The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-18
FARMERS STILL
 IN THE MAJORITY AgricuIturaIiSts Much in EVi- dence in the Legislature SEVERAL PET MEASURES At This Stage of the Game There Seems No Chance for the Passage
 of Uniform Text Book Bill.
 Some Other Gossip.
SEVERAL PET MEASURES

Montgomery. January 17-(Speeial.)-Ir any one feared that under the new con stitution the farmers would lose their old time preponderance in the legislation, his fear was groundless. Doubtless some of the members who wear d rural look are country merchants and doctors, but q great big round majority of this house are In touch with the soil in one way or another, and they can control legislation if they wish. In the senate it is not that way But really there do not seem to be any measures these days which specially concern the farmers or about which they make any special noise. Railroad legs- lation. for instance. used to be dubbed the granger movement" but here it is back ed by the merchants almost exclusively. It is possible the demand for a reduction of the fertilizer tax will be made to ap- pear as an agricultural measure, but everybody Is now in favor of 1t so long as 1t stops short of drying up the district agricultural schools. Commissioner Poole himself will lnterpose no objection to cut ting it half in two. down to twenty-five cents.
 No Chance for Uniform Text Bill.
 At this stage of the game there does not seem to be much chance for d uniform text book bill. It all depends on the abil- ity and address of several bright young men who are proposing to champion such d measure whether 1t can overcome the avowed opposition of the state depart ment of education and of the school is, of in Inc, subject to make it warm if pushed. and at least two bills are promised on the first roll call.
 It has not yet transplred that the exec utive has any pet measure unless it be the enlargement of the capitol. His recommendation on the creation of an immigration bureau was exceedingly mild and while bills will be introduced, the question s. who Is going to get behind the matter in real earnest.
 The truth Is, the executive mind Is more concerned about the appropriations just now than any thing else. Notn'ng has developed to indicate how this legisla- ture is going to be on the subject of ap- propriations Neither was 1t indicated last session till the closing days when every thing in that line went through with whirl. It is known that the Montevalo school win have to have some $25,O00 and that the Deaf and Dumb school will ask for forty odd thousand for more buildings. and the St. Louis exposition commission will press for fifty thousand with the hope of getting twen- ty-five. The history department is going to want some as well as the Boys re- formatory.
 If things go on swmmingly in an in- dustrial way these things can all be taken care of. But the governor is a cautious mo Jn foDf wings and fly away, and tax values shrink.
 Personnel of Legislature.
 Much has been written and said about the superior personnel of the legislature that comes in with the new constitution. It cannot be candidly said that the senate shows up any stronger than usual. There have been senators with a greater num- Der of distinguished men, But then, the senate of Alabama nas always been strong, and if this one equals those that have gone before it will have done enough. As a matter of fact, the house does have stronger look. One could not pick out the individuals and say there are more eminent r en here than usual. but undoubtedly the average pro- duces no better impression on one who has looked over many such bodies from the reporters table. It is a substantial, earnest looking set of men, and the "boys" are not going to run it, IS has been the case once or twice in the not distant past
 Tn most distinguished member of the house is Judge R. W. Walker of Hunts vile, who has been on the Supreme court bench and who was one of the big law yers in the late constitutional convention. He is a large man and slow in motion. a student if ever there was one. A great deal of interest has centered around MT. Rich of Mobile. a wonderfully handsome man with a brilliant reputation, making his first appearance in the halls of legis- la ton. If MT. Rich fulfills the expectations of his colleagues he will go forth to high CT things in the future, for his presence excites confidence in his ability.
 New Men From Jefferson.
 Jefferson sends down six brand-new men, of whom the most widely known is. of course, MT. London. whose leters on reform subjects last summer made him q man of mark to many thousands who had rot known of his high place at the Bir- minPham bar RennerS. the only old