The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-10
Lieut. Gov Will Appoint the
Senate Committees
VOTE IN SENATE % TO z
Fight for Gray Forces Led BY Lusk.
That of Senator Thomas, Who
Made a Notable Speech,
BY sprasins.
BY HERVEY W. LAIRD.

Montgomery. January 9.-(special.) 1.-The
battle of today took place in the senate,
where the will of Lieutenant Governor
Henry B. Gray prevailed over that of
Perry Thomas, the senator from Barbour.
The latter contended that the lieutenant
governor had not the right to appoint
the committees of the senate; the lieuten-
ant governor contended that he had. The
senate on a vote Of 23 to 12 held with
Mr. Gray refusing TO adopt a compro-
mise offered in a motion to have the COM
mittees selected by steering commit
tee.
The fight for the Gray forces was led
by John A. Lusk the senator from Mar
shall. who presented the resolution to
have the committees appointed by the
lieutenant governor. The other side, or
that of Senator Thomas, was led by Mr.
Spragins of Madison, who made hard
fight. Some very warm speeches were
made notably that of Mr.. Thomas, who
charged that Mr.. Conner was not opposed
to him until conditions brought about
by Mr.. Gray forced him to take a position
In favor of the latter.
After failure to have his contention
adopted, Mr.. Thomas filed a protest
against the appointment of the COMMITTEES
by Mr.. Gray and had it placed upon the
records.
Among the pages announced today by
the president pro tenn of the senate was
Master J. Klrkman Jackson, Jr., the
bright young son of J. Kirk Jackson pri-
vate secretary to Governor Jelks. This
little fellow is a pet of the officers at
the capitol and he is known in the neigh
borhood of his home as "the pride of
Perry street." He is the youngest and
smallest of the corps which will have to
/. D. the errand running of the upper house.
Senate Session.
The senate met at noon, called to order
by Lieutenant Governor Cunningham
Lieutenant Governor elect Henry B. Gray
was in the capitol but not in the cham
ber. Prayer was offered by the Rev. W.
r. Avery of Randolph, a member of the
house.
Roll call showed thirty present, and on
motion the journal of the day before was
approved without reading.
On motion of Mr.. Reese of Dallas the
senate proceeded with the election of the
officers nominated at the caucus. They
were all duly elected, including the fol-
lowing: President pro tenn, Perry Thomas
Of Barbour; secretary, ]. A. Kyle of Jack
son. assistant secretary, w. j. Conniff
Of Montgomery; engrossng and enrolling
clerk, Mrs. M. V. Gessner of Montgom-
cry; comparing clerk, Mrs Laura j. AL
ley Montgomery; doorkeeper, w. b.
Kemp of Monroe; assistant doorkeeper
". H. Mabin of Montgomery; doorkeep-
er in the gallery, John d. Gardner of Bar
bour.
Mr. Thomas was notified of his selec-
tion as president pro tenn by a commit
tee composed of Hinson, Reese and Lusk
He made talk in which he thanked the
senators for their support and assured
them of his desire to make them in every
way an efficient officer. He and the other
officers were sworn in by the lieutenant
governor.
Where the Contest Comes.
Senator Lusk here moved the rules of
the last senate be adopted except as to
rule 30, which should be amended so as
TO provide that the committees of the
senate be appointed by the lieutenant gov
ernor instead of the president pro TEN,
was the case at the last session.
Mr.. Spragins was at once recognized
20 present a substitute that the commit
tees be named by a steering committee
composed of Lusk, Lowe, Overton, Hor-
ton and Reid, the same to be approved by
The senate and to be announced by the
presiding officer of the senate when re-
ported
This ran the crowd up to the great
question of the man to appoint the COM
nittees, and about which there had been
all the preliminary fighting. 1t was
Known last night that Lieutenant Cover
ior Gray had enough senator's with him
10 support his desire to appoint the COM
nittees, and this was regarded as a move
20 defeat this idea. While it was taken
10 be an offer to compromise, as all the
men on 1t are members of the dominant
faction, the Gray men rebelled and the
Thomas followers supported it.
A resolution was adopted inviting Dr.
+ r. s. Palmer of the game preserves at
Washington and DR., ]. N Mccormack of
Kentucky TO address the joint session
tomorrow. The governors message was
,ot read but 500 copies were ordered for
distribution.
Messengers and pages were named for
he senate follows: Joe Wilkerson,
messenger; j. K. Jackson, Jr., Thomas
gayes, C. c. Devinney, Armstead Gayle,
, pages.
House In Session.
Mr.. Spragins spoke to his resolution
n the midst OF which the clerk of the
iouse announced the house in session. A
committee was named to join with the
house committee to notify the governor
hat the legislature was in session. A res
,lution providing for a joint session to
,ount the vote tomorrow was adopted 1t
vas also announced from the house that
committee of the two houses had been
provided for to arrange for the inaugura-
Ion of the new governor. Adopted with
announcement that the senate committee
gould be named later.
Mr.. spragins said that he had been in
ormed that the administration was be-
lind the movement to have Gray name
he committees and discussed the bad
dea, he saw 1t. of having such a con-
lition in the work of the body He feared
the change of precedent of having the
lieutenant governor name the committees
md insisted that it was the duty of the
epate not to lose any of its preroga-
ives. He thought IL bad idea for the
enate to adjourn from day to day and
axe up the time of the state and the