The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-18

| eleven suits are now being pushed by some or the best lawyers in the land. and It Is urgent that the state defend them. It IS the honor of the state that is in- | yolved
 Senator Jones said the time had come to call halt; the suits should be with drawn and the cases left to the railroad commission. They would drag along for l years. He thought 1t question whether or not the governor should be given this money with which to pay political debts. The cases, he thought, if fought out at all, should be handled by the attorney gem 1 eral.
 Senator Moody said he did not want to hobble the governor in any way. He would agree to make the amount $30,0OO | MT. Hammer thought the senators who fought the bill would be in a sense lining | up with the railroads, and Senator Thom- | as wanted the provision put in that none of the money would be paid to attor- | neys. Attorneys, like tailors, he thought, were disposed to cut the garment accord ing to the cloth. This might have some effect on the final outcome.
 Bill Wins Out. Senator Miller made a speech in support of the entire amount, holding the state in honor bound to protect its own offspring. He hoped the bill would pass. On his mo- ton the amendments of both Moody and Thomas were defeated. the vote in both being "A to g. Senator Reese of Dallas spoke for the bill, believing that 1t should pass.
 After that the bill was put on its pass age, only four votes being cast against it. MT Miller was congratulated for the fight he made for the bill, as 1t was thought that it would meet much opposi- ton in the senate, while the house seems to be for 1t by large majority.
 It will be recalled that in this corre- spondencs of Monday, the prediction was made that the bill would have opposition but would no doubt pass by good vote
 The house talked much of the morning on the bill to prevent Sunday freight trains, but at last tabled 1t. MT John made a hard fight for the bill, and MT. Long of sButler was so disappointed that he gave notice that he would move to take the bill from the table, where his associates put 1t.
 Municipal Code Bill.
 The municipal code bill was taken up in the senate at D. m. and number of amendments offered.
 A new section allows any city or town to apply the operation of the bill at once All thes amendments were agreed to by the joint committee on municipah- ties.
 MT Reid offered an amendment that he said was important to his district The amendment was tabled.
 MT Reynolds objected to that pro- vision for having merchants report amounts of goods sold. He said 1t was induisatorial that many small merchants do not keep amount of sales-such re- cords are such as no business man would desire to make publls-such would be wrong to the merchants. He lost out, the senate killing the amendment.
 Alr Gardner wanted the section by which the number of aldermen of Troy will be reduced from six to five. He also lost.
 MT. Sprogins wanted Section forty-one struck out The section had to do with the right of towns to borrow money. The only charge made Is that the loan may be secured by the future taxes of the town.
 Senator strother said the effect of the amendment would be to give some one a lien on the Slxes of the city or town. He thought the idea of MT. Sprogin was well cared for in other parts of the bill. He moved to table the amendment. Car ried.
 On motion of MT. Strother the bill was taken up for passage, read at length and adopted.
 Birmingham Pleased.
 The understanding was at 6 late hour today that the Birmingham objectors uo the municipal code bill had been con- vinced that there was nothing that could well be overcome in the bill. All seemed to be satisfied
 The senate committee on finance and taxation reported favorably bill to set aside Si0,000 a year for a soil survey of the state. The bill has been passed by the house
 Congressman Underwo cd was a pleasant 1A,I -4-1- was interested in the passage of the sails bill.
 The opposition to the Greater Birming- ham bill brought Felex Blackburn to the city.
 The mining and manufacturing com mittee of the house had up the mining bill, but did nothing, the matter going on to 10 o'clock tomorrow
 Insurance Bill.
 Deputy Collector of Insurance A, c. Sexton acting under the advice and after consultation with Commissioner Frank N. Julian and members fo the insurance committees of the two houses, has had bill prepared and will be introduced the next legislative day, by which he hopes tc reach the cotton insurance busi- ness and bring it to the control of the state. The bill provides for the liability Of the parties who place insurance the Shihe ds COIilphnleS would De If they ViO- lated the law To violate the law is A misdemeanor
 The trouble has been that marine com panie3 doing the cotton on the water business have been insuring the shore eno In consideration of the ocean busi ness and cutting the state out of the tees and the agents out of the comrrIs- sions. To meet this the bill will nut any 'one placing the insurance in defiance of the law and 1t Is hoped that the evil will be corrected.
 Senate Bills.
 In the senate this afternoon bills vera passed as follows:
 To allow the Girls Industrial school to acquire real estate by purchase or other wise.
 To fix term of Limestone circuit cou-t
 To authorize the governor to apnoint one of the Birmingham judges as specIal criminal judge.
 To authorize the payment of $500 to tho secretary of the senate and clerk of inc house for preparing their journals for the printer.
 To valuate loans of money made bv towns of less than 2O00
 To change the boundary line of Russ- vile.
 To repeal the act for a special fire de- partment fund in Mobile
 To provide a Board of Revenue for Houston county To fix the salary of the judge of the Thirteenth judicial circuit The effect is to increase the nav S45OO ba sop,a