The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-08-07
AMENDMENT
 IS DEFEATED Biennial Sessions Are
 Turned Down. WILL RECONSIDER THE BILL Heated Discussion is Had on
 Measure, ghe Bill Calls for Sessions of the Leg islatareEvery Two Years Instead
 of Four Years.


 hours yesterday, the house voted down the measure which would sub init to the people for a vote a change in the Constitution that would bring about biennial sessions of the Legis- lature instead of every four years as is the present law.
 The question is not definitely get tied, however, for, by vote taken at the afternoon session, it was de -id d to reconsider the vote by which the bill was turned down, and the recon sideration will be the first order of business at this mornings session. When the bill was called, it imns- diately precipitated vigorous discus sion. IL Is known as Senate bill t31, and was introduced by Senator Jones. The bill has the approval of the Gov ernor, which fact made 1t all the more Surprising to some of the members that at was defeated by such a large vote. 1t takes three -fffths of the entire mem bership of the House to pass any bill calling for q change in the Constitu- tion, and there were but six.y-two D members who voted for 1t and thirty against it.
 Mir. Scales was the first one to light for the bill He declared it would suit him better if the sessions came an- nually. MT. Hoffman of Mobile asked him if he would object to a session lasting 365 days in Ihe year and pay at the rate of $10 per day, which sally provoked much laughter.
 Promise was made that the people should have an opportunity to make constitutional amendments. and this is fin the Democratic platform" MT. Stea- gall said, and, continuing. he declared that this bill went along that line, and he could not see how my member of the House could object to the white population of Alabama having a chance to say just what they wanted done.
 "Is there any man in this House." be said, "who wants to say that onIy one man shall have an opportunity to bring the Legislature together r1o! 6 than once in four years?"
 < Mir Bloch took the other view of the question and thought 1t would be talk ing back track to hold elections every two years.
 History is useless to be written un- less succeeding generations Irorit thereby" said MT. Pitts of Dallas. sAEany Statees have tried the four-year plan and have been glad to get back again to the two-year pin. As far as E know, Alabama is the only State at present time that has a quadrennial plan. cannot see how any man in this House can be so arrogant us to think laws made by his body cannot De amended by the people of the State"
 Speaker Carmichael spoke for the pill and said the House could do noth- Eng else than pass it. He had been opposed to it, he continued, but had be- some convinced that he was wrong. During the present session, the Jeff .erson delegation alone, had enough natter to take up large part of the lime of any Legislature. Then there aad been the railroad laws and many Bther special matters that have taken ID the time and he was convinced that [ term every four years was a mis- take. The people ought to have a shance to vote on the question, he said. MT. John, of Jefferson, also spoke for he bill as did Mir Gunter, of Mont Komery. The latter said that if he sould shoulder the responsibility of intending the constitution in this re- bpect, he would think, by doing SO, Hhat he had done a great thing for the State of Alabama.
 MT. Lovelady had said that the people were not clamorisg for this bill and in ieply to this Mir. Gunter said that if he gentleman from Jefferson was fight then the bill would be placing a measure before them that would be .arefully acted on. Personally he be- ieved the four term year was a mistake md that it should be corrected. The t,eRislature ought to have time to .rame the laws and fifty day session hnce in four years was not enough for this.
 When the vote was taken on the bill, 4 resulted in a vote or 62 yeas and 30 says and the bill was lost. There was | motion made to verify the vote be- lore the speaker had announced it. This rule denies the right to a member 10 change his vote and also prevents others from adding their vote. Be- ,ause of this two members. who had been detained in the lobby asd who desired to vote in the affirmative were aot allowed to register their votes md another who had voted in the negative, desired to make a change but could not do so. These changes would have been enough to pass the pill.
 A motion to reconsider was im- nediateIy made. but the maker there of had voted affirmatWely. he was ruled out of order.
 During the recess. some of the mem oers got together and talked the mat fer aver. They felt assured that If Ehey could only get the bill before the House again, it would be passed. but khey could get no one who had voted against it to move to reconsider Thus was the status of affairs when the ses- sion convened. but after about an hour. Mr Cranford finally consented to make the necessary motion which the hat the reconsideration of the vote ,bould be the first order of business at Ioday's session.