The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-11
Personal Encounter Be- tween West EnderS in
 ROtunda of Capitol.
Large Crowd Swarmed to Public Hearing on Annexation Bill by House Committee-City Off, cials Asked Pointed
 Questions About
 Sunday Laws.

The atmosphere in the Senate chamber last night at the public hearing of the Greater Montgomery bill by the House Committee on Municipal Corporations was surcharged with electricity. It was the liveliest committee meeting held since the Legislature met.
 The feeling of the annexationists and anti-annexationists reached its most in- tense climax. For three hours and half the members of the committee were bom- barded with oratory and arguments for and against annexation. The speakers confined themselves within parliamentary bounds, but Interruptions and questions flew thick and fast and the feeling was tense at times.
 The committee meeting was preceded by a personal altercation between J. G. Savers and John O'ConneH, citizens of West End, who were on opposing sides of the question. In an argument over the merits of the pending measure, in the rotunda of the Capitol, the lie was passed immediately followed by an invitation to step outside in the Capitol grounds and settle the difficulty, an invitation which was quickly accepted. The parties to the al- tercation had seized each other at the
  arated by Patrolman Pat Sweeney before any damage was done.
 West Enders Applauded.
 The Senate chamber was filled with su- burbanites who came, the most of them to protest against being taken into the city. An enthusiastic delegation of anti annexationists were present from West End and they lbberally applauded every speaker who voiced their sentiments.
 It was the intention of the committee to take definite action on the bill last night and the public hearing was to have been followed by an executive session, but the crowd refused to leave the Senate cham Der and the executive session had to be abandoned.
 The Committee met at 7:45 o'clock with Chairman F. E. Blackburn of Jefferson, presiding At his suggestions the friends and opponents of the bill conferred as to the division of time for discussion of the bill.
 Mayor B. B. Joseph, Alderman Ray Rushton and City Attorney Bibb Graves. representing the annexationists, and w T. Holloway and Hunter Roquemore representing the anti-annexationists were present.
 City Attorney Bibb Graves asked if the Committee would allow the friends and opponents of the bill one and 6 half hours each. There was some discussion but MT. Thompson of the Committee solved the difficulty by suggesting giving the discussion. the opponents to have an hour and half to present their side while the friends should close in an hour. Mayor Joseph Spoke.
 Mayor E. B. Joseph appeared first for the bill. He said that he was Mayor of the city of Montgomery by virtue of the votes of the citizens of Montgomery and the Aldermen of the city held their of- fees by right of the votes of the citizens The city administration, represented by the Mayor and Aldermen wanted the bill passed and in this, he said, they repre- sented the mass of the people of the city. Within two miles of Court Square, the Mayor said there were living about 40.0O0 corporate limits of the city of Montgom- cry. The anomalous conditions of three municipal corporation existed In and around Montgomery.
 He described some of the difficulties which he had as Mayor encountered from this condition. He spoke of the farce of police jurisdiction" which built up store property outside the city at the expense of the ciey.
 'The only argument" said the Mayor, which you will hear against the bill Is an argument of dollars and cents This Is their only argument" said the Mayor emphasizing the statement yb slapping his hands to his pocket.
 Questioned by Blackburn
 What Is your bonded indebtedness?' asked Chairman Blackburn.
 "One million eight hundred thousand dollars" replied the Mayor. 'I am glad that you asked that question. You have heard that the city of Montgomery was bankrupt. I want to deny that state ment as emphatically as possible The city is in as good financial conditions as any city in Alabama with more than 5000 inhabitants. There is nothing in that cry but politics. politics."
 City Attorney Btbb Graves submitted strong argument for the passS se of the bill He began by urging the committee to pass the bill, saying that he would present reasons for its passage. First of all, he said, that the bill was before the committee with the unanimous endorse m mt of the Senate and 1t had the en- dorsement of the last General Assembly.
 The bill, he said. had passed both houses of the General Assembly and had failed only on account of a charge that a portion of 1t had been lost or torn out.
 Graves Argues Economy.
 He spoke of the economical phase of the question in that Montgomery already had sanitary department a water works system and other municipal institutions and 1t would be cheaper he said. for the whole community rather than at tempt to erect any other Improvements.
 He touched upon the cfty's bonded in debtedness and said that all the debt of the city, with the exception of $0OO, 900, had been assured by mortgages on prop erty worth the amount. Of the 800, 900 he said half a million dollars was owed on account of the endorsement of the old North and South Railroad.
 MT. Graves described the incorporation of West End which. he said, had been accomplished four weeks after the first advertisement of the city's intention to annex the suburbs.
 MT Waddell of Russell asked the speak CT if the bill included all suburbs, if any suburb or municipality was left out.
 Mir. Graves replied that Highland Park was not included in the bill, because one member of the House was opposed to it's being placed in the bill.
 Speaking for the friends of the meas ure. he said. they were quite willing to have Highland Park brought in.
 Asked Pointed Questions.
 Do the bars outside the city close on Sunday?" a committeeman asked.
 "I do not know" replied Mir. Graves
 The bars do not close on Sunday in the city, do theyT' asked MT. Thompson of the committed.
 The reply of the City Attorney waslost