The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-26
HOUSE MORNING SESSION.
Bill Extending Terms of Tax Officers
 Was Passed.

There were eighty-four members pres ent when the morning session began.
 The proceedings were opened with prayer by Rev. J. J. D. Hall of Ensley.
 The House first took up Senate bill $50. providing for changes of the char ters of educational institutions of colle- giate rank, established by the Legisla- ture, under unanimous consent. The bill makes provision for alterations in the charters of Howard College and the North Alabama Conference College. The bill was passed.
 The bill extending the terms of office of the tax assessors and tax collectors of all the counties of the State came be- fore the House as special order.
 Mir. Hickman of Jefferson was oppos- ed to the bill. He moved its indefinite postponement. He saw no reason why the House should take the action proposed in the bill. The right of filling offices, he said. belonged to the people. The Leg islature had the legal power to extend the terms of the assessors and collectors but 1t was not right.
 MT. Bankhead of Walker advocated the bill It would remove a great deal of confusion in tax matters at the end of the terms of the present assessors and collectors. The present officers. he said would go out of office on Sept. 15. and Inelr SuCCeSSOTS WOuIu TOL BO iIlo OIhCc until the first of the following Novem- ber This would mean an interference in the collection of taxes. The bill was drawn he said, in the interest of economy and the adjustment of taxes.
 MT. Callahan of Morgan was against the bill. The thing of extending offices had to stop somewhere and 1t was time to stop now. There was no need nor req son for the bill. he said It was wrong for the Legislature to extend the terms of office of the sheriffs and 1t was wrong for the Legislature to extend the terms of the assessors.
 Sarcasm of Callahan.
 Before MT. Callahan had finished MT. Jones of Franklin rose to a point of or der saying that MT. Callahan's time had expired. having spoken more than ten minutes.
 The gentleman is evidently the pos sessor of a Waterbury watch" said MT. Callahan. with sarcasm.
 MT. Rushton of Crenshaw. declared that it was wrong to legislate men into of flee The people did not want the terms extended and the House was undertaking a dangerous thing.
 MT. Goldsmith of Lowndes earnestly op- posed the bill. The extension of the terms of office of the county officials had been made an issue in hiS county. A COHlLlIld- ton of the county officials of his county had been formed to defeat him for the eRisIature and elect man who would favor extension. The issue was made di- rect by having placed on the ticket the words, For extension" and "against ex- tension" They were able to muster only s0 voters in favor of extension. He was familiar with tax matters. he said and he knew of no reason why this bill should be passed.
 MT. Scale of Sumter was an earnest ad- yocate of the bill. He was a political enemy of both the tax assessor and the tax collector of Sumter county, he said, but they were good officials The bill was a good one, he said, and he would vote for 1t.
 The bill was passed by the close vote of 4S to 47. A verification of the vote was demanded. but no error was found.
 MT. Arnold of Calhoun. from the Con ference Committee. in reference to the amendment to the bill redistricting the school districts of the State submitted a report. The committee reported that the Senate amendment which provided that while district trustees should employ teachers. all contracts should be approv- ed by the county board of education. had been agreed upon. The report of the com mittee was adopted.
 MT. Bankhead of Walker called up House bill 715, fixing the terms of office of the several tax assessors and tax collectors. He explained that 1t was a companion measure to the bill just pass