The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-28
President Pro ttm to
 Name Committee. WARM. woRDY BATTLE
GOldsby Faction Emerged
 Exultant in Victory.
Cunningham Says Rules Adopted by Upper House Were Drawn with His Approval, But His
 Friends Declare They
 are Dangerous.

The storm that had for days been threatening broke in the Senate yester- day. Perhaps the clements conspired. for the sky was overhuIg and peais of thun- der and flashes of lightning gave evil dence of disturbance in the upper air.
 At any rate the issue came-that of fixing the status of the President pro tenn. as to power in the upper House was fought to a finish, and the situation in the Senate cleared. The end was complete victory for the Goldsby fac tion--for now it is clear that the Senate is split-and the element led by the Sen" ator from Mobile is inclined to exult.
 The adoption of an amendment to the Senate rules giving the President pro teIn authority to name not only the members of the standing committees. but of the special and joint committees as well, a procedure which is held by a number of Senators as something absolutely without precedent was the issue that divided the Sepate, and the battle was a warm one thfoughout.
 1t is notable In this connection that the fight for conservatism and deliberate ac- ton was led by men of years, while the alleged revolutionary party. which won, is made up largely of young men, The minority includes such men as Senators Harrison. Johnston. Screws. Hogue and others, making 1t clear that this party, though defeated in yesterdays action. Is not put out of the way, and is yet a factor to be reckoned with in legislation to come.
 Rules as Adopted.
 The Senate rules as amended and adopt. ed, relieve the presiding. officer of the Senate, Lieutenant Governor Cunning ham. of every legislative functiosi nfsk= ing him, so 1t Is said. merely mechan- 4s.of z~k,Ifk i. &t- President pro tern., Senator Goldsby, en-, tire authority in all committee assign ments, from the least to the most in- portant. giving him, as one Senator said, Czar-like status in the upper House. This, 1t Is held by some, is an outright violation of the spirit of the new Con sttution. which decrees that the Lieu tenant Governor is ex-officio President of the Senate and the President pro tenn. its head only in the absence of the Lieu tenant Governor Yesterdays action, it is claimed makes the President pro tenn. director or dictator of the Senate, elim- mating the Lieutenant Governor from the situation altogether.
 The Senate was called to order at the usual hour with nearly a full house pres ent Six new bills were introduced, three hy Senator Oliver of Chiffon in the in- terests of the Girls Industrial School: one Dy SeHdlUT ATTllSIOH OI COnee, 10 amend Section 3602 of the Code of Ala bama; one by Senator Screws of Mont gomery. to extend the corporate limits of the city of Montgomery. and one by Senator Castleberry of Talladega to pro- vide for the establishment of dispensa- Ties in Talladega County.
 The Judiciary, Revision of Laws, Milf tary and Temperance Committees report ed favorably on fourteen bills. which were
 Al. mttee submitted it's approval of the amendment to the Senate rules proposed by Senator Blackmon of Calhoun, which precipitated the first considerable debate of the session.
 The Blaekman Amendment.
 The amended rule In question provides that the President pro tenn. of the Sen ate shall appoint the members of the standing committees and the special com Tnittees as well.
 On the motion to adopt the amendment to the rule Senator Powell of Butler, asked that consideration of the amend ment be postponed for the present pend ing further investigation. while Senators Goldsby of Mobile and Morrow of Jeff ferson, pressed for immediate action.
 Senator Blackmon of Calhoun, moved to table Senator PowelFs motion and this carried.
 Senator Powell again took the floor, protesting against what he characterized as a revolutionary measure. He held that the constitutional provisions were violat- ed in granting to the President pro tenn. the power accorded in the amended rule, and that the action contemplated was unprecedented and dangerous in the ex- trems.
 Senator Lynne of Morgan. responded briefly for the cause of the majority holding that the act was entirely in ac- cord with the Constitution; that the Con- atitution expressly vested in the Presi- dent pro tenn. the authority in question
 If that be so,' interposed Senator Bos- tick, of Jackson, then why vote 1t to him now? If 1t is the intent of the or ganic law of the State to strip the Lieu tenant Governor of the function of pre- Siding officer and confer the authority proposed upon the President pro tenn then there Is now no occasion for vote or debate"
 Distorting Constitution.
 Senator Bostick maintained that the action proposed was unwarranted and that the terms of the. Constitution were being distored.
 Senator Bullock of Franklin, in answer to a statement by Senator Powell. that with the proposed rule in force, in the ab- sence of the President pro tenn. for any cause, legislation of importance might he delayed or defeated. expressed the opin- ion that in such emergencies the Senate could find way out of the difficulty.
 Senator Rodgers of Sumter moved tn amend the rule so that the work of the Senate might not in any case be ham pered. He replied tartiy to the state ment previously made that there are no factions in the Senate. though he held that the present case was not one of fac tsonal differences.
 Senator Morrow of Jefferson, declared that in conferring upon the President pro tenn. the power proposed the work of the Senate could in no way be impeded.
 Capakor Ho0,Ia oF parrxy ,,rotasfod d.