cities of Alabama, but some of the House mem bers were a little afraid of the measure. Apprehension was felt that the bill might go too far and interfere with men who conducted a legitimate business. This fear alone prevented the passage or the bill. It may yet pass when the House takes 1t up tomorrow as unfinished busl- ness.
 MT. Hoffman of Mobile stood sponsor for the measure. He contended that Ii the House knew of the great evil the bill sought to curb it would have no hesltancy tn passing 1t.
 loaned small amounts to poor people, talk inc their household goods as security. h. stances had been known in Mobile, he said. where these money lenders had col lected eight and ten times the amount or the original loan. The bill, MT. Hoffman said threw such restrictions around the lending of small sums that the usurlous practices which disgraced the business or money leno ng would be stopped.
 MT. Starr of Dallas and MT. Blackburn of Jefferson endorsed the measure. They had in their personal observations seen the great need of the reform provided for in the bill.
 Sarcasm of Foster.
 MT. Foster of Tuscaloosa suggested that the bill should be entitled 'An act for the protection of idiots and insane persons. To legislate against improvidence. he de- clared was an impossibility. The bill, he said. would repeal existing usury laws If was he said entirely too far-reacning fin its effects. His colleague, MT. Werner sustained him in his contention.
 If the Texas boil weevil gains foot hold In the Alabama cotton fields, IL VIII not be for lack of vigilance on the part nf the States legislators. A Dill 1orol~- ding the importation of seed infected by the boil weevil has been hurried through the House It was introduced in the early days of the September session by MT Crum of Lowndes. It was not allowed tc sleep in committed, and yesterday the House disposed of it with it's passage by a unanimous vote.
 To Mark Burial Grounds.
 A peculiar interest attaches to the bill of MT, DuBose providing for the marking and protection of country burial places The plantations of Alabama are dotted with old family burying grounds. marked only bv a growth of underbrush or a cIump of trees. The descendants of those who sleep in the old cemeteries have nov ed away Oftentimes the utilitarian spirit of the times has gone to the extent o1 desecrating these snaasf spots and the blow has obliterated every trace of the 1nound that covered the ancient dead.
 The DuBose bill provides that upon the receipt of $2O to cover the necessary eX nenses with a proper petition, the judge of probate shall appoint Q commission t' mark out the bounds of the old buria places and make them known by post: or other means.
 The House will soon be engaged III ll' considerable of legislation looking to tho increase of the pension funds for the Con 6ederate soldier In view of the discovery fin the Senate that the Walden bill wal unconstitutional because the words 70 Alabama" were omitted from the enact ing clause pension legislation has assum ed a new phase.
 MT Starr of Dallas, presented bill t the House yesterday increasing the pen sion fund by $50,0O0 Conferences will b. held by those who favor a 10000 addition and those who stand for a S5O,OOO increase The object of the conference will be to se if an agreement can be reached for tn passage of the $5O.O00 increase.
 With only fourteen working days re maining, it is not thought that any bill which will have to encounter serious ob dections. stands much chance of pas sage.