The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-09
Statutory Prohibition of LIqu0rs
 Meets Some Opposition
TWO RULINGS ARE DOUBTFUL
Limestone County Especially Will Be Embarrassed By State Prohibition Law-Surprise In Store
 for Druggists.
Bx c. M. STANLEY.

Montgomery, November 7.--(Special.) A special effort will be made by Rep resentative Lovelady of Jefferson to press through his anti-cocaine bill at this session. Tn view of the prohibit ton wave in the state it is contended that measure regulating the sale of opiates will be more necessary than ever
 Lovelady's bill goes at the very root of the trouble by absolutely prohibit ing the sale of cocaine and it's salts, opium and it's alkaloids and eucaine and it's salts, except on the prescription of doctor and even then a physician can prescribe no more than five grains of any of these at one time.
 A very strong anti-cocaine sentiment has grown up in the state in the past few months which has been fostered largely by the growth of the evil among negroes. Interruptions drug gists sell cocaine in any qdantity to ne- groes and as a result many vicious crimes can be traced directly to ne- from these men.
 AS between cocaine fiends and drunkards I would rather deal with drunkards every time" said Dr. Love lady tonight in discussing his bill. The cocaine fiend is the worst enemy of so- ciety today, and we simply must do something to regulate the use of the awful drug. Furthermore, I consider an anti-cocaine bill as absolutely nec- .,t- tlO prohibition law.
 "If negroes are to be largely deprived of whisky, which we hope will be the result of our prohibition laws, they will naturally fall back upon any other sort of stlmulant obtainable, and un- less we have a law to prevent it there Is going to be a great increase In the cocaine evil. In fact, the cocaine evil has been growing all the time under conditions as they have been in the past.
 T do not believe there has been growth in the morphine and opium habits in the past few years. The morphine habit is acquired largely as the result of it's use by physicians to relieve pain and the patient gradually forms the habit himself. In recent years physicians have realized this and they have used the drug much more sparingly.
 "Conditions in Alabama call for anti- cocaine legislation, and l believe the present legislature realizes the fact"
 One of the most interesting questions that has come before the legislature Is that regarding the application of the two thirds rule in introducing measures not included in the governors call, This in- cludes the statutory or constitutional pro- hibition which makes 1t so important.
 The constitution says. in section 76: When the legislature shall be convened in special session, there shall be no legis- lation upon subjects other than those des- ignated in the proclamation of the gover- nor calling such session, except by vote of two-thirds of each house."
 The question that has arisen is whether the '1ntroduction' of the prohibition bills constitutes a part of the Legislation" specified in the constitution, or whether simply the final passage" constitutes Legislation" Lieutenant Governor Gray in the senate and Speaker Carmichael in the house both ruled that majority was all that Is necessary to permit the introduction" of the bills, but that two thirds of the legislature" will be neces- sary for final passage.
 There are those who contend that if the prohibition bills are passed under this ruling they will be unconstitutional. Sem ator Perry Thomas, for instance, says that Legislation comprises several steps and that one step is as necessary as an- other in achieving the final result. He maintains that two-thirds majority is necessary for each step-just as necessary ----~-----~-~-~-->--~>> ~s~--------~----~------