The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1903-01-18

DToUATGQ ~
people OF his county feel q deep interest
The bin provides that State eonvicts. on
their terms in the mines, shall
he carried back to the county In which
they were convicted and sentenced. The
bill proposes to stop the practice OF max
ing birmingham and Jefferson County the
dumping ground for the criminals OF
Alabama
II is commended that much n not all Of
the reputation Of the mining district OF
the State for lawlessness IL due 30 the
fact that released convicts remain IN
the county to live by thar wits. The
convict, It is argued. has no inducement
to return to his home. He ordinarily pre-
fers to live in or near the largest city
of the State. If he Is not wholly bad, II
is said. he naturally drifts in with the
criminal class which preys upon society.
This condition, Is Is alleged, has nlled
the fails Of Jefferson County ana con-
gested the dockets of the courts Wath
criminal cases. 1t has enlarged tine una
chinery for the administration OF ,ustce
and given 1t an Importance not known
a, other counties of Alabama It has also
made the administration of justice In JET
ferson County, it is said. an enormous ex-
panse to the State and to Jefferson Coun-
". And more than that, 1t Is said that the
security Of life and property In Jenerson
f. not SO assured as in other secuons Oh
Alabama.
To remedy this condition Is the object
of the DILL of Representative Benners.
The bin, however, has q deeper idea OF
reform than appears upon the surface. IL
is conceived, as much for the benent OF
the ex-convict as for society.
"AIl of the convicts." said Mr.. Ben
ners. "are not innately bad Some OF
them have been unfortunate. Many OF
them would reform and lead better lives
n given the chance. II they are re-
turned to their homes the chances and
opportunities for reform are greatly IN
creased.
MANY of the convicts como from agri-
cultural counties and they know notninS
hut farming. If they are sent back
where thew can get honest work ON the
farms their chances for reform are
greatly improved. We Of Jefferson
County. are greatly interested In this bill
and we shall use every endeavor 20 have
1t made a law"
when the House convenes Tuesday q
leave of absence will be asked for Hon.
], j. Arnold of Calhoun An interest
ing Significance attaches to the request
In view of the fact that Mr.. Arnold leaves
his legislative duties to take part In a
ceremony of which he will be one OF the
central figures. Mr.. Arnold will on
Wednesday marry Miss Arberry, a
charming and beautiful young woman OF
Jacksonville. He will return in q few
days to Montgomery with his bride.
Mr.. Arnold Is already recognized as one
Of the leaders of the younger members
r. L. - HA
debaters in that body and he has. more
over, the courage Of his convictions. He
was yesterday made chairman Of the
Committee on Education, one Of the most
important places within the gift OF the
Speaker.
There will be no lack OF child labor
bills introduced In the Legislature. In
fact it looks as If the law makers will bt
forced by an embarrassment Of riches II
child labor legislation. It Is now said
that Representative Blackburn of Jeffer'
son, who has given much time and study
to the question has prepared and will
introduce at an early day bill aimed a.
the evil of working young and helpless
| children in the mills and factories of thS
State.
There will, however. be no conflict be
| tween the members who are friendly tc
child labor legislation. The bill which
will be deemed best will receive the unit
| ed support of the friends OF the impor'
tant reform. Child labor legislation will
be one Of the live wires Of the present
Legislature,
The appointment Of Hon., T. s. Espy
to the Craftsmanship Of the Committee or
County and County Boundaries OF thu
House Is especially significant In view o.
| the fact that this Legislature Will in al
probability give the people the right II
| create a new county, of which Dothan
the home of Mr.. Espy, viii be the poHu
cal and commercial capital. The new
county will be made up of sections o.
Dale, Geneva and Henry, but the greater
part of the territory will be contributed
by Henry. The question has been q Nv
one In Henry, but the victory Is almos
within the grasp of the new county advo
Gates. In fact the new county is regard
ed as q certainty.
Mr.. z. Cody Thomas, formerly Of Bar
| bour County and for many years q popu
/ lar capital employe IL agin at the Stat
| House, after several months absence
MI. Thomas In among the clerical assist
| ants OF the House. He has Just re
covered from q long and dangerous III
ness. Last summer while living Il
Louisiana, he was stricken with a mallg
nant attack Of fever and his recover,
was despairod of. his reoory was sloV
ana the result Of his trying sxper1enc
are yet seen, although he has been res
tored to health. He Is q brother O
| Senator Thomas of Barbour.
With the close Of yesterday the hft
day Of the session Of the Alabama Legis
aatura ended. The life Of the Legtslatur
Is definitely fxed by the Constitution
sixty days. There remains therefore nifty
ave days more. The sixty days named 4
the Constitution means sixty v9orlkin
days. The Sundays or week days o
which no session Of the Legislature
held are not deducted from the allotte
sixty days.
Monday, on which the Legislature hold
no session. will not, therefore, be take
from the allotted time.
Taking advantage OF the recess unit
Tuesday quite q number Of the Senator
have gone to their homes to spend Sun
day. The majority, however, decided t
remain In the city. Several. have bus
ness matters here to attend to outside G
their legislative duties and the distanc
from home keeps others. The inaugurs
ton tomorrow also detained many VIII
might otherwise have gone.
Senator Harrison of Opehka leaves t
day for Atlanta, Ga, where, on invitatio
OF the Confederate Veterans and Daugt
tiers of the Confederacy OF Georgia he
J to deliver an address tomorrow evening
the occasion being an anniversary eel,