The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-02

cumlocution the bill was withdrawn from the Governor. the President or
 the st senate and the Speaker were srem per. It. the error was corrected and the Senate vas ready to pass 1t when 1t was dis- covered the House had adjourned, and, walt q little longer for their salaries. Prayer was offered by Rev. w. M. Cox, of the Dexter Avenue Methodist Church when the Senate began its days work: IA The bill to compel cotton factories to equip their buildings with fire es- capes, was favorably reported with an amendment from the Committee on The Committee on Finance and Tax alton gave favorable report on the bill to provide a stenographer for the Secretary of State. and the Insurance Commissioner.
 The importance of the General Muni- cipal Bill, was recognized yesterday in the motion of Senator Strother, Chair man of the Committee on Municipali- ties, to have 500 copies printed. This is the meausure which was prepared by Judge ]. J. Mayfield. State codifier. It classifies all the cities of Alabama, and Drsscribss re a,ns form of goye6rn1mIens 61Ia o a similar nature in ste the das House aw' w
 Senator Gardner offered a resolution to furnish joint clerk for the Com The resolution went to the Rules Com mittee for consideration and action.
 Senator Reese asked for and obtain ed an order for 800 copies to be print ed of the bill which regulates the sale of contracts for future delivery. This IS one. of several anti buckets shop bills now before the Legislature.
 senator Leith's bill to make the oc- cupauon of inning safer in Alabama, came up as special order. The bill compeis the mine owners to coup no.sting cogs with safety devices and with gauges, which indicate to the op- erator the exact position of the ePgs at all times. The bill passed without discussion.
 The House bin to meet the note of National Bank of Montgomery. was called rom the calendar and passed This note was made two years ago, when yellow fever prevailed in New terest. amounted to ,s, ,.34.7o, was used by the tSate to maintain quarantine regulations to keep yellow fever out of Aiabama. The note was signed by Gov W. II. Sanders. The measure encoun- tered no opposition in its passage through the Senate.
 Argue Over Vagrancy Bill.
 There was material tor discussion In the Vagrancy bill of Senator Rey- holds. The Bibb county senator ex- planned his bill which added short amenoment to tne present Alabama law 
 Reynolds explained to the Senate. put the burden of proof on the person ac- cused or vagrancy, to show that he is possessed or property or has visible
 Senator Reese questioned the author on his pill. The answers assured him the bill was adequate remedying tor industrial conditions there demanded toward meeting the demands for an adequate. stringent vagrancy law.
 Senator Leith declared the bill was unfair and unjust"
 It's more than that" said Senator Leith. Its a dangerous precedent. You want to put the burden of proof on a defendant. If you put the burden of the proof on the derendant in va grancy cases. the next Legislature may come along and use that as a basis to put the burden of proof on the deien- dant in other cases" Senator Leith cited instances in which, he said, the law could be put to an oppressive use
 Senator Gardner spoke for the bill The people of his section were demand ing an adeQuate vagrancy law. The industriti conditions there demanded it.
 Senator Hammer was opposed to the measure. 1t was not only a dangerous measure he said, but it opened the way for the corporations to harrass poor tune. The bill was a. measure aimed at the poor man, and one which armed the corporations with a new power.
 similar view of the measure was taken by Senator Reid. He recognized the need of an efficient yagrancy law. but the bill under consideration, went too far. He was not opposed to the prosecution of negroes for vagrancy under the act, but it was a dangerous measure in the white counties.
 Senator E. H. Green was opposed to the pending bill because it did not specifically. exempt from its provisions the man who honestly tried to get work at a reasonable price for his la bor and failed. This was his principal objection to the measure, but he had others. It was an oppressive measure, and the Russell county senator said:
 The man who expresses the negro will oppress the white man if he gets| the chance.
 But the bill was passed: Ayes. IS; Nays, 8.
 The senate adjourned at 1:45 o'clock until II o'clock Monday morning.
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