The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-29
HOUSE TRIED ITS STRENGTH X
 ON COVERING SALARY BILL

-- .4- T--'~--- -~ It was discussed in the Constitutional Convention and 1t has been, talked about by the people of Alabama. It ought to be settled right now.
 The resources of Alabama, MT. Ma ner said, were ample and the State was constantly growing and the State was in a position to pay its Chief Executive salary commensurate with the dignity of the ofIice.
 MT. Handiey of Randolph said that he was member of the Constitutional Con- vention where the matter had been fully discussed.
 It was. he said, in the minds of the members of the convention that the Leg islature would pass bill making the in crease.
 'I am close on financial matters" said Mr. Handley. but am in favor of this bill; am empahatically in favor of the bill.
 Representative J. J. Kelly of Choctaw was not inclined to give any weighty con- sideration to the request of the Constitu- tionai Convention.
 They stayed here for eighty days" said Mir. Kelly, ''and cost the State one hundred thousand dollars, and they gave the Sherifs in Alabama two years more than the people had allowed them, and they want us to raise the salary of the Governor. Why didn't they do 1t? Plenty of men will take the job for N.00o If you leave the pay at $500 . year there will be plenty of candidates for the job"
 MT. Starr of Dallas submitted that the question of the salary of the Governor was not under discussion. The House, he said, was considering the motion to post pone and not the bill. He had, he said, voted for postponement while he favored the bill. He had favored the delay to ascertain, if possible, the sense of the House on the building of a Governors mansion. He might, he said. later on be in favor of increasing the salary stin further.
 MT. Rushton of Crenshaw expressed himself as heartily in favor of postpon- ing the bill. He was not, he said. in fa- vor of hastily passing appropriation measures. He declared that the House did not at this time have time to discuss the bill.
 Hoffman Spoke for It.
 MT. Hoffman of Mobile spoke for the bill and argued that the raise was due the dignity of the ofice. He read the records of the Constitutional Convention which had been widely published. to show that already there had been ample time for the consideration of the proposition.
 MT. Simpson of Lauderdale said he couldn't see any reason why the bill should be postponed. The Constitution, he said, had justly left the matter to the Legislature. He said that he advocated the bill because he had for many years been convinced that the State had been paying the Governor too small a salary. He said that he knew something of the expenses that the Governor had to un- dergo. and he pointed out that it was a well-known fact that when work for a charitable object began. the public of- ficiais were the first persons approached MT. Simpson said that the statement that other men would take 1t for less money was not a good argument. Because a man was willing to take the place for less money was no proof that he was qualified for 1t.
 If the Governors mansion was buYlt. Mir. Simpson Said, the salary should by all means be raised because of the in- creased expenses.
 The hour for adjournment arrived while Mir. Simpson was speaking.
 Routine of the House.
 The House met promptly at 10:30 o'clock the hour for the daily converting of the House appointed by resolution pre- yiously adopted.
 Prayer was offered by Rev. J. A. Rice, pastor of the Court Street Methodist Church.
 The roll call showed that 100 members of the House were present
 There was no unfinished business to be taken up and the House immediately got down to routine matter. The session was not. however, productive of much results. The debate on the passage of the bill raising the salary of the Governor con stunned by far the larger part of the time of the Representatives More than any other day since the Legislature convened yesterday was day of talk and of dis cussion. The Legislators displayed an anxiety to be heard on the salary oues- ton and the hour for adjournment ar- rived before all had been accommodated.
 Seventeen bills were introduced and eight were favorably reported and placed on the calendar for a third reading.
 Only one measure was passed the House dividing when the second bill on the cal endar was reached.
 The House recessed at 12 O clock for the joint session of the House and Senate to declare the result of the ballot in botb Houses for United States Senator to suc ceed Senator Edmund Winston Pettus. At the time of the adjournment the bill Increasing the salary of the Governor was under discussion. It's consideration was resumed after the joint session in which Senator Pettus was declared to be elected his own successor. when his term of office expires March 4, l903
 Child Labor Bill Presented.
 Of all the seventeen bills introduced only one Is local measure. The child labor bill agreed upon by, the representatives of the manufacturers. the representatives of the child labor committee and by the representatives of the Federation of wo- mems Clubs in Alabama was introduced by Hon. J. C. Rich of Mobile. The bill introduced by MT. Rich was published in full in The Advertiser of yesterday.
 The bill was referred to the Committee on Immigration and Labor.
 Hon. R. T. Goodwin of Montgomery. presented bill which seeka to armand