The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-10
LAIRD REVIEWS
INITIAL WORK
OF LEGISLATURE
Education and Old Soldiers Got
All They Asked from
Lawmakers
Conner HAS MADE GOOD
AND WON MANY FRIENDS
BY HERVEY w, LAIRD,

Montgomery, March 8. - Especially
With the adjournment of the legislature
there has been some time to get Il long
breath and wonder just what has taken
place, and the opinion seems to be that
while several laws have been adopted
that seem very drastic. many have gone
on the books that will rebound to the
eternal credit and advancement of the
state. II has been crowd OF doers,
legislature OF accomplishment More
things have been inaugurated and carried
to conclusion that are big and far-reach-
ing than has ever been the case In the
law making history of the state.
In the matter of railroad legislation
there is general information. While the
bills passed are technical and compli-
Gated they are generally understood.
They lower freight rates In the state and
provide to keep them lowered; they fix
rates that existed January l. as the high
est that can be charged by any common
carrier for intra state traffic; they pro-
vide interchangeable mileage books and
2l2 cent fares. These direct laws are ac-
con1panied by laws that prevent taking
of suits from state to federal courts and
in this way head off what has been In
the past long delays in trying cases.
There are laws to prevent vagrancy
and suppress bucket shops, and to keep
corporations from getting too free with
money in support of political parties.
Great for Education.
But the great work Is surely in the
aid and encouragement to all sorts and
kinds of schools. The university was
given $l25,000 a year for the asking; the
Polytechnic institute taken care of and
the district agricultural schools increased
almost double. AS much as was asked
was allowed the Girls Industrial school
and the Boys Industrial school found a
friend that has put it In line for best of
service. So 1t is all along the line, every
line of educational effort being helped,
even to the appropriations of $1,000 to
each county to help build school houses
In rural territory.
The common schools getting 100000 a
year now were raised 100000 next year
| and $35000O the years after. This is
straight appropriation. in excess OF the
tax returns for schools Along with this
is large appropriations for the old SOL
| diers and the soldiers home. The fact
| is. anything that sounded like education
or the old soldiers had plush seats In
| the front row and every man at the
capital. from the governor to the janitor,
salaamed continually to them. They
were stars from the opening to the close.
Some of the Men.
| What has been the effect of the session
so far on the men at the helm? This has
been asked by many from time to time.
The universal answer is that Governor
| Conner has made good. Not that the
! laws he has urged to passage have been
acceptable to all, but that he has done
exactly what he said he would il given
an opportunity. There is not bill nor
a measure that he discussed on the stump
as good and wholesome for the state, in
his opinion, that he has not worked to
get through. And, to the credit of his
popularity and energy, most all he talked
about have gone through Every rail-
| road law that he promised the people
he has seen given them by the law
makers. They are his very own, though
some of the solons may think they passed
! them.
| local paper said the other day that
| Governor Conner had gone about the
state with samples of political wares,
| urging that it would be safe and profit
| able to do business with him. He had
| good trade and took orders from eight
| tenths of the voters in the state. He
| is now delivering the goods, exactly as
! he said they would be delivered, even
to the extent of getting them here as
| he made them appear TO his customers
This seems the general opinion, even
though many kick at the delivery.
The Lieutenant Governor.
There has been much of an eye kept
on Henry u. Gray the new second IN
command with view to sizing him up.
Ii Is we'll known that he is TO be a can
didate for governor four years hence
and he Is, therefore, more OF an inter-
esting parsonage than would be the case
if he were content TO rest where he Is.
The consensus Is that he has won out.
Beginning with a red hot fight In when
Mr. Gray routed the minority at every
point he came out with one of the most
harmonious bodies Of men with him that
the capitol has ever seem Sure, there
are some who are not happy over the
way things worked out at first. but on
the night of adjournment there was
oneness of purpose that indicated good
feeling in every way
Mr.. Gray saw the leading plank Of his
platform put on the statute books, the
216 cent fare law. He was the only man
to make that a feature of his race He
had the duty of keeping everybody In
good humor to carry out the wishes or
the administration on his hands and saw
his work well DONE as the result shows.
If at times somewhat of car he was
always able to keep the members OF
the upper house In line for general leg
islation demanded by the platform, and
to retain their regard. He was accused
with ruling with somewhat of an iron
hand at times, but that has been credited
TO him as a compliment rather than 9TH
erwlse HE who rules the present SEN
ate made up the most intelligent men
of the state, in most respects. must have
ability Is the way an onlooker put It.
Reynolds Did Well.
| Among the men in the senate who I'M
pressed themselves for better things was
| II. E. Reynolds the t-potician
| of Bibb who mad no higher office desires
| than to serve well the day and generation
| allotted to him In the senate. He has
no other ambitions politically speaking
down To the work Ihnt