The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-01
FRIENDS OF THE BILL
 HAVE BUT BARE MAJORITY
Benners of Jefferson and Callahan of Morgan Are Fighting Vigorously and Express the Belief That
 They Will Get It Through.
BY E. 2. KERsH. 2


 the fate of that measure Is still a mat ter of doubt in the house. The opponents of the bill are very determined and 1t really seems that they are prepared to prevent final vote on the measure The opposition embraces within its number some of the best parliamentarians in the house as well as some of the ablest and longest winded takers, and from the tactics adopted today 1t appears that they are easily able to consume all of the ime of the one remaining day. The friends of the bill have had but bare majority today, defeating the Glover mo- tion made on yesterday to change the endorsement on the bill by only four ma jority.
 In Good Hands.
 The bill is in able hands, the fight for it being conducted by Mir Callahan of Morgan and MT. Benners of Jefferson. They are fighting earnestly and express firm belief that the bill will finally pass. It appeared at one time that the two fac- tions would get together, some of the op- ponents agreeing to modified bill at the midday recess, but before this modi- fled bill was offered as a substitute MT. lSuSk got III d SuDSliluIS anu thCh shc fight was as to which of the substitutes would be accepted.
 The opponents of the original bill lined up solidly for the Lusk measure, which Is not so stringent as the other. Pending disposition of this question, adjournment was taken. Saturday the bill will again be taken up, the friends of the bankig bill standing firm for their measure.
 No Greater Birmingham.
 There is to be no Greater Birming- ham for the next four years. Senator Morrow made this emphatic statement tonight and since the senate will not at tempt to interfere with the matter be- yond the wishes of Senator Morrow, his word on the subject is equal to law. This announcement probably carries with it much disappointment in some direc- tions, but there are many friends of the greater city who have doubted the wis dom of passing the bill which went through the house.
 Roth houses have adjourned for Thurs day and Friday in order to permit the clerks to bring up the records prepara- tory for final adjournment on Saturday.
 The Senate.
 An attempt was made by Senator Powell of Butler this morning to recon slider the vote by which the motion to reconsider the vote by which the Bir- mil gham court bill was yesterday laid on the table.
 The senate, however. refused to rescind it's action by a vote of 3 ayes to 22 nays. Twenty-three bills were passed by the senate at it's morning session, among them being the bill appropriating S5OOO annually for four years to build additional build ings at the Alabama Polytechnic In- stitute. The bill requiring convicts to De sent to their hone counties when their sentences expire was also passed. At the afternoon session the general road bill was passed providing a road law for every county not provided Wltn a local measure
 The senate rescinded from the position nf the conference committee on the gen eral election bill in reference to having the solicitors appointed in counties of over sO0OO inhabitants not having local laws to the contrary.
 Niqhs Session of Senate. The senate was in session until 1:30 o'clock this (Thursday) morning in vain attempt to get the Lusk redistrict- ing bill through The session had its sensational features, not the slightest Of which was the refusal of several senators to vote after being ordered to do so by The senate. Yesterday the senate, after loading the bill with enough amendments to kill 1t, laid 1t upon the table but to- night the friends of the measure found an opportunity to take 1t from the table. There was but little more than a quorum nresent but included in those present were practically all of the friends of the hill Under the leadership of Senator Spragins the senate was reconsidering the amendments formerly tackled on the bill with the purpose of getting it back into the shape which it came from the house. The opponents of the bill were resorting to every conceivable subsidiary motion to prevent action. Finally quorum was broken but the doorkeeper arrested sev- eral members and they were brought back and kept in state of peonage.
 The Day Had Passed. Dilatory tactics continued until F o'clock, when really serious question was sprung by the minority. They made the point that since the day was ended the senate stood adjourned and that to go into another day would be construed as a legislative day. Today being the ffty-ninth day of the session. to re- main in session after 12 o'clock would carry the senate into the sixtieth and last day of the session, thus rendering any ac- ton that might be taken on Saturday, fixed by joint resolution as the final day of the session, null and void. There was division of opinion on this question, but the chair ruled against the point. Then members who had made the point de- clined to vote for the reason that they did not want to interfere with the im- portant work of Saturday.
 Senators aefuscd to Vote.
 The senate orIDIed them to vote but each declined to we except Senator Morrow. They spread N,l the journal their req sons for declining to vote. These sena tors were Frazer of Bullock, Powell of Butler. Hipp of Cullman and Thomas of Barbour After an hour of further wran- gle without result an adjournment was had and the bill goes to have first consid- eration Saturday. The house passed the Hipp senate bill