The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-06
Each Wants to Name
 the Committees of
 Senate. BOTH CLAIM SUPPORT OF
 THE NEW ADMINISTRATION M
 Legislators Are of Opinion That
 Present Session May
 Take Recess Izeuteaant Gsvernor-eiect Declares op- ,. rs.ent Is Against New Regims .s whiis Latter Maintains He Tsvors Proposed Railread Lesislation.

Statement by Lieutenant Governor elect Henry D. 0rayt
 q shall stand out for the prercga- tive of the Lieutenant Governor as pre- siding ofncer naming the committees. unfil the sente takes whatever action 1t may decide upon. There arc sev- eraI feasible plans by which cmbarrass- naent may be avoided. | and the friends who are with me in this contest are serene.s
 Statement by Senator D. P. Thomass
 aI believe the Senate will reserve to itself the right of having legfslatfve ofFicer of its own selection name the commsttees without shifting that re- sponsibilaty to an ofIicer of the execu- tive department, clearly defined to be such by the Constitution. If the sen- ate should be disposed to waste a week of It's valuable time at the expense Of the people in order that the plans and tAlse purposes of the Lieufemant Cover nor may he effectuafed it h the prfvi- lexe of the Senators to do 1t, but nm conAdent the Senate will be guided by : the Constitutfon in this narticular and when it organizes on Tuesday the 8th standing committees by some onicer or person of It's own body as contem- plated by the Consfitutfon.D
 The advance guard of the Alabama Legislature, small but important, as- sembled last night in the lobby of the Exchange Hotel. and political talk , was rapid and common. Tn proportion there were more Senators than mem bers of the Lower House, which would seem to indicate on the part of the Senators keener and deeper interest in the contest over the appointments of the committees Of that body than 3s ssrl fac nn < lection of their Speaker.
 Distinguished among tho arrivals yesterday were Governor-elect B. B. Conner. Lieutenant Governor-elect Hem " B. Gray, and Senator ID. F. Thom- as. The Senate fight overshadowed all Governor and Senator Thomas issued statements of their position. Friends of both Senators and members of the Senate were about them during the evening.
 It developed last night that in all probability the present session of the Legislature would be a "split session" like the last session; that is, that the Legislature would probably remain in session for thirty days and adjourn after naming standing committees to digest legislation and have 1t ready for report and recommendation when the Legislature reconvenes It was suggested that perhaps the Legislature would hold for thirty days during the winter and then adjourn. During the adjournment, standing committees would meet for certain length of time and take committee action upon pending legislation. The Legislature would then meet in the late summer or in the fall and pass upon the ~legis- lation as 1t should be brought to the members by the committees.
 In this may only. 1t is believed, the great amount of work before the law makers can be accomplished.
 Thomas States Position.
 For the first time, Senator p. P. Thomas. who is a candidate for Presi- dent pro tenn of the Senate, made statement of his position as to ques- tions which have been considerably in the public eye, and which were brought about by the friendly controversy as to who should name the committees. Senator Thomas reached the city last night at 8 o'clock. from his home at Eu- faula. He opened headquarters at the Exchange Hotel.N He was moved to is- sue this statement by the frequently published insinuations and charges that he was politically opposed to the administration of MT. Conner. Asked for Q statement as to the Senate contro- versy, Senator Thomas said;
 'sThe only statement I care to make Is statement refuting the unjust and absurd charge that I am opposed to the administration of MT. Conner This charge, as unjust as it is absurd, is made solely as a political exigency. The platform of the Democratic Party has embodied the principle of railroad rate reforms, as they have been advo- cated by MT Conner. That alone would be sufficient guide foe me in my course in the Senate.
 esE2tf I am nrh14oIO rJadrad au fhJa question. I am under pledge to the people of Barbour County that I will stand by the principles of railroad rate legislation as they are and were advo> cated by Mir. Conner. That pledge was asked for by the people of Barbouy ounty, and printed in the papers of that county. I hope no man in the Senate. or out of 1t, will believe me capable of any such self stultiflcation as the yio- 1ation of that pledge.
 stands By Conner.
 -But my record on rate Legislation is wrltten in the journals of the Senate. In the last Senate I advocated with all the power at my command, the elective Railroad Commission, and the other rate legislation which passed by such a narrow margin. Thought for that leg islation when it was not so popular as it is now. and when some who are ad- vocating 1t now were not advocating 1t then. The record is in the Senate Jour. nal It can not be plotted out.
 Beyond all this. MT. Conner is na- tive of Barbour County. and as citizen of which, and as representative of which, 1t shall be and 1t Is my earnest aim and desire that his administration as Governor should be a success.
 z T hope there will be no more unfair and unjust charges that I am opposing the administration of MT. Conner, and the principles for which he standA
 The statement sometimes made and sometimes insinuated, that Mir. Conner is opposing my naming the committees.