The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-04
Walden Bill Returned to House
 With Amendment. .I
After Extended Debate Extra Amount for old Soldiers is Cut Trpm sloo, 900 to s5o,ooo
 by Dividing Vote.

 practical debate, sustained in the House yesterday by the adoption of his amend ment to the bill making the addition. :. I60, 900 instead of $10o.00o.
 The debate had a pathetic and touching close. In explaining his vote to pass the bill with the original $100, 900. Hon. W. A. Handley of Randolph delivered an affecting address. at the close of which the tears strearned down his face and the eyes of many of his hearers, not only soldiers. but young men were wet.
 MT. Handley's Declaration.
 T appreciate the motives of Governor Jelks," said MT. Handley. 'T appreciate the reasons he gives in his veto message I do not believe he is capable of doing any wrone to any class of citizens of Alabama. I admire his course as Gov ernor; I love the name, but I will never vote against my old comrades as long as 1 live. I shall stand for them and with them as long as one of them is on earth.
 MT. Handley's speech was made in ex- planation of his vote upon the bill and after the debate had ended. In begin ming he said that he had been for four years Confederate soldier and that his father who at that time was over 60 years of age was captain of a company OI had held commissions in the Confederate army. His entire family. he said. had been in the war and they had suffered in the war and had suffered persecution in the dark days that had followed the war in Randolph County.
 The Governors veto message, which precipitated the debate was sent in at the morning session.
 The Governors Message.
 It was as follows:
 Montgomery, Ala, Sept 8, 1903. 'oro the Gentlemen of the House of Tsep-
 resentatives:
 q return to you H. B. sss, calling for an additional appropriation of $100,000 for old Confederate soldiers. I return this bill without my approval. and with regret It does not appear to me now that this amount of money is likely to be available and that its disbursement though four years would in all probability greatly and disastriously disturb the States finances. No intermediate legislature will proba- bly, convene and 1t becomes, therefore, necessary to be cautious less the States warrants, as happened before. in the long intervals between your sessions De at a discount in the open markets. "I have discussed this matter with the Auditor and the Treasurer and they en- certain views similar to those expressed; that 1t would be exceedingly hazardous to make so large additional appropriation for any cause however sacred. .I have very greatly desired to approve this bill, but my sense of duty will not permit me to do so. have concluded l however, in respect to your wishes to offer an amendment providing for an an nual appropriation, additional to the present one min. of s5o.00o. assuring you that if it appeared to me that the treasu' | " could bear the larger sum of money | asked 1t would afford me very great | pleasure to meet your wishes In theii entirety, Most respectfully, | ''W. D. Jelks, Governor" | MT, Walden of Morgan, the author | the bill and it's sponsor, moved the pas | sage of the bill, the message of the Gov ernor notwithstanding. He had hoped | he said, after three years trial, to hay secured the passage of the bill He wa Ioath to antagonixe the Governor, but hi obligations to his old comrades compelle him to use his efforts for the passag | of the bill. The Legislature, he declar | cd. had drawn a draft upon the patriot | ism of the Governor, and the draft ha not been honored. The Governor want ed, he said, to make as big a treasur showing as he possibly could to tn credit of his administration, and tha I l sare. The Governor, he said, had ar proved the increased salary bills of tn winter session, with other appropriation and then had turned down this bill. MT. Kelly Speaks. Representative Kelly of Choctaw, a | Iex-Coufederate, said the Governor ha made a good Governor.
 T voted for him." said MT Kelly, "an I would vote for him now. don't crit cize the Governor. He has the right | act on his judgment. but stand for th | bill and am going to vote for 1t. | Mir Arnold, of Calhoun. said that | felt impelled to reply to the intemperat utterances of the gentleman from Mol gan CMr. walden). He thought that M | walden's attrihuting motives to tn Governor not in keeping with his hlg
 office of the chief executive, was unfa! and unjust Mir Arnold pointed out ths the bill did not decrease the old soldier appropriation, but on the contrary, II creased the pension fund. MT. Arnol declared that the amendment was sati' factory and that he upheld the Govel nor's action.
 MT. .Killen of Lauderdale supported M walden's motion. He was Confederat
 soldier, he said. and had four brother in the Confederate army.
 '"The pittance the old soldiers get"
 said, "is mighty small. You passed tn
 bill? Why did you do it? If the bill wa
 a good one when it passed by a unan
 nous vote. why is it not good now?
 call upon you all to stand by the Cor
 federates!'
 MT. Benners Grew Eloquent. Tn a strong speech MT. Benners of Je ferson supported the action of the Go'
 ernor. Two objections. he said. had bee made to the message, and its supporter one was that the Governor had playt politics in taking this action and u other was that the young men of u
 House were lacking in patriotism. Tt was not a political act" said M Benners. "No politics entered into What leader or politician would dare O
 pose the Confederate soldiers. God sa' the man who begins a race for any off
 in Alabama from United States senat
 to justice of the peace by antagonizil
 the Confederate sentiment"
 Tt took courage" continued MT. Be
 ners. 'rare moral courage. It took mo
 courage than many of us are going
 display here to-day when this vo
 comes on."
 MT. Benners declared that the your
 men of Alabama honored and revered tl
 memory of the Confederate soldier. Tn | had been proved by the steady growth