The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-07
CALAMITY PROPHETS LOSE
Fate of Goodwin Bill to Be
 Settled Today.
Lusk of Marshall and Strother of Tallapoosa Led Forlorn Hope for Amendment Providing
 $25, 900 - Verner's
 Bond Bill Passed.

The Alabama House of Representatives yesterday went on record as opposed to a paltry appropriation for extension and improvement of the State Capitol and 1t gave unmistakable evidence of its inten- ton to make liberal provisions for the home of the State government. The re- suit of an hours debate and one vote greatly encouraged the friends of the Goodwin bill and they now feel that so far as the House Is concerned an ade- quate appropriation will be made for Cap itol extension.
 The opponents of the Goodwin bill shot their bolt yesterday. They were permit ted to begin the fight and pitch 1t accord ing to their own notion. They took the position that the State was only able to make an appropriation of $26,0oo which was to be used in renovating the Capi- tol. It was on this proposition they went down in decisive defeat.
 The calamity prophets and the treasury watchdogs were given the center of the stage, but the outcome of the House proceedings was not to their liking. The $25,0O0 proposition was showed under and the House manifested enthusiastically it's lnteutlOn OI otdiiUE SoAtCIOuSty WAth eho crying need of the State. The minority, )n its inning yesterday. made but an in- different showing.
 The House adjourned with the bill pend- Ing and it will be considered again today.
 Goodwyn Defended Bill.
 On the floor of the House the bill was defended in an able and eloquent manner. by it's author, Hon. R. T. Goodwin of Montsomery. The sentiment of the House was shown by the liberal applause which greeted his periods no less than by the decisive vote which killed the S6.oo( amendment. proposed byt Mr. Lusk oi Marshall. ssA
 The calamity spectre was invoked D, MT. Lusix and by MT. strotaer of @Tsiia' poosa. They drew & pathetic picture oi the poverty of the people of their sec ton of the State and the Ills and rnisfor' tunes that would come to them if the tax rate was increased. The predicted finan- cial disaster to the State. a deficit in the Treasury, with all that 1t entaiied, but the House was unmcved.
 The bill came up yesterday at noon as the special order. The original bill was reported back to the House. accompanied by a substitute reported by a majority of the committee and a minority report submitted by Messrs. Strother and Bal lard, the two Tallapoosa Representatives members of the Committee on Capitol and Grounds.
 The original bill carried an appropria- ton of $25O, O,0o0 which 1t provided should be available in the coming two years up on action by the Capitol Building Com mission composed of the Governor. tha Attorney General. the Auditor and the Trea surer and the Director of the Depart ment of Archives and History. The sub stitute reported by the committee chang ed the bill only so that the appropriation was to be extended over period of three years.
 Minority for $25,000.
 The minority report of Messrs. Strcth- e- and Ballard was for an appropriation of S25. .O0O which was to be used exclusive lv by the Governor in the renovation oi the Capitol and with which the Building Commission would have nothing to do as the minority proposed to abolish the com mission.
 When the bill was called up MT. Good x,yn said that he felt safe in saying that if was the sentiment of the House thai some provision should be made for Cap itoi extension, and he was sure that tho or,v difference which existed was as te inc amount of the appropriation. The IIn,,se being united in support of the bill .antatnine the provision as to the dis nosal of whatever appropriation tha sbould be granted, he moved that the minority report be tabled. He withdrew his motion, however. in order that tho proposition of the minority might be dls cussed.
 not only objectionable to him because ol the amount that 1t carried, but he woule noint out to the House other ohjectfoablt features of the measure which had peer overlooked by the committee, Tne pli nroposed, Mir Strother said, to create Building Commission, to appropriate Szoo 600 and t proposed to confer authoritS unon the Commission to institute con demnatory proceedings as to property which adioined the Capitol.
 Strother Sees Trouble Ahead --
 '"The bill," said Mir. Strother, appear to me to be in conflict with the stat Constitution which provides that bill shall have only one subject patter whil this bill contains three different matter which should be covered by separat bills"
 He said that the State treasury wa not in condition to stand such an appro priation and that. while he would like t see Alabama have a Capitol building sec ond to none in the United States, If tn State was not able to have 1t the Legis iature should be content with sonethin else. He read extracts from the Cover nor's message and discussed at som length the impending financial trouble of the State which he foresaw.
 At the conclusion of MT. Strother's re marks Mir Starr of Dallas made tn poiut that MT. Strother had read oni extracts from the message of the Cover nor as suited his argument. Mir Star took up the reading of the message wher Mir Strother left off and read what tn message had to say of the satisfactor financial condition of the State an which congratulated the Legislature tha in spite of the unprecedented exposes c the past two years the treasury was in better condition than 1t was two year ago.
 Mir. Goodwyn renewed his motion t table the report of the minority and tn House killed 1t by vote of B to "A,
 Lusk for Retrenchment.
 T.,,alx aR aauauOced tfa