The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-16
SENATE AGREES TO EXTEND
 TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS
Senator Rogers Explains.

Senator Rogers Explains.
 Senator Rogers rose to a point of per- sonal privilege.
 Tt had pleased the young Senator from Bullock" said MT. Rogers, ito refer to the position of the Senator from Sumter on the elective Railroad Commission bill" He desired to explain his position. When the bill was passed, he did not like a number of its provisions but he saw that if amendments were tackled on at that time 1t would mean the probable defeat of the bill of which he was an earnest advocate. But he had promised several Senators that at the reconvening of the Legislature he would use every power to have these provisions amended. Senator Harrison of Lee then spoke against the Frazer amendment. His principal reason for opposition was that 1t would throw the election for Railroad Commissioners at the same time as the election for Supreme Court Judges and he wished above all thinks to keep poli- tics out of the election for these high Judicial positions. He raised the point that the amendment legislated the as- sociate members of the commission out or office.
 Powell Makes Speech. He was answered by Senator Powell of Butler who held that if the original bill | the pending bill certainly legis.ated them into office. Senator Powell said he could not understand the sudden revulsion of l feeling toward the original bill. His con- stituents had not met him with rope , and stake when he returned to Butler County from the ante-receSs session, but he had been congratulated universally by his constituents on voting for the e.ec- tive bill.
 The Senator could have found out | the reason for this reversal interrupted MT. Rogers, If he had attended to his business and remained in his seat yes- terday, when I announced that the friends of the bill would meet in caucus to discuss this bill, why wern't you at- tending to your duties?"
 T don't understand your question:" said the Senator from Butler.
 Then let me answer 1t for you" quiet ly interposed Senator Spragins of Madi- son. T attended that caucus and heard all that Senator Rogers said. I have not as yet, however, discovered any good reason for his reversal of sentiment toward the provisions of the original biil."
 The Frazer amendment was then tabled.
 Bostick's Amendment.
 Senator Bostlck of Jackson wanted the railroads represented on the commission and proposed an amendment that the president of the commission be an ap- pointive office and that the Governor appoint a railroad man to the position. This amendment was tabled.
 The bill was then passed by the follow ing vote:
 Ayes-Messrs Acree, Arlington, Black mon, Bostick, Castleberry. Goldsby, Har- rison, Hurst, Kennedy. Lancaster, Long, Lynne, Morrow, NeSmith, Norwood, Oliver, Rogers, Screws, Thomas, Woolf.- 20.
 Nays-Messrs Bullock. Frazer, Hogue, Jones, Norman, Powell, Spragins.-7.
 The morning session of the Senate was called to order at 10:30 o'clock, President pro tenn Goldsby. presiding.
 Prayer was offered by Dr. A. L. An drews of Dexter Avenue Methodist Church.
 Extending Terms of Office. After passing a number of local bills, the Senate again took up the bill pro- vidng for the extension of the terms of office of the Tax Assessor and Collectors It will be remembered that at the previ- ous afternoon session, amendments had been added providing for the extension of the terms of office of both the county treasurers and county superintendents of education.
 Senator Spragins of Madison said he saw no good reason why these officers should also be benefcaries of the exten- sion of terms. He recognized the vital importance of having the tax officials finish out their terms of office in order that their years work might not be turn ed over to new men, half completed, but he could find no logical reason, why the terms of the other officials should be extended
 On rnotio, of Senator HoIdshv the 1ota was reconsidered by which the amend ments were adopted and the amendments laid on the table.
 Senator Blackmon then moved that the bill with the amendments be recommitted. The motion prevailed.
 To Teach Agriculture.
 The Rogers bill providing that agricul- ture shall be taught in the public schools of Alabama, was called up and passed. He explained that the bill provided for the clements of agriculture to be taught from a text book in schools not in mun- cipalities of 5000 or more inha bitants. He said that the bill met with the approval of both the Department of Education and the Department of Agriculture. Senator Oliver of Chiffon wanted to know If the study of agriculture applied to girls as we'll as to boys. He received an answer in the affirmative.
 Senator Norman of Chambers said he thought that was one of the wisest pro- visions in the bill, he had long thought that the wives of farmers should know something of the clements of agriculture.
 A resolution was introduced by Sena- tor Hipp condemning the United States bankruptcy law. It was referred to the Committee on Rules
 The Senate then set down the old sol diers bill es a special order for noon today.
 The State bank bill will be a special order for this morning immediately after the reading of the journal.
 The Senate will meet this morning at