The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-12
Legislature is to Provide Method for Securing t Before
 The Next Census
SURROUNDING TOWNS ID
 VOTE ON THE QUESTION
Suggestion Made By City Attorney E. D. Smith and Is Very Pleasing to
 Representatives, Who l., Have a Lovefeast.

Montgomery, September 11.-(Special)- Greater Birmingham is to be reality. It may not come at once but the legislature is to provide a method whereby 1t can be secured before the next census The scheme is to permit each of the suburban towns and the territory surrounding Bir- mingham to vote on the question of com ing into Greater Birmingham. This de- cison was reached at meeting tonight of the Jefferson delegation with represen- tatives of the territory to be effected The suggestion came from City Attorney b. D. Smith of Birmingham, and it had the endorsement of Mayor Drennen.
 This turn of affairs seemed to have a most pleasing effect upon the representa- tives of the smaller interpretations present and the meeting broke into a regular love feast with all hands helping to boost the greater city.
 Burriss Hits Keynote.
 Mayor Burruss of Woodlawn hit the keynote when he disclosed that if left to an election his town would be ready to come in before the time for talk ing the next census, and that within a few years he would be ready and willing to work for such action. He said the smaller towns believed that for the pres ent they could best care for themselves. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mayor Starbuck of Avondale Mayor Cole of North Birmingham, City Attorney Mar tin of East Lake and c. B. Powell of West End.
 There was large delegation present for the discussion, including, in addition to Inc representatives ef the suburban towns, President F. M Jackson of the Commercial club, who was made chair man of the meeting tonight; Mayor Dren- nen, City Attorney E. Smith. Aldsr- men Gray, Forney anf Hoose. J. G. Moore, I White and R. w. Owen.
 the delegation present were: Senator Mor- row, Representatives Benners, Blackburn, Cunningham, Dubose, Haley and Hick- man. They were all agreed to the propo- sition submitted in the following reso- lution which was adopted;
 The Resolution.
 "Resolved, That the senator and repre- sentatives from Jefferson county be re- ouested to enact a law under which the incorporated and unincorporated territory surrounding Birmingham, and popular ly known as Greater Birmingham, may become a part of Birmingham after the consent of a majority of the qualified electors of the respective towns to be taken in, and of such unincorporated ter ritory as shall have been obtained at an election or elections held for the purpose of voting on the question"
 MT. Van Hoose appeared before the delegation in a brief speech advocating his water commission bill, which has heretofore been published.
 Danger of Clash.
 There is imminent danger of a clash between the houses of the Alabama legis- lature-a clash that has heretofore been predicted, but which for time failed ta materiaize It all grows out of the sen ate recess bills.
 The first blow was struck today when the house, after amending slightly the Walker municipal corporations bill, passed if by a practically unanimous vote. Yes terday the senate passed the special sem ate commute bill. It reached the house today to take Its course through the com- mttees Since the house committee has already had the senate bill before 1t, re- iecting 1t in favor of the Walker bill, 1t appears that the only course left for the two houses is a conference committee. As matter of course the senate committee is anxious to see it's work stand. and this conference fight may become too stubborn for easy settlement.
 The ease with which the Walker bill went through the house today was rather unexpected though it has long been ad- mtted that the measure was one displaying the work of a master mind in it's forma- ton.
 Two Amendments Offered.
 There were but two amendments of fered which occasioned a fight. One of these was by MT. Callahan of Morgan to strike out the provision that the munich pality should bear the costs for paving where one street intersects another or in other words, must bear the cost of paving the corners. thus relieving the corner nroperty from the heavy tax that would he assessed against it. MT. Callahan is one of the hardest fighters in the house and he spent his force in this contest to pre- vent what he conceived would become burden upon the municipalities but he lost Likewise MT. Simpson of Lauderdale lost an amendment seeking to limit license taxes.
 Another bill that may occasion friction between the two houses is the Bankhead election bill. The senate committee has amended the bill so as to eliminate the provIsion for numbered ballot and this is sure to cause a strong fight when the hill is reached as a special order tomor- row Should the senate sustain its com mittee and adopt the amendment there will. in all probability be necessity for another conference. as the house seems dead stuck on the proposition for numbered ballot.
 The house put to rest the dispensary ag- ,tation today and did it in strong terms. The Werner dispensary bill got before the 4honse for discussion In the indirect way of a motion by it's author to take the bill from the adverse calender, but after lengthy debate the house smothered the motion by the very decisive vote of 6l to % Representative Felix Blackburn of Jefferson led a game fight against the bill and much of the credit for the result Is due him.
 Senate Grows Eloquent.