The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-09-20
Specific Purpose is to Amend the Stale Railroad Rate
 Measure
WILL ATTEND DEEP WATERWAYS CONVENT.JN
Wiley Tom Johnson, Who Wrote an Abusive Letter to Judge John Pe- ham, Is Given Full Pardon
 By the Governor.

Montgomery September 19-tspe- cial)--fhe extra session of the legis- lature will be called. if present rela- tions between the state and the rail roads continue either on November 29. 30 or a few days after rhe first of October, this being necessary on ac- count of the absence of Governor B. E. Conner from the state.
 The governor has accepted an invi- tation To go to St. Louis Cairo and Memphis to attend the Deep Water ways convention, which has been call ed for sessions in each of the three cities named. The governor will de- liver an address at St. Louis. He has already named the Alabama represen- tatives in the national Congress as delegates from this state.
 The call for the extra session will be issued for the specific purpose of amending the railway rate bill. and there Is little probability that any oth- CT measure will be mentioned In the governors proclamation. Under the constitution this is not strictly nee essary, as the legislature has the right to take up any other matter desired, provided there is 75 per cent vote favoring the taking up of other busi- ness. Under this provision of the con stitution 1t will be possible to make amendments 10 the pass law. wigien I will undoubtedly be done. especially as applies 10 the school children rates. and to take action on any other legis- lation that n per cent ma jority may agree upon.
 The amendemnt to the children school ticket rates on the street cars incorporated in the pass bill will de pend largely on the decision of Attor- ney General Alexander Garber who will render his decision within the next few days.
 Governor Conner has stated official ly that he will call the extra session. What other matters he expects the legislature 10 consider he does not say. stating that at this time he does not know, nor has he heard of any other matters other than needed amendments OF changes in the tarrlff rates and the pass bill.
 Governor Conner believes that it is meet that the street car corporations should grant free transportation to policemen. tremen and similar officials, but does not think city officials. such as the mayor, aldermen, etc. should have passes IL Is probable that the pass bill will be so amended as 10 al- low the issuing of passes to police men and frcmen.
 The waterways convention. which takes the governor out of the state. wall meet on October l. and on that day Governor Conner will be in St. Louis. He intimated this afternoon that II is highly probable that the eX- tra sesison will be called just before he leaves for St. Louis
 The impression prevails that an ef- fort will be made by the prohibition fists to have Governor Conner incorpor- ate in his proclamation Il consideration of state prohibition bill. but the gov ernor declines to render a decision on snch matters until they are brought to his attention officially and through the proper channels.
 Johnson Is Pardoned.
 Governor Conner yesterday issued A full pardon for Wiley Tom Johnson. who is now serving Fl sentence of five months in the Shelby county jail for sending an abusive letter to Judge . She elby county, and who was disbarred from practicing at the bar of the state. The governors pardon removes all civil and political disabilities.
 The case is one of the most unusual in the history of the state. Johnson. who was prominent lawyer at Colum- biana. represented a client who was convicted and sent to jail. According 10 the contentious of Johnson's friends Judge Pelham told the prisoner after the trial that if he had secured an- other lawyer instead of Johnson. a drunkard. he would not have been con victed. The client told Johnson this and he wrote q very abusive letter to Judge Pelham.
 Charges were preferred against John- son. he was convicted and sentenced to pay fine of s25 and costs and to serve five months in Jail. As soon as he was notified of his conviction and the sentence of the court he went twenty miles, unaccompanled. to the county jail and gave himself up.
 Startling Allegations.
 The petition 10 the governor was written by Col. Sam Win John. and re- cites some rather startling allegations It is alleged in the petition that Judge Pelham and Solicitor Borden H. Burr wrote to the taller after Johnson had been inearcerated. telling him that he was wasting time having Johnson fin jail. as his sentence, according to the judges bench notes. provided for Johnsou's seryitude on the chaingang at hard la bor, Is further alleged that in this correspondence the state ment was made that as soon as court met again Johnson would be sent to the chaingaug.
 II is further spa<ed in the petition that Johnson wets told that he could Ia. tlt f4i xrn int Ter bat il was for the purpose of having him tna h 2 cnlIld be ch a [ ith