The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-05
Immediate Election Is
 Necessity. PAIL OF DEATH SHADOWS PROCEEDINGS OF MEMBERS None But Imperative Business Transacted by Lower Branch.
 - selection of New Leader is Required by con.titusion in order to Make Action Taken by Legislators
 Legal.


 It was House of gloom and sor- row that met yesterday morning. The usual bIuster and noise was all miss ing. The members. who had been standing about the hall in groups. conversing in low tones, took their seats at the initial rap of the gavei that was yielded during the first seven weeks of the session by Speaker Mar tin, and silently. solemniy looked on at tho proceedings.
 No business but that imperatively demanded by the Consultation for the good of the commonwealth was consid- cred. It was necessary. in the opin- ion of all the members, that the reso- luton for adjournment of the Legisia- ture last evening should be rescinded, and 1t was determined, upon study of the constitutional provisions, that it was necessary permanent Speaker of the House, to succeed the late Speak CT Martin. must be made before even that much business might be accom- plished in a legal manner
 With words of sadness, the neeessa- ry motions were gone through. and Representative A. H. Carmichael of Colbert county. who served as Speaker pro tempore during the Illness of alr. Martin. was elected as the sue ecssdr cf tho deeeased (speaser. fvith-, out dissenting vote
 Carmichael Takes oath.
 With his lips tensely drawn, and the shadow of a great sorrow. that was felt as a personal one, imprinted upon his countenanee, Mir. Carmichael lis- tened while Mir. John of Jefferson county. chairman of the Judiciary Comrnittee, read to him the constitu- tional oath of office to support the Con- stitution of the United States and of he State of Alabama, and then took oath that he would faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the of flee to which he had been chosen.
 Then, the necessary selection of permanent Speaker disposed of, the House proceeded to the one act of bus mess for which the preliminary step had been taken, the resembling of the adjournment resolution, in order to provide for session of the two Houses Wednesday.
 A joint committee of the two Houses, consisting of Representatives Maner, Gunter and Goodwin, all of Montgom- ery county, and Senators Thomas of Barbour and Lusk of Marshall, was ap- pointed to arrange for the attendance of the two Houses in a body at the funeral of Mir. Martin this afternoon. and the Rules Committee of the House was directed to prepare suitable reso- lutions of respect to the memory of the deceased Speaker, and of sympa- thy with his family.
 During the time the House was waiting for a message announcing concurrence by the Senate in the ad- journment resolution, some routine matters, such as the signing of bills to go to the Governor. wore disposed of, and leaves of absence were granted some members because if illness of themselves or in their families but not single motion was put to the House, during all the time, nearly two hours, the House was in session, which did not have direct connection with the business incident to the death of the Speaker.
 Acting Speaker Carmichael called the members of the House to order at 10:07 o'clock. and Rev. W. J. Price of Girard. member of the House from Russell county, was presented to offer the opening invocation.
 Price Pays Tribute to Dead.
 In his prayer, Mir. Price paid fitting reference to the dead Speaker. asking for divine blessing and comfort upon those who were most bereaved by the great affliction that had come over them. He asked that the death of the Speaker might be taken as lesson by each member of the House over which he had presided, making better men of them, and bringing them to a real ization of the uncertainty of life. The roll call that followed the prayer showed seventy eight members pres ent.
 Mir. Sanford of Talladega was the first person recognized by the chair. He asked for an indefinite leave of ab- sence for his colleague, Mir. Lawson, because of a death in his family. The desired leave was granted, as were leaves later on to MT. Lacy of Dallas, on request of Mir. Pitts of Dallas, be- cause of the illness of child; to MT. Lee of Houston, on request of Mir. Will Hams of Barbour, and to MT. Kiilen of Lauderdale.
 MT. John of Jefferson offered a reso. lution reciting that by the death Of the sneaker of the House the question had arisen as to the right of the Speaker pro tenn to preside over the sessions or to sign bills, as he could, under the constitution. be elected as Speaker pro tenn only during the temporary disa- bility' Of the Speaker The question was referred, by the resolution, which was adopted without dissent to the .nldiciary Committee for investigation, and for advice to the House as to the best manner to proceed,
 MT. John in presenting the resolu- ton. expressed the desire of the House not to transact any business whatever linless it were imperiously necessary, but the question had arisen If the Ho,,se could proceed legally to the transsetiou of any business whatevEI avsn rsacindipE ths EeEelution to adv