The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-23
CAPITOL To HAVE
SOME ATTENTION
Executive Mansion May Also
Be Provided
CITY FULL OF VISITORS
Montgomery People Are Trying Them
selves In the Matter of Entertain
ing Representatives and Wis
TORS to Legislature.
CITY FULL OF VISITORS


Montgomery. January 22.-(speeial9 =
The question of improving the capitol
naturally has the profound sympathy and
attention of those people who are inter-
ested in the city of Montgomery proper
For some time it has been agitated and
always with a view of making a building
that will be credit TO the state, ade-
quate to the business of a large common
wealth and at the same time preserving
the historic old building in which the
Confederacy was organized over two
score years ago. As a consequence the
bill of Representative Goodwin looking
to further appropriations for this cause
has received the sympathy of all the
people in and about the city, and 1t is
thought that there will be no difficulty
in the bill finally securing passage ard
favorable action by the executive.
While it is unfortunate that no greater
progress has been made on the improve
ments than one sees at this time, stu
it is perhaps better in the long run, be-
cause 1t will leave the whole situation
plan along the highest and best lines. II
the bill now pending in the house be-
comes a law with a full appropriation OF
S250,0O0 1t will provide for another wing
and also for the erection of handsome
quarters for the supreme court in the
rear of the main building. While this
idea is only tentative, still it is quite
certain that in the end the building will
be SO improved as to provide for the
needs of the officers
Executive Mansion.
Additional interest attaches to capitol
Improvement at this time because of the
supposition that the present session viii
provide for a governors mansion, very
much needed at this time If this is done
it will take care of the Alabama execu-
tive in fairly good shape. Even with so
large a family as Governor Conner has,
it win be possible for him to get along
and maintain the dignity of his position
ON 5000 and a home. 1t is quite likely
that If there is a decision to erect a man
sion ii will be located within a short
distance of the capitol and will be along
modern lines of the house development
of residence architecture. There has been
some talk of the old Beauvoir club on
Perry street, as a probable site for a
governor mansion but the impression
that it will be located near the capitol
seems to be the most prominent one.
Montgomery Hospitality.
Montgomery is trying itself during this
session of the legislature along the lines
of hospitality and attention to its visl-
tors. With the addition of the handsome
new Exchange hotel and better provis
ions in the smaller hotels, 1t is possible
for all of the members of the legisla ture
and visitors to find not only comfortable
quarters suitable to the desires ana
means of all who come. While there has
been some little complaint on the part of
those who desire to live in boarding
houses, it is a fact that those who are
here temporarily We're never we'll nor
so comfortably cared for. A well known
out-of-town man said the other day,
Il just come to Montgomery every once
and a while now because you have a
good hotel and | enjoy being with the
people,
Many of the leading members of the
legislature have their headquarters at the
New Exchange, notably Lieutenant Gov
ernor Gray and President Pro TEN
Thomas of the senate and its Hobbies
are filled every evening with members
and other friends talking over the various
measures that are being discussed A
great many men are also here who are
interested in bills pending before the
legislature and with so many interests
represented the lobby of the hotel is an
attractive place at all times.
Moderate Lobbying.
While there has been an absence OF
decided lobbying so far during the pres
ent session, it Is a fact that considera~
BILE of it is going on. The liquor inter
ests have several men on guard and two
or three meetings have been held looking
to the best means of protecting it against
antagonistic legislation. Almost every
member first or last has an anti-whisky
bill and it is very popular theme in
both houses. Not only is the effort being
made to control the sale of whisky and
other intoXicants in the state. but every
thing possible is likely to be done to
prevent other states from shipping intox-
icating liquors In prohibition territory Of
Alabama The whole idea seems to be to
make 1t possible for every community II
vote liquor out or in. as it sees fit. and
it really appears to a careful observer
that the anti-liquor feeling is largely
dominant In both houses. This alone.
with the fact that the platform calls for
definite local option law, will make 1t
an easy matter to guess what VIII be
done when the issue comes TO vote.
If it may be called lobbying, one of the
most influential lobbiests so far developed
is that of the anti-saloon league. repre-
scented by the Rev. Brooks Lawrence.
The gentlemen associated with him have
kept themselves in touch with temper
ance legislation from the beginning and
they are making a great show for the
movement. 1t is expected that bills regu-
lating the liquor traffic will be passed be-
fore any recess, in which case the Law
will very likely go into effect in short
time.
Remember, the payment of