The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-10
H Places Them in Preferred
 Class.
  FRIENDS OF cOMER FIGHT FOR PREFERRED MEASURE Bill for Exemption Apple of Legis-
 lative Eye. Plants Or Additions May Be Built Free From Taxation During Ten Years, Provided Cost Exceeds
 s5o,eoo.

The Senate of Alabama yesterday in- dicated by one vote that was taken. that while 6 ban might be placed on other corporate interests of Alabama, it did not apply to cotton mil corporations of the State. The Senate apparently went on record as favoring an exempt ion of the cotton mills of the State from all taxation.
 By vote of 15 to IF. the Senate took from the adverse calendar the bill to extend the time limit for five years in which new cotton mills and addi- tions could be built in Alabama and be free from tho payment of taxes for the next ten years. An interesting pro- vision of the bill is that q cotton mill cannot enjoy this peculiar privilege un- less 1t invests as much as s5o.ooo either in a new mill or in an addition.
 The fight for the further exemption of cotton mills was led by three close political friends of Governor Conner. Senators Reynolds. of Bibb; Lusk. of Marshall. and Hammer. of Etowah.
 The bill was originally introduced by Senator Hayes. of Limestone. It was adversed by the Committee on Mining and Manufacturing. Tho fight in the Senate to get the measure on the floor was taken up by Senator Reynolds and ably seconded by Messrs. Lusk. Hammer and spragins. The discussion had not proceeded very far before 1t was real aized the Legislature intended to espec- iaily except the cotton mills of the State from its restrictive and reguiatiys { iegisIation.
 Apple of Legislative Eye.
 The railroads might get a stepchild's treatment from the Legislature. but the cotton mills was the apple of the leg- isiative eye As soon as they got a chance to vote, the Senators quickly and handily removed the bill from the ad- verse calendar, and placed 1t on the fa- vored calendar.
 Senator Reynolds shortly after the Senate session began, called for the consideration of his motion from the adverse calendar, the bill extending the time of exempting cotton mills from taxation. The bill provides that any new mill or any addition to an existing mill built at a cost of more than $5O,- t0O, within the next five years, should be exempt from taxation for the next ten years.
 Senator Reynolds spoke in favor of his motion. He described the great growth of the cotton mill industry in Alabama. In the past ten years. ne declared. the industry had practically trebled. These mills had been of great advantage to the farmers. They had enabled him to ask and to re- coive higher and better price for his cotton. the great staple crop of Alabama The policy of Alabama had, in the past ten years, been to foster and build up the industry. The bill in question, gave an extension of five years to that policy. He alluded to the same policy which was being fol- lowed by other Southern States and to the fact that the observance of such a policy had given to South Carolina mills enough to consume Its entire crop.
 Class of Favored Corporations.
 Senator Merritt made an earnest appeal for the defeat of the motion. He described the discrimination that was contained in the bill, and declared It's passage would establish a class of favored corporations. He took the po- sition that the proposed legislation was unfair and unjust. He was not satisfied but that the legislation most needed for the cotton mills at this time was the legislation which would protect the helpless children who were laboring within their walls.
 Senator LuSk advocated the bill fin A brief speech. It occurred to him the exemption in other years had materi- ally helped the building of cotton mills throughout the State. He was led to believe. too, that 1t had helped the price of cotton near the towns in which the cotton mills were located.
 Senator Hinson was for the motion and for the bill believing as he did. in anything that would induce capi- tai to come into Alabama. There were many communities in Alabama. he said, which needed a cotton mill, and which could we'll support one. He would support the bill in the hope that the exception would induce other mills to locate in Alabama.
 Senator Reese was not satisfied with the measure. It occurred to him that if embraced discrimination, and the making of a favored class of corpora tions Mir. Roose stood for the up- building of the industries of the State, but he did not favor discrimination between classes of corporations in leg islating for the State.
 Hammer Defends Measure.
 Senator Hammer informed the Sem ate that he lived in the neighborhood of A great cotton mill which had done much to upbuild the prosperity of his section. He declared the land on which inc mill was built could have been bought for from s5 to $1o an acre. but since the erection of the mill fine little city had been built up around it. He declared, too, that the farmers of his section had been enabled to secure n decidedly better price for their cot ion. He attributed the building of that mill and it's consequent advantages to the county of Etowah.
 "considering the legislation. which has been passed by the Legislature" said Senator spragins. considering