The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-06

ture in ad1ourning Tor two or three days
so that the presiding officers may have
time to make up their committees, is
regarded here as an argument in favor
of the position held by the incoming lieu
tenant governor. Henry B. Gray, with
regard TO the appointment of the senate
committees. Mr.. Gray has contended all
along that it was his right to appoint
these committees. On the other hand the
retiring lieutenant governor, DR.. r. M.
Cunningham, took the view that it was
the duty of the president pro tenn of the
senate and could not consttutionany be
discharged by the lieutenant governor,
who, he contends is a part of the exec
utive department of the governor.
There does not seem to be any gem
eral unanimity of opinion with regard
to this question. There are great many
people who believe with DR.. Cunning
ham and likewise q number who are
in line with Mr.. Gray. careful scrutiny
of the situation so far as one can make
from the outside, would seem to indi-
cate that there are more men who pc
1ieve that these committees should be
named by the president. pro tenn than
by the lieutenant governor. However, as
a general rule the members of the SEN
ate are not saying very much, rather
leaving the situation to work itself out
when the body assemblies next week.
1t is practically settled that Perry
Thomas of Eufaula will be presiding Off
Ger, pro tenn, of the senate, as he does
not seem to have any opposition. 1t Is
recalled with interest in this connection
that the present governor came into the
office of chief executive through his oc-
cupancy of the presidency of the sem
ate, under the old law, and that he too,
was a resident of the county of Barbour.
1t is further noted in this connection that
the new governor is a native of that
county.
Lieutenant Governor Gray has Sc
cured quarters at the New Exchange ho-
tel, where he will be fitted up comfort
ably and have a place to meet and
confer with his friends. Retiring Speaker
Tunstall will also have quarters in the
same hotel.
Capitol Improvement.
Incident to the capitol improvement.
which has been going on for the past
few months, there is considerable talk
about the possibilities in the future along
this line. 1t is understood that parties
who are very much interested in the state
having handsome and adequate execu-
tive headquarters have advanced the idea
of inducing the Legislature. If possible,
to appropriate enough money to complete
the work. 1t is estimated that the whole
whole may be finished at an additional
cost of $250,000.
The improvements which might be in
cluded in this proposition would be a
new wing to the right like the one that Is
now being completed on the left of the
old building. and the construction of a
supreme court room after the plans APP
proved by the late Chief Justice McClel-
Ian at the rear of the main structure. To
accomplish this it would be necessary to
remove the building which now stands
in that place, erected in 1888. and have
the ground occupied by this new judiciary
home. This would carry with 1t the tear
ing out of the present court room and the
, extension of the main lower floor OF the
old building. 1t could be finished up in
marble with handsome stairways and ele-
vators. and be made one of the most ar
tistie architectural productions of the
south.
This new building for the use of the
supreme court and the other judiciary Of
ficers of the state would be three stories
instead of two, as the wings are. This
would not interfere with the Mcclellan
idea, but would simply give the addi-
tional third floor for the use of the state
in other ways. The outlook is that there
will be demands for a number of new Of
fees within the next four years, certainly
within the next eight or ten, and 1t would
seem to be the better part of economy to
prepare for this possible demand while
the work of construction Is going on 1t
has been estimated, as noted above, that
the plan involving all these improve
| ments would not call for an outlay of
more than quarter of million dollars.
Gubernatoriai Booms.
Indications are that at least two healthy
and well developed gubernatorial booms
are going to come out of the activities of
the legislature which assemblies in Mont
gomery next week. Rumor has it that a
lively little bee of this character Is now
bIzzing in the bonnet of the retiring state
treasurer. j. Craig Smith. and it is more
or less an opinion of some that former
Attorney General Martin is lending ear to
sirens voice of the same character.
In the event that Mr.. Martin Is chosen
speaker, politicians regard that he will be
in pretty strong position for the future
along this line. AT the same time it Is
pointed out that If Mr.. Smith makes of
the convict department strong and pre-
ductive fbusress section of the state for
four u prs.- he will be able to command