The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-31
First Bill Of Administration Fam
lily 10 Be Carried 10
Final Passage
MEASURE SUPERVISED
BY GOVERNOR Conner
The Effort to Have the Senate lndorse
President Roosevelt's Action In
Regard to the Brownsville
Matter Is Postponed.

Montgomery, January 3.-tSpeeial)-
BY vote of 27 to the senate of Ala
bama tonight adopted the rate regula-
tion bill providing for law-made rates in
the state not to be lowered save by
special act of the law-making body. The
entire day was consumed with the bill,
which is the main bill of all those hav-
ing to do with the rate issue. The rate
on final passage Stood
Ayes-Barber, Bales Davis Dorster,
Forester, Gardner, Glenn, Gum, Ham,
berger, Hammer, Hayes, Heacock, Hin
son, Leith. Lusk, Merritt, Miller, Me
Whorter, Overton, Reese, Reed, Roy-
nolds, Spragns, Strother, Thomas, White
and Wilson.
Nays-King, Moody and Teasley.
Blackmon who would have voted nay,
was paired with Horton, and Jones, who
was opposed, was paired with Low, thus
showing total of five opposing the
measure.
Hinson said he had made the race for
the senate against such radical bills, but
they having become democratic demands
he yielded to the wishes of the party.
King said he opposed the bill because
it was possible for it to be disastrous to
the state.
Teasley sail the measure was unjust
and unreasom Ne
The closing hours of the debate saw
strenuous demands of senators 10 be
heard and nearly all of them were on
the floor before the vote came.
McWhorter raised the ire of Reese by
intimating that the latter had heard the
crack of the administration whip. AS
the latter had been with the minority
he was very much surprised He replied
tartly, saying that the bill was the wish
of his constituents and he voted for it
for that reason; he had no mans halter
about his neck
Mr.. McWhorter disclaimed personal al
lusion to MIR. Reese and the incident
closed.
DR.. Wimberly was the only senator ab-
sent, being sick at home.
Committee of the fair association %
Montgomery. Selma, Birmingham and
Huntsville will be given hearing tomor-
row on the question of an appropriation
for the fairs of fifty thousand dollars.
The house judiciary committee has de-
cided to report favorably bill putting
the burden of proof on the railroads when
they kill persons As it is now this is
only the case when stock are killed.
1t is understood that the house COM
mittee has refused to recommend any
increase above fifteen thousand dolial 5
for the military.
Story of the Bill.
With today's session of the senate the
first of the important regulation rate
bills, of the several composing the ad-
ministration family, was worked TO pas
sage. This bill, numbered Ii, is that
which establishes the rate on over one
hundred commodities, provides for classi-
tcation of these and all other commodl-
ties, and also for classification of the
common carriers themselves.
The measure was prepared under the
supervision of Governor Conner himself,
and carefully gone over with regard 10
It's constitutonality by II. c. Selheimer,
who has been retained by the rate regu .
lation leaders for this purpose, and later
thrashed out section by section in the
senate committee ON commerce and cam
mon carriers.
The bill was reported on Monday and
went to the calendar for special order at
80 Wednesday. 1t had been noised
abroad that it would be discussed at that
hour which time found the gallery we'll
filed with leading corporation and rail-
road men. several ladies and quite a
good many citizens of various callings.
First Opposition.
The first opposition came from Senator
Jones who moved to make the bill ef-
fective only when it is shown by the re-
turns made to the railroad commission
that the railroads of the state have
earned as much as 2Ia per cent on their
common stock Mr.. Overton, chairman Of
the committee on commerce and common
carriers. who had reported the bill at,
nnce moved to table the amendment,
which motion was carried by a large ma
jorlty.
Mr. Hinson moved that when railroad
Of a higher class purchased a road of 4
lower class that the lower class rates be
allowed to apply on that line instead Of
being moved up TO the higher class as the
bill provides This amendment, like tho
pther. was tabled at the suggestion of
Mr.. Overton.
Mr. Reese did not get a chance to dis
russ the Hinson amendment and when his
name was read on the roll call, he took
occasion to make speech by way OF
explanation of his vote. He said that he
was not in favor of changes, that it was
the choice of the people of Alabama, and
the desire of the administration, and he
wanted to swallow the whole thing with
sut an amendment.
Constitutlonality.
Mr. Blackmon, who boldly stated that it
was his intention to vote against the BILL
rallied attention to the fact that in one
Section power Is given to the railroad
commission to change an act of the leg
stature. This commission is allowed 10
'eclassify any railroad which by reaSon
" progress or advancement is qualified
,or such change. Here now We put into
The bili'' said Mr. Blackmon. "a provis-
on by which railroad commission, a
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 81