The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-13

inauguration of new Governor. m the meanwhile. the Legislators are shaping up their pct measures for in- troduction Tuesday, which will be the
 first work day. and on which 1t Is ex- pected the gates will be thrown open and flood of bills will be permitted to flow in.
 And 1t will be flood too. There are enough general measures to keep the Legislature busy for the forty seven days that now remain to 1t. It is confidently expected. too, that the flood of local bills will be quite as large as 1t was four years ago. There is hardly County paper in Alabama that has not been carrying from one to half a dozen printed notices of the in- tention of the Legislators from that County to introduce certain local meas ures.
 There seems to be but one opinion among the Legislators as to four years sessions of the lawmakers of Alabama. :. They believe it to be the one big mis- take of the Constitutional Convention. :. Practically every one of them, In pri- vate conversation, freely says 1t was great mistake to limit the Legislature | to a duadrennial session.
 It will be remembered that during the Constitutional Convention in 1901, | strong minority objected strenuously | to limiting the Legislature to quadren- nia1 sessions But the previous Legis- | latures had been soundly roasted, and | the Constitution makers declared the | people of the State wanted fewer meet | ings of the Legislature.
 Quadreunial Session Unsatfsfactory | The corporations which have busi- ness interest in all legislation, and l which are put to some trouble and ex- pense at every session, fell heartily in- | to the suggestion of the members. who | said they were speaking for the people. | he business corporations of the State | were better pleased with the four year | idea than the people were, and the leg l islators are beginning to realize that in l appreciating the handicap on the de- | veiopment of the State, a quadrennial l session of the Legislature is great | incubus.
 Senator John A. Lusk yesterday took | a position against the quadrennial ses- sions of the Alabama Legislature He went further and announced that 1t was his purpose to present bill which would bring about a session annually, or. at any rate, biennial sessions of the lawmakers. The task the Constf- tutional Convention placed upon each Legislature to make laws and settle all problems that may arise in four years. is regarded as most arbitrary and most unjust.
 Of course a constitutional amend ment will be necessary before the leg
 islative periods can be changed, and this is the purpose of the bill which Senator Lusk will introduce.
 One of the most important duties that the present Legislature will per form, and one which will give it unique distinction in the>history of the State, is the fact that it will elect two United States Senators. In doing his, there will, however, be no interest and no excitement. The Legislature will only record the will of the people of Alabama and it will cast its unanimous
 vote for Edmund w. Pettus and John T. Morgan, the two veterans statesmen who have reflected credit on the State of Alabama. It Is possible that even the two Republican members of the House will vote for them. Certainly. every Democratic Senator will so vote. for they were instructed that way in the Democratic primary.
 The election will take place Tuesday week. Both will receive their new commission to the Senate on that day. Two oldest Senators. Senators Morgan and Pettus now are the two oldest members of the United States Senate. Only two United States Senators have ever served longer than I1Senator Morgan. Justin S. Morrill, of Vermont, and William B. Allison of Iowa. Mir. Morrill, served thirty-one years as a United States Senator before
 his death. Senator Allison has served
 nearly thirty three years. Senator
 year of service! IF he snouId sasSe siTS [
 out the full term of six years. to which
 he will be elected by this Legislature,
 he will have served longer than any
 other man in the history of the Senate,
 unless Senator Allison should exceed | his record.
 Senator Morgan was elected to the
 United States Senate in 1876 directly
 after the State had been recovered from | carpet bag rule. Senator Pettus will
 be given his third election by the pres
 ent Legislature. He was first elected
 in 1896, and was reelected in 1902. He is the oldest member of the United | States Senate.
 l Both Senators will address the Ala
 bama Legislature. While no announce
 ment to this effect has been made, 1t
 has been the custom for the Senators when they are elected, to address the | joint sessions which tenders them that honor.
 The present term of Senator Morgan will expire March 4 of the present year. The present term of Senator Pettus will expire March 4, 1909 or