The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-24
A Liberal Interpretation of Constitution. HOUSE PASSES SIX BILLS London of Jefferson to Check Local Measures. The Discussion Was Precdpitated by Third Reading of St. Clair County Bond Bill Which
 Was Passed-Ninth
 Day.
HOUSE PASSES SIX BILLS


 The sentiment of the Alabama House of Representatives to lioerally interpret the provisions of the Constitution as to local leeasbation was shown yesterday in tho conduct and result of debate on ifs powers to pass local bills. 1t was the first general debate of the session.
 The debate showed that 1t was the sense of the House to take advantage or all powers for enacting local iegisia1ion granted 1t by the new organic law or une State.
 The debate on the powers of the House as to local legislation came up during Ghe third reading of ball to aunnorize and provide for the holding ot an eiec- ton in St. Clair County for the issuance of bouds for the purpose of building public roads.
 Previous to the calling up of bills on thedr third reading Mr. London or Jet- ferson had introduced 8 resolution de- clarlnx 1t to be the sense of the House that no local bill should be passed, when che obfect desired might be attained by 6 general measure.
 Goodwyn's Point of Order.
 During the reading of the St. Clair County bill MT. Goodwin of Montgom- cry made the point Of order onat the LegislaHlire could not consider & oil pro vidinR for an issuance of bonds unless the oualified electors of the municipality or county had voted upon the bond issue sTlhe provision in the Constitution aliuoed to was read by Mir. Goodwin. lie saao that in his opdnion 1t clearly brohp4teo the Legislature from granting county the right to issue bonds before the voters of tbe county had expressed their choice sn the matter in an election regularly R.ntA Tar 4ha nlrunsa
 Mir. London said that the House snoud not devote so much of its time TO ioea4 leRlslation. This, he said, had been tne great evil of other legislatures.
 Look at this,t' said Mir. Londors hold ing LID a thick book containing the local laws passed by the last General Assem- bly, This book has more than SVO pages It Is filled from beginning to end with nothing but local laws passed by the last General Assembly. In many counties or tha State there is nothing but crazy quilt, a patchwork of local Legislation mat defaes any lawyer to untangle or un- revel them
 .'T. should be the policy of this legis- Antltre" added MT. London, to prevent the enactment of such mass or local legislation. Such a policy was the object aimed at in my resolution introduced awhile ago.
 Mr. Bogart of Jackson, said that III ms opinion the bill was in controversy Wltn Hhe provision of the constitution as to locai legislation. The Constitution, he said. sought to forbid local legislation, but the House appeared to be going rlght along with local laws
 Tuscaloosa Foster Defends Bill.
 MT. Foster of Tuscaloosa said that the hill under discussion in no way was nbnoxtous to the Constitution. The Con .ttt1ution provided, he said, that bonds could not be issued until there had been an election by the qualified voters or eOne county or municipality affected. The ldll he said, provided that such an siec- tion should be held. It expressly stated, he said. that an election should be held before the bonds were to be issued Mir. Goodwin admitted that he was un~ der a slight misapprehension as to the contents of the bill when he raised the noint of order, as he had rot caught the naraRraph providing for the election. He was of the opinion, however, that the alAction should be held before the Legis- lature passed the bill allowing the issue of bonds.
 MT. Bankhead of Walker took the posi- tion that the Constitution placed no re- atriction on the Legislature as to the method of holding the election, provided the qualified electors of the county had an opportunity of registering their will on inc bond issue in an election regularly held for that purpose There was. he said no restriction on the right of the Legislature to submit the matter to a vcte of the people.
 He read the provision fin the Constitu- ton which was in dispute, and explained his contention fully.
 Mir. DuBose Of Jefferson gave his opin- ion that the objection to the bill could not be sustained.
 The debate closed without further par liamentary tangle, and the bill was pass ed by practically a unanimous vote
 Twelve New Bills.
 Twelve bills were introduced during yesterdays session, which lasted from Il a. m. to p m.
 Among the bills introduced was one by Mir. Poole of Clarke, by request, for the establishment of a dlspensary at Thom- asville. A lively fight, 1t Is understood, will be waged for and against this bill.
 A bill introduced by Mfr. Strother of TalIapoosa. defines the reasons for which iuries engaged in the trial of criminal cases may be dismissed.
 A bill introduced by MT. Ballard of TaIlapoosa, provides a plan whereby the State Auditor and the County Commis- sioners may refund taxes enormously as- sessed and collected on real estate.
 Six bills were passed at yesterdays session. of which four were local meas ures.
 The House met at il o'clock with Speaker Tunstall presiding.
 The session began with prayer by Rev. 4. l.. Andrews of the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church.
 Leaves of absence were granted to Messrs Young of Dallas, Hall of Mont gomery, Hardie of Perry. Reynolds of Chiffon and Blackburn of Jefferson.
 aushton Wanted to Know.
 MT. Rushton of Crenshaw arose to a point of order. An important bill, he said, had been passed yesterday by the House, and, as he understood it, without a full reading. He asked if that could be legally done under the new Constitution. It was explained by tine Speaker taaE