The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-23
Common Carriers Cant Charge
Only Two and One
Half Cents
SALARIES OF JUSTICES
INCREASED TO $4,000
House Appropriates $25o,ooo for Fur
ther improvements In the Capitol.
Railroad Fare Increased to
Please the Governor.

Montgomery, January 23.-(Special)-
The senate today passed the bill to have
all common carriers in the state charge
only two and a half cents fare, except
that all lines below fifty miles in length
shall be regulated as to fares by the rail-
road commission. The bill providing for
the liability of common carriers for
freight lost or damaged was also passed.
with one or two amendments.
The house passed the bills to increase
the salaries of the judges of the supreme
court to $4,000 and also to appropriate
the sum Of s25O,OoO to the further inn
proyement of the capitol Both were dis
cussed generally but not specially op-
posed. Some contended that the justices
bill would not be constitutional in that 1t
mentioned justices as officers of the state.
However. it was decided that such objec-
ton was not well taken. The only opposl-
tion to the appropriation bill was that 1t
should wait for other appropriations.
The house and senate, at noon, paused
to elect United States senator's, Senators
Morgan and Pettus being renamed with
out opposition. Mr.. Lusk, in the senate,
presented Senator Morgan's name, and
Mr.. Thomas that of Senator Pettus. Gen
eral Morgan was nominated in the house
by Mr.. John and General Pettus by Mr..
Pitts of Dallas. The entire votes of The
two houses were cast for them. There
were no eulogies, save short tributes when
the nominations were made.
Rate Is Changed.
The bill TO make passenger fares 2H2
cents a mile came from the senate COM
mittee at cents, but, in line with the
wishes of the governor, it was made 2Ha
cents. The decision to make fares on
lines of fifty miles or less came as re-
suit of statement that many roads
were better able to handle passengers
than others and there would have to be
variety Of charges
The claims bill provides that all COM
mon carriers are to pay claims for DAM
ages or loss to freight within thirty days
after the claim is made, else the claim
ant may recover four fold the claim, un-
der S25. over that there is a graduated
scale. The claimant has sixty days to
file claim and may sue any time in
year, but will get no penalty If delay
is over two months. Both railroad bills
were passed with practical unanimity.
Blackman Of Calhoun being the only neg
alive voter.
Mr.. Miller's Views.
There are some of the members of the
legislature who feel that too much time
is being taken up with matters that are
not among the issues upon which the
campaign was made Senator y. l.. Mil
Ter of Jefferson said today that he
thought that the body is too busy with
other matters and that it was high time
the questions upon which the fight was
made were being taken up seriously and
pushed to passage.
There are many matters in the plat
form, and regarded administration
policies, too, that were not discussed
during the campaign as vital issues.
These ought to wait 1t is our business
to enact the laws upon which the fight
was made and which all interests desire
to have fought out early said Mr.. Mil
Ter this morning. Rate regulation, car
service, anti-pass bills, settlement OF
claims, all these are questions upon
which the party stands pledged to legis-
late. Let us get them out of the way
and then take up the others. Until We
do work out the leading issues l do not
think we should spend too much time IN
other movements.
Wants Main Question.
"The two houses and the committees
are filled with bills that have no con-
nection with the main features of the
platform and the questions about which
The campaign hinged. We are given our
food SO fast 1t is impossible to digest it.
Let us have the main questions and get
them out of the way and then begin on
these If there is any time for 1t. The
people of the state are calling for az
tion along these lines. l do not think II
would be right to adjourn for the pur-
pose of discussing any measures other
than those upon which the fight was
waged in the primaries and the cleo
ton"
II was suggester last night that the two
houses adjourn over from today 10
Thursday in order that the work now be-
fore the committees could be threshed'
out. The idea was advanced by Mr.. Lusk,
leader of the majority in the senate. who
thinks that the judiciary bills ought 10
have immediate attention. However, MIR.
Miller and others take it that these are
measures that can bide their time and
give the legislators opportunity to get
other matters settled.