The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-24
JONES MAY tXTEND THE
 RAILROAD INJIJNCTIONS
Gray Says Governor Is Stronger With the People Than Ever and Thinks Conservative People Are
 With Administration.

| afternoon about o'clock. poured its
 members into Birmingham last night.
 After signing the prohibition bill, the
 John pistol bill and agreeing to sign the
 bill removing the taxation from foreign
 money lenders, Governor Conner closed shop and came to Birmingham. He was
 the first to dsmount from the train. | Following the Governor was I.ieuten- ant Governor Henry B. Cray who pre- l sided over the senate. Then came l Speaker Carmichael, whose bill it is which ! makes Alabama dry on January l, 1905. He was the quietest man in the entire company.
 After the speaker, Senator Miller of Jefferson dismounted. and after hesitat- | ing a moment to bid his friends and companions good nighc. took his way homeward. Then came Senator Barbour of Fort Payne and then any number of legislators.
 Among the latter was the Birmingham | delegation: King, Haley, Urquhart. John and Ragsdale. Others were Messrs Cranford, Lacy, Weaver. Pratt. Sample and White. Senator McWhorter and numerous members of the house con tinued their journey through Birming- ham to points further north.
 Lawrence Among Home Corners. In addition to senators and legislators there were innumerable lawyers, lobby ists, clerks and interested citizens. Among this latter crowd was the Rev. Brooks Lawrence, at whose request the Car michael "club bill" was handed a crush ing defeat.
 From several of the legislators it was learned that this bill of the speaker was entirely too dastic, seeking, as it did, to make every member of a club in which against the state.
 Under the prohibition bill which goes into effect January l. 1909, no club can retail whisky. However, any member of the club may have a private bottle for his individual use. Under the special bill of Speaker Carmichael, however, any man having such bottle was not only guilty himself but made every other member of the club guilty
 This was a statement of Representative Lacy of Walker:
 Continuing he said: Senator Miller, for instance, told me today that he was a member of two clubs in Birmingham. It would manifestly be unfair for Sen ator Miller, visiting one of the clubs to play golf, to be held guilty of a crime because some other member drank whisky at that club. The bill was judged too drastic, and I understand that 1t was beaten the last time at the sug- ,f olyu
 Representative Lacy is considered one of the strongest men of the lower house. He was member of the minority "There were nineteen of us in the house, he stated, "and over this opposition the anti-railroad bills were passed with con sumate ease. They were introduced and often passed without logical argument. If the original railroad bills were considered confiscatory, these later bills, with the penalties attached, are, in several minds, doubly so"
 Gray Takes Different Attitude.
 Lieutenant Governor Gray, however, took an entirely different view. The lieu tenant governor, indeed, was elated over the work of the two houses.
 .The governor had his own way. Talk about the governor losing his power Why, these later bills for the further re- form of the railroads passed by larger
 
 the legislators were sent to the 1egisla- lure to represent the people. Their action was a reflection of the wishes of the peo- pie. There Is no sense in declaring that Governor Conner has stirred up much an- tagonism and opposition among the voters and other citizens of the state. The conservative people everywhere are for the reform and regulation of the rail- roads, and are with Governor Conner and the majorities in both houses.
 ''I believe that the railroads will play other cards. I believe, (too, that Judge Jones will extend the present injunction that exists against the putting into eff feet of the acts of the legislature. How ever inasmuch as any effort of this kind on the part of the Louisville and Nash vile and all other railroads will result in the filing of innuemarble damage suits, I believe that they will finally see that it is wise to desist in their opposition and let Alabama govern Alabama
 Local Option Law Unconstitutional.
 Asked if they had heard reports to the effect that the local option bill would be assailed by people seeking to prove it's unconstitutionalty. several legislators an- swered in the affirmative.
 Under the present status of affairs, those counties which have gone dry through local option elections, Jefferson, for instance, will become dry after Jan uary 1, 1s0S while all other counties in which no elections have been held may continue the sale of whisky through sa- looms and dispensaries until January l, 1909.
 If, however, the local option bill Is proved unconstitutional, saloons will be able to continue operations in Jeffer- son county and other counties in which elections have been held until 1909. The report, since Judge Nesmith granted an ts<v, oiruf ha fine .R fIa votes of Morgan county, has been quite l prove the bill unconstitutional.
 Representative Lacy believes the bill | He bases his belief on the | fact that the bill IS not a general one, that 1t excludes several counties in which | have been established and | grants time limits to others for other | reasons. He stated that he had heard | numerous reports to the effect that this | bill would be assailed. and he believes | that it will not stand the test of the su- prene court.
 Gray Thinks It Vulnerable.
 Lieut.. Gov. Henry B. Gray is another who has heard rumors to the effect that | the D.., would be tested He, too, be- | ieves it is vulnerable. Tt is not gen sral." he declared last night. ''It does not include every county in the state. It s not known as general bill, efrecting