The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-19
Senate Session.

Montgomery January 1S,-(Special)-B
reason of the fact that the printer had
not returned the bill to the senate, which
provides for a reduction in the passenger
fares on the rail lines of the state by tho
time 1t was called up today, it went over
10 next Tuesday as a special order. Other
wise 1t was to have been amended to IA
cents a mile and put through today by
agreement of the majority. The original
idea was to reduce to cents, but that
was found to be out OF line with the ideas
of Governor Conner and late Thursday it
was decided to make the price 2A cents
and put It through
The delay in the matter was q result OF
the effort of Senator Fred Blackmon,
who called attention 70 the absence of the
printed measure after the clerk had got,
ton ready to read 1t a section time and
put 1t on Its passage. The senator from
Calhoun followed up his advantage by
sending it over to Tuesday, and 1t is
thought that possibly he will make fight
on 1t when it comes up then. The result
was a surprise TO many who expected to
see the bill make It's way to passage In
the upper house.
After the session of the senate today
Mr. Blackmon said that 1t was his In
tention to oppose any amendment to the
bill, but on the other hand would fight
for the 2-cent rate as advocated by Lieu
tenant Governor Gray. THAT is the best
for the people," he said. "They VIII
get something tangible out of a reduction
of passenger hauls, as the difference Will
be left in their pockets. This is not SO
with freight rates. Suppose they do GET
these cut down tho saving will have to be
percolated through the whole list on
wholesale and retail men, and in many
cases will be hard to locate at the end.
But with passenger fares 1t Is different;
the saving is at once tangible and reeeiy-
able"
Will Reconsider.
Mr.. Blackmon also led in the only other
incident of interest in the senate today.
giving notice that he Will call up for re-
consideration next Tuesday the bill passed
Thursday regulating the taxation OF rail-
road, telegraph and long distance tele-
phone property, by which market values
are to he taken as basis for Assessments.
He said that he and other members OF
the senate had grave doubts of the con-
stitutionally of the measure, and were un-
willing to let ii go through without fur
ther attention. He said, however, that ho
had not made up his mind to oppose It,
Other matters of interest today was
the Introduction of bill to require tho
railroad commission TO have the railroads
issue interchangeable mileage books and
the presentation of resolution by Mr.
Reynolds requiring all state schools t0
provide the legislature with statistics.
facts and figures of the schools.
with all the details that will be
needed In reaching conclusions about
them. A committee on game, fish AMI
forestry preserves was raised and the fol-
lowing appointed to membership on 1t.
the first named being the chairmana
King. Spraggins. Hamberger, Bayies,
Hlnson, Hays and Blackmon.
Mr.. Doster presented bill to mako
appropriations to tho Alabama Polytech-
mic institute. and Mr.. Reynolds to define
and punish vagrancy. Mr.. Reese went
after the telephone companies to fix 1t so
cities could regulate rates to be charged
for service, and the committee on bank
ing and insurance in the senate reported
the bill to make 1t unlawful for corpora
tions to contribute to political partiess
favorably.
Governor invited.
The senate passed the bill to make tina
appointment of the subordinate employees
of the senate formerly appointed by the
president pro tenn the duty of the presl-
dent of the senate. Governor Hayward
of South Carolina, who Is in Birming-'
| ham, attending the cotton convention,
was invited to address joint session
next Tuesday on the question OF the inl-
| migration law of that state.
The Joint resolution from the house to
elect United States senator's next Tues
day was agreed to and a message was
received from the house agreeing with
the senate to adjourn for the Lee cele-
bration tomorrow.
Money for Schools.
| After an interesting session of two
| hours the house passed the bill to ap-
| propriate $4,000 a year to the common
| schools, with every fellow almost try
| ing to get ON the band wagon. AS re-
| ported favorably the bill carried $500 900
| but on motion of Mr.. Arnold II was
| amended to make the amount 100000 and
| went through with whoop.
| II is not thought that the bill VIII have
such easy sailing In the senate, though
| it will certainly pass for 100000 at least.
though none of the money may be re-
| ceivable until next october. 1t Is regard
| ed by senate leaders that that will be
| time enough as the appropriations have
| been made for the present year.
To Repeal Act.
A bill will be presented in the senate
| Monday to repeal the act creating tho
| commissioners court OF Winston coun-