The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-12
Ballard Bill Re-referred to Committee. WILL NOT LOSE ITS
 PLACE ON CALENDAR Antis Seem to Score in Battle, But
 Gain No Time. Hoffman of Mobile and John of Jefrer- son Are Fitted Against Each Other-Many Speeches of
 Fervid Character Du-
 ring Debate.

The prohibition battle in the Ala bama House of Representatives began yesterday morning in dead earnest and when adjournment came. the decision was draw,
 After the most lively debate of the extraordinary" session, the antis, led by MT. Hoffman of Mobile. seemed to have the advantage. having secured the re-refrence of the Ballard constitu- tional prohibition measure to the Tenn perance Committed
 By. narrow margin they killed Mir. Johns motion to suspend the rules and pass a resolution tnstructing the Com mittee to meet at o'clock in the af- ternoon, and report the bill, further providing that 1t should not lose it's place as the paramount special order for today.
 Their triumph was short lived, how ever, for Mir. John quickly assembled the Rules Committee. to which the resolution was referred and before the House recessed, reported 1t favorably. The point was made that the Commit tee had violated the rules of the House by meeting while the House was in session, but Speaker Carmichael, leader of the prohibition forces, over- ruled the point and after more than an hours time had been wasted, the meas ure was in practically the same condi- ton as 1t was when the House met.
 During the debate, the anti forces made stirring appeals to the sense of fairness of the Legislature. They brought out the fact that the Commit tee meeting at which the Ballard bill was reported favorably was called without giving some of the members notice and that there had been a possi- ble disposition to rush matters through without giving the vets 3 proper hear inE. q ,S9 V
 The House responded warmly to the. appeal and ordered the matter re-re- ferred. despite fervid speech by Mr. Rushton. on the ground that 1t was a dangerous precedent. If the antis were playing for time, however. the victory earned them little on account of the quick report of the Rules Com mittee on the John resolution.
 Prohibition alone tsvas in tiIe air yes ferday. True it is that the Commerce and Common Carriers Committee re- ported the administration railroad measures, but that was mere formaIitv.
 When the House was called to order the aroma of prohibition was in inc air. Representative Price was called on to open the session with prayer and he prayed for prohibition.
 Prohibition Up Early.
 Hardly had the roll been called when the prohibition fight opened. The committee on Rules adversed the Goodwin resolution providing that the announcement of all committee meet ings be made from the clerks desk before the adjournment each day.
 This was anent the failure of MT. Goodwin and other members of the. Temperance Committee to receive Al notice of the meeting at which the Bal lard constitutional prohibition bill was reported favorably. The adverse re- port was concurred in.
 Then came the second blow. The Judiciary Committee had been asked to render an opinion on what the ex- pression two thirds vote, required to pass oil not mentioned in the Cover. nor's call of an extraordinary session, meant.
 The Committee ruled that it meant two thirds of the members voting Colonel John, who reported for the committed. quoted quite a number of authorities and his report was concur red In without opposition.
 Mir Elrod. of DeKalb. introduced. a resolution memorializing Congress to adopt a law providing for a uniform freight rate throughout the various states of the union. The resolution went to the Committee on Federal Relations.
 Then came the, call of counties with the introduced bills and after its close came the battle.
 Hoffman Causes Trouble.
 MT Hoffman introduced resolution that the Ballard bill be re-referred. He argued that if the House was sincere In wishing to have the record of this bill clear. this action should be taken in all fairness.
 He was informed that several mem- bers of the Committee on Temperance did not have notice of the meeting of 9 the committee which passed on a sub ject most vital to certain interests in the state. He submitted that in all fairness to every interest the matter should be referred, his motion read, to the Committee on Revision of Laws.
 MT. Urquhart of Jefferson read a section of the constitution which he construed to mean that a bill for a constitutional amendment did not have Ito go to a committee and during his interruption of Mir Hoffman's remarks. he argued the question.
 "If you've got A speech to make, ,' said MT. Hoffman, with some amount of feeling. don't take it out of my time. I did clerical work on the Constitution and I am quite sure that I am decidedly more familiar with It's provisions than the gentleman from Jenerson.
 MT. Hoffman said that knowing the practice of some members of a majority to cut off debate with motion for the previous question. or a motion to lay on the table, he knew what would hap pen when the temperance bills came before the House, and he wanted a full and complete hearing before the com mittc.
 Politics in It.
 He quoted letter he had received from Governor Conner saying that it was the purpose of the chief executive that the Legislature adjourn early aft CT 1t had disposed of the matters in the call. but he added. some gen tlemen want to use extraneous matters like prohibition for political purposes and when they return home they want to say: I am greater than the Govern or. I pushed through the Constitution al prohibition measure that the Gov