The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-30
BILL PASSES
 THE SENATE Greater rminghamNow
 Assured. GRAY CASTS DECIDING vo1E Delegation from Magic City Ap- z. pIauds on Victory. Measure that Has Attracted So Much Attention Receives Favorable Con- 3, alteration, Despite Opposition .s ,el Senator Miller.

Senate yesterday. when President Gray. announced that the vote on the Great Fer Birmingham bill stood IA to IA, and that he would cast his vote for the measure, a deafening applause rang out through the old senate chamber such as has not been heard there in a long time, and broad smiles took the place of expressions of anxiety that were, a minute before. seen dur ing the passage of the bill.
 Long before the afternoon session of the upper house had been called to order. the galleries began to fill up with members of the Birmingham delegation and their friends who were interested, conspicious among whom were many ladies. When the measure was taken up there was not seat left in the galleries. many being forced to stand up.
 The measure was brought up by Senator Overton under a local call. President Gray directed the reading of telegram which had just been re- ceived from a large number of citizens of the Magic City. praying for the pas sage of the bill. Following this. Sena- tor Overton offered an amendment cor recting certain clerical .:rors in the bill, which was adopted.
 Senator Spragins offered compro- mise amendment of special importance to both the friends and opponents of the measure. It contained a referendum provision. under which both the cit izens inside of the present corporate limits of the city and those living in the municipalities which under the bill would become a part of Greater Birm- ingham, would vote on the annexation.
 Senator Miller who led the fight against tho passage of the bill, eppos- ed the amendment and in doing SO. explained that the so-cailed referen- dunn did not embrace the referendum which played part in the campaign. He explained why the municipalities to be affected opposed the amend ment. He moved to table the amend ment and the result was tie. 13 to 13, but President Gray voted with the friends of the bill and united the vote.
 Senator Miller then offered a sub stitute. which was to the effect that only those living outside of the city should be allowed to vote on the quss- ton of the outside municipalities be- ing added to the city of Birmingham. The substitute was voted on and the result was again tie, President Gray voting against 1t, and 1t was tabled,
 Senator McWhorter arose and offered an amendment to the bill. the effect of which was to include the whole of North Birmingham. The amendment was voted on. but tabled by a vote of IS to g. The Greater Birmingham bill provides that a certain part of North Birmingham be taken in. but did not provide for the whole municipality be- ing added to greater Birmingham.
 Lusk Makes Some Changes.
 After the McWhorter amendment was defeated Senator Lusk arose and ere- ated somewhat of a sensation when he asked that the amendment of Senator McWhorter be reconsidered. inasmuch as he had just learned that the fur naces of the Sloss- Sheffield Company were located in that part of North Birmingham which had not been in- cluded in the bill.
 He openly charged that in framin g the bill this part of that municipality had been left out solely 'on account of the fact that the Sloss people did not desire to pay city taxes on their prop trty. such as would be assessed by Birmingham, that those who framed the bill had been influenced by this com pany and therefore had left out that part of North Birmingham.
 Senator Lusk stated that he had voted for the bill. but at the time he was not aware of these facts. He said that if any of North Birmingham was to be included, he wanted all of 1t included.
 Senator Miller arose, and. on being recognized, asked that the amendment be not reconsidered. On a vote, 1t was lost.
 There was a strong fight on Senator Spragin's amendment to fix the date when the Greater Birmingham till would be in force. He offered Octo- Der 1. 1909. as the date. On a vote. the result stood 13 to R. but President Gray voted for 1t and carried the amendment.
 The bill calls for an election by the people of all the municipalities con- cerned and the city of Birmingham. any time after ninety days and before the expiration of five months. after the passage of the bill. This election is to decide whether or not these mu- nicipalities will be added to Birming- ham.