The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-27
Taken from Adverse Report By
 One Vote
SENATOR MILLER'S FIGHT
Though He Is Defeated In His Plan, He Is Congratulated On His Good Work on the Floor of
 the Senate.

Montgomery, July 26-lspeoial) )-The most intense situation of the present ses- sion of the legislature deveioped in the senate this morning when by the close vote of 16 to r the King Greater Birm- ingham bill was taken from the adverse report accorded it by the committee on lo- cal legislation. Senator Miller of Jefferson resisted the motion, which was made by Senator Oyerton, and though he appealed in the name of not only his own pledge but the pledge, as he saw it. of every member of the delegation for the referen- dunn principle he was outvoted just one. and the well known wishes of the presid- ing officer Lieutenant Governor Gray. for the success of the King bill were carried out.
 Just after Senator Miller, who repre-. sents Jefferson county had presented a bill to allow the salary of the members of the board of revenue of his county raised to Sl50O year, Senator Overton. a. close personal and political friend of Lieu tenant Governor Gray arose and moved that the bill be taken from the adverse report. II gave him great pain to be forced to disagree with the well known position of the gentleman from Jefferson. but he felt that it was a state matter. that all of the state Is interested in n great metropolis, such as the extended limits of Birmingham under this bill would give. New York and Chicago were cited as examples of the extent to which great cities can elevate and advance a state and he thought it would be a dere fiction of duty on the part of the legisla- ture if some plan for the extension of Birmingham was not adopted
 Miller Very Earnest.
 Senator Miller, who by general consent was next recognized, voiced his great re- gret for a division of his own people on thls question and his disappointment that members of the senate did not see ft to support him in promises that he had made his people. He seemed very much moved at the effort to act in a way con- trary to the position he had taken. a po- sition, he insisted made necessary by the promises he had made with others for the referendum idea in the extension of the corporate limits of the city. He then re- viewed the history of Greater Birming- | ham movements.
 Getting into his speech, Senator Miller said that the candidates for legislative honors We're pledged to the referendum principle in the extension of the city llm- l it's; that the Commercial club and the board of trade, among others. committed him to the idea when he was running for the place; yet here he found them lobby ing for the bill. He expected to remain faithful to his pledge and his promise to the people, and it seemed 10 him far call on moral lines for those behind the bill to ask him. in the face of promises | that they well knew he and others had | made, to support the bill. He said: There are more than 5000 people outside the limits of the present city who have q right to be heard; who have rights that | ought 10 receive consideration at the ! hands of the legislature and the men i from all sections sent down here to make l the laws"
 Reviewed Campaign. 1 While Mr Miller was speaking he was I given the closest attention, and every one seemed ot appreciate the position he l occupied. He went over the whole ground of the fight. his pledge and the pledge of l others, as he saw it, pledges spoken anl
 pledges implied, and asked in earnest
 voice that he be supported in giving tho service his people had n right to expect | of him as q result of the understanding
 of the race of himself and others. We are all committed 10 referendum 1 in this case said Senator Miller as he paused and looked over the senate. q now | ask the members of this senate to stand
 with me and by the pledge that I have | made to my people and in which pledge | you are In q sense involved.
 | he of
 near him grasped his hand and congratu- | lated him on the speech.
 Senator Hammer asked if Mir Miller was | opposed to taking the bill from the ad- verse calendar and received an affirmative 1 reply. He then asked If Mr Miller would
 claim senatorial courtesy on the move ment. MT. Miller replied that that was
 an indelicate question and intimated hls l surprise that it should be propounded.
 MoWhorten for Bill.
 Senator McWhorter then took the floor in support of taking the bill from the l adverse calendar. He regretted very much 1 to oppose MT Miller, to whose worth and work he paid high tribute. He thought l it was due the state, however, that 1t i be given great city; that the question was one of the whole people and not for 1 Jefferson county alone. He argued for | the passage of the bill.
 l MT. Lelth said that while he regretted l the necessity of opposing Senator Miller. l he thought the state had right to de- | mand q great city. and he was going 10 l vote for 1t for that reason.
 l Mir. Reese took practically the same l view He was pained to be forced to op l pose Mr. Miller. for whom he had only | the highest regard and best of feeling but
 as he saw it, his duty was to vote for ths l bill for the glory of the state.
 Vote In Detail.
 1 The vote was then taken, as follows: | Ayes - Blaekmon, Doster. Gardner.
 Glenn Hayes. Horton, Leith. Lusk, Mer-
 ritt. McWhorter. Overton, Reese, Reed,
 Reynolds. Spragins, White, Wilson-l7.
 Nays Barbour. Bayles. Davis, Forres-
 ter, Gum Hammer. Heaeock, Hnson, | Jones, King, Lowe. Miller, Moody, Teas | ley, Thomas and Wimberly-lG
 In explaining his vote. Mr neynol6s
 said that he understood the reason why | Birmingham lost the sub-treasury was | that it was not large enough. and IS the brain and muscle of the canurty was head ] CONTINUED ON PAGE s.l