The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-17
run oovpnson,s CALL.

lfstF A&S WY A@<<S V8B VAA<As The Governor with sixty-nve items In his call for the extra session of the Alabama Lesislaturs is trying for ten strike. He is apparently trying to knock down all the pins with one roll of the ball.
 All that appears popular. all that may strengthen an unsuitable political ambition has gone Into the call. The Legislature Is In for Q long and i'm dustrious session if 1t considers and passes half the measures proposed by the Governor. And through the long list of matters upon which the Legis- lature is asked to act. there can be traced the purpose of political ambi- ton to strengthen itself wherever 1t future political favors from the Anti Saloon League Is not to be doubted in view of the remarkable code of prohib- ition laws which he proposes for the State.
 Rev. Brooks Lawrence, the Superin- tendent of the League. is evidently do- ing his best to make good his threat to change the Constitution of the State | where 1t does not suit him. and he is receiving ready and willing aid from the Governor. The Governor of Ala bama, who recommends and urges this wholesale prohibition code. who would change the Constitution to deprive citt- zens of Alabama a Constitutional right that they have enjoyed since the State was founded. Is the same man who de- clared for local option on every stump the Constitution changed to suit the paid prohibition workers. is the man who approved heartily of the last Dem- ocratic platform. which in all proba- bility was written under his dictation (which platform declared as plain ss words could make 1t for local option. Many friends of the Governor profess to be proud of the way he has kept his promises. What excuse have they to make for the Governors betrayal of local option9 The Governor displays a willingness to allow the agitators to rewrite the Constitution. Will he as- sist them farther in their declared pro- gram of changing the Supreme Court to get men who will do their biddingf
 The Governors solicitude for the Constitutional amendment allowing bi- enniai sessions of the Legislature. gives color to the continued report that he is a standing candidate for the United States Senate. Ills friends assert that If the Constitution is so changed he can evade the provision of the Consti- tuition which would prevent the Gov ernor from making the race for the Senate. He also proposes anew the Constitutional amendment allowing new counties to be created. a proposi. ton which met with great favor in the last State election.
 But the men well versed in State af- fairs and who are more or less familiar with the financial condition of the treasury, will read Section 3s of the cali with a special interest. In Sec
 ton s3 the Governor would abolish all special funds In the State Treasury. lump the money in one fund to meet appropriations and deficits. For reas- ons deemed wise and necessary, pre- vious Legislatures have sought to pro- tect certain funds from extravaganoe and mismanagement By taking down the barriers the Governor would con- tinue for some months 10 keep the present deficit a bookkeeping deficit only. By that means he could run the State for several months longer with out borrowing any money or being forced to acknowledge the results of extravaganza. The collapse might De staved off until the new Governor comes In. but 1t Is extremely doubtful that this can be done even if heroic meas- ures are used and all funds are Jumped together.
 The railroads. after all. are due for grilling, and, according to precedent, they fare worse than any other inter-
 est which will be affected by the call For the railroads do not even know what
 pose to do to them. That Is still kept ? secret Other Legislation is outlined in detail, but the proposed railroad legis-
 latlon Is kept in the dark. The call has
 a blanket clause which will allow the = Legislature to take up and pass any l railroad laws proposed by the Govern. or his attorneys.
 t But It Is specified that the Legisla- ture is to provide more money for the conduct of the litigation with the rail . roads. The appropriations already 0 made in addition to the salary of thu y Attorney General and his assistant [ amount to 350.0O0. A new appropria 5 tion for legal fees indicates that rail road batting to the leaders has beer
 profitable.
 The call bristles with extreme meas ures. The people of Alabama wouic do well to study it with care anC thoroughmess. The State has never before had an administration like this