The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-08-07
Had Scarcely Any 0p
position.
SENATOR HAMBURGER
DEN0UNCES AGIIAT0R
--
Wanted to Give the Near-Beer Peo-
pie Time to Close. !,
senator Leith Argues That the Near
Beer saloons Were Violating
Present Law and should
he shown No Can
alteration.

Although the scene of the prohibi-
tion battle was laid in the Senate
chamber yesterday morning. the Car
michael bill having been made spe-
cial order for IL o'clock and although
the gallery was crowded, no extraordi-
nary excitement attended its discuss
sion and passage. OF debate there was
much. and the speakers were frequent
ly interrupted by applause from the
gallery, but no demonstration what
ever took place. The Anal vote was 70
to 3, Senators Hamburger and Hammer
voting against the measure.
As Senators stated on the door, the
question had been thoroughly threshed
out before the meeting of the Senate,
each Senator having made up his mind
how to vote. Senator Blackmon stated
that the matter was not one that need
ed discussion and he moved to take
the vote without debate. There was
strenuous objection to the motion,
however. and for two hours the debate,
or rather speaking, continued. Sena-
tor Hamburger of Mobile being the on
ly Senator to voice objection against
the bill.
Meeting at 1880 O'Clock the routine
business of the Senate continued until
the stroke OF IL. when Senator Reese of
Dallas announced that the hour for the
consideration of the Carmichael bill
had arrived, and he wished to make an
amendment to the caption OF the bill.
The amendment was technical In it's
nature, Senator Reese stating that the
amendment had been suggested by the
author OF the bill. The amendment
was passed.
Senator Hamburger followed Senator
Reese with an amendment proposing to
strike out Section Of the bill, and sub
stttute This bill shall not take effect
until thirty days after the signature of
the Governor shall have been Affixed
the amendment was offered so as 10 al
Iowa those near-beer places. operating
under the present law. to get rid of
their stock OF goods. Under the Car
michael law the stock would be cenfis-
Gated. and would work hardship up-
on those places having licenses to sell
Aear-beer.
Not Granted Time.
Senator Leith strenuously objected.
II oppose this amendment. These near
beer places knew they were violating
the law when they started their places.
What they sell. in my mind, is nothing
more than cheap beer, and when you
go TO examine his shop. you will find
that he has got red liquor and lager
beer on tap. I'm In favor of giving
him less than two minutes and half
TO get rid of II.
But understand me. I'm not In favor
Of working a hardship on anybody. or
conhscating the property Of single
person living within the law, but these
near-beer places knew at the very be-
ginning that they were violating the
law, and I'm not in favor OF giving him
thirty days more In which to violate
the law. The>proper thing to do Is to
dump his stock In the streets.
Some of these people ! hear are
= rhA,. >. cd
that the bill had passed the House."
Senator Hamburger replied at first in
sarcastic vein. TT but shows when
our country cousins come to town they
can learn more about conditions than
we can in three times the time. II
these near-beer places are disposing Of
red liquor and lager beer. go down and
raid these places"
This bill has been carefully consid-
cred" said Senator McWhorter. and
move that the amendment offered by
the Senator from Mobile lay upon the
table" Upon vote it was SO ordered.
Senator Blackmon then proposed that
the debate on the bill be limited to two
minutes for each Senator. wishing
something to say upon the matter, and
called for the aye and no vote upon
the motion. There was objection on
the part of Senator Thomas, who moved
that the bill be voted upon Immediate
ly without discussion, while Senator
Reese moved that Senator FhomaA's
motion be laid upon the table. Both
Senator Blackmon's motion and Sena-
tor Thomas's motion were lost.
Senator Reese then began the discus
sion of the bill. He said:
Votes Constituency Opinion.
ION this fioor In 1907. when the pro-
hlbition bill was under discussion,
disclaimed all responsibility for the
production of any of the agitation on
the subject claimed at that time and
claim at this time. that legislator
should watch the sentiment of his con-
stituency. do not want to get into
the limelight on this occasion. am
simply voting my constituencies opin-
ion on the bill.
public office Is public trust. be-
Meve that in 1907 a majority OF the
Senate was opposed to State wide pro-
hibition, and when they voted, they
were simply voicing the sentiment of
their constituencies.
81 wish to accord to every man the
greatest liberty of honest purpose and
conviction on any of these questions. I
do not believe there should be any I'M
seemly applause, either for or against
this bill Much will be said against
this bill as harsh and drastic, but pun
lshment for crime Is harsh and dras-
tic. and this bill is aimed not at the
obey its provisions
'AThe people have fxed these laws
themselves; the people themselves have
written these drastic. harsh, provisions.
They want an enforcement Of the law,
and that is why they put these drastic
provisions in the law. But whether l
am for or against this law, the law
should be enforced. The majesty of
the law Of the State OF Alabama should
be impressed upon all violatorS of the
law.
This particular bill is In some re-
spects the most drastic ever intro
duced. and am glad that It Is such q
bill, that II will enforce itself"
Senator McWhorter again stated
that he thought the Senate ready to
vote upon the measure. but when he
saw several Senators endeavoring to
gain the attention of the President, he
withdrew his motion to vote.
Senator Hamburger. the sole oppo-
nent of the bill to speak upon the bill,
was given the floor. He said:
u am opposed to this measure ba-