The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-15
Members Discuss The
 Subject CITE SOME FIGURES
 OF INTEREST TO v0TERs
  Actual Expense of Meeting Only |
 Fourth. Cost ef Prohibftfen Election Will - soo'oco and the Raiiroad Les- isiatiea of sso,ooe Chief
 Items of Expense.


 Some thoughtful members of the Lex. isiature. breathing quietly in the short recess which Saturday and Sunday ai- ways bring, were making a resume yesterday of what extra cost fhe urexz ent session of the Legislature would entail on the people. At first their dread of the expense was based on tho cost or the session itself direct. That was enough to cause them to pause and come here in surly mood.
 But by actual figures. these membera have found out that the expense of the Legislation in itself is but q fourth or what Is to come as the conseauence or the legfsiatfon. It Is estimated that with the extra appropriations. with the creation of new offices, the holding of the special election on constitution- af prohibition. and the advertising for amendments that may yet be submit- ted at the regular election of 1910. thn total cost, direct and indirect, of the extra session would amount to about xl1b,0OO. And 1t may be more than this before the adjournment comes.
 Here are some of the items already realized or having a good chance at realization before the session is over: Cost of the election on constftuttonaI prohibition. s5o.000 (estimatedl, an propriation for railroad litigation. s5oI. 700; advertisements of proclamations Tor other probable constftuffonaf amendments at the regular election fiji November. 1910. s2o,000 (estimafed): special fund under a pending car1ni- chael bill to be paid out of the county treasuries for prosecution of prohlbi- ton violations. sl0.090 4estimated) salaries and expenses of pure food and drug inspectors. se.o00 (estimated1; if,- crease in the contingent fund of GOV. ernor Conner. e6,000; extra pay for State examiners of public accounts, gs.eo0 (estimRted)s and scores of other items. such as increase in appropriation for sherims Of smaller counties, the fund Tor capture or fusitives from justice.
 Of course the iegisiation for some of these expenses has not been pnnsed. though tt ia not improbable that fl v4if be consummated. There seems to bS quite . demand for the ariaenarusnf which would allow the Laeisiattafe foI put any county on salary haaiss AA regards Its officers and the amendnaenx to split Jefferson County in two paSsa8 the House by sound majority, more than three-hfths and it's friends ciailn a similar victory in the Senate. Then too. there is the amendment which fss growing in favor with some Of the members. respecting the payment ox poll taxes The amendment would
  ment of poll taxes.
 WouId Inerease School Huna.
 Regarding the latter change tn sha Constitution the supporters of the amendment will advance the argument that 1t will increase the school fund by about S175.000 annually and yet not introduce any considerable number o{ undesirables into the voting circles The change is so worded that the poll taxes cannot be collected by process until they become delinquent, when. of course, If collected. they will not en- title the defendant to vote as he will have to pay during the current year for the franchise privilege. It only ap- plies to poll taxes that are delinuuant ' There Is a bni introduced in the Sem ate that seems to have considerable supporting. providing for a Highway Commission created by the State. This would mean the immediate appropria- ton of about $10,0o0. This is not counted in the above foregoing list }f expenses entailed by the extra session. The friends of the bill claim support a way, carrying out the verdict of the people at the polls (a year ago when they declared for good roads They will try their best to put this measure through the Legislature. They feel ae If 1t is but an instruction of the people direct to take some step to encourage better road building. The Overton bfff provides for the establishment of commissioner and assistant engineeKs as well as clerk. at good salaries.
 Before the session is closed tt is not impossible that other offices may be cre- ated and more appropriations made.