The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-02-22

 so prominent in the local option bill.
 MT Reese referred to the prominent part played in the agitation by cer- tain distinguished gentleman of the cloth. He seemed to think this per- son had been rather active in assist ing in the deliberations of the Legis- lature. Mr. Reese declared this gem tleman had not been elected to repre- sent any district in the Senate, and he contended that the gentleman was un- familiar with conditions as they exist ed in the various districts. He took up an article published in The Alabama Citizen as to conditions existing in Dal- las County. He took no exception to the statement that negroes are killing ways been true, as far as he could re- member. but he defended the county from certain criticisms contained in the article.
 The Reese amendment was defeated, and the Senate adopted the local option bill with but slight opposition. Brings Up Firearm Biii.
 The Senate began its session with prayer offered by Rev. MT Emerson, of Birmingham. Thirty Senators were present.
 The Banking and Insurance Commit tee gave favorable report to the bill providing for a system of State Repositories for state funds, Senator Hinson early in the session started his successful fight to book his firearms bill, recalled from an adverse report by the Committee on Prison, penitentiaries and prison pun ishment. The bill was one in which the Lowndes county Senator was deep ly interested, and to the passage of which he has particularly devoted his attention. The bill, as explained by MT. Hinson, provides a scheme to license law abiding citizens to carry fire arms upon the approval of an appli cation by the probate judge. In case of the refusal of an application, the ap- plicant has the right to appeal to q jury. to ascertain if he shall not be authorized to carry a firearm. In case of the granting of a license and the payment of the dollar fee, the success full applicant must wear a badge of 1 some durable metal. on which the work armed" Is to be printed In red letters.
 On the other hand, no one can carry firearm of any sort. concealed or un- concealed, beyond the curtilage or his dwelling" without being subject to a heavy penalty. The bill further provides that no unlicensed person shall have the right to own firearms.
 These are the principal provisions VI tue Uiti auNOCdtGQ pf btudtOT 11tH~ son in an hours address in advocacy Of the measure. He pointed out the great need of sucn measure in the Black Belt. He read letter from. 6 constituent who said. "A stringent wea- pon law must be passed. The negroes are arming themselves. Nearly every negro In this section has a Winchester rifle. What use is winchester rifle In this country"
 ogl. fAnf 1e kss said Senator Hinson. What use is a Winchester rifle to negro in that county? Why have the negroes bought Winchester rifles? Are they afraid of wild animals in Lowndes county, Why the largest and most ferocious animal in that county is a swamp rabbit"
 Human Life Held Cheap.
 Mr. Hinson deplored the great num- Der of homocides in Alabama. He be- lieved that perhaps in no other sec- ton. of the world is human life held SO cheap in Alabama. He quoted statements to show that Alabama had an overwhelming number of homoeides as compared with other States and nations. These figures showed, accord ing to the million of population, that Canada had less than five, England less than nine. MT, Hinson specially emphasized the figures that came from Japdu anu Vub Lp which we send missionaries" The fig ures showed that according to the mil lion popuiation fin India, the number of homocides was less than twenty five. while in Japan the number was only fourteen to the million popula- tion.
 MT. Hinson then drew tho Senate's particular attention to the distressing statistics on homocides in Alabama. 1Pb hat fa million population in Alabma there were 167 homocides. Senator Hinson asked the Senate to consider the signi- ficance of those figures, and he pre- scented a bill which he firmly believed would materially reduce homocides in the State. The bill not only restrict ed the carrying of weapons conceal ed and unconcealed. but 1t put ban upon their possession by persons who were liable to cause disturbances.
 In submitting the bill, he handed in two amendments, the adoption of which he would ask at the proper time. One of the amendments provided that no person who had ever been con. victed of a felony should be granted firearms license by the judge of probate, and the second provided that the State Auditor should have 10000 copies of the law printed on durable cardboard SO that in every precinct a pustice of the peace could post In public place three copies of the law
 state Wants Law BOdIy.
 MT. Reese expressed some surprise that neither the House nor the Sem ate had inaugurated Legislation along the line. to which the bill of Senator Hinson belonged. It was his opinion the people of the State were as much concerned over securing a strong, er- fective weapon law as in any other legislation. His constituents had talk. ed over that Issue with him more than any other question.
 We need such law badly in Dal- las county" said Mir. Reese Tn Sell ma, the fourth largest city in the State, in the peaceful city of Selma, 1t is a common thing to see big negroes ! walking down the principal streets, carrying weapons in their hands. They are no cheap second hand pop gun but the most modern make.
 Mr. Reese pointed out, too, that the | law too often is not enforced when the defendant was a white man, especially when he was a white man of any ] prominence. He had seen white defend- ants acquitted by jury after the fudge had given the affirmative charge on the guilt of the defendant. He spoke of the crying need of reform | for law and order in Alabama. ls was not a new thing In the State, this condition of affairs, for great Jurist of another generation had described chose conditions as "a carnival of the