The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-04
SOME POLITICAL GOSSIP
 FROM THE STATE CAPITOL
By HERvE1 w. LAIRD.

now in effect. At any rate, the agitation is so deep-seated that great many fear for the peace of those who are charged with the duty of keeping things in good running order.
 The object of a uniform rate on the rivers is to prevent independent or new boats from coming in, cutting rates to the point where weaker competitors would be forced out of business and then putting up the charge when they have a monop- oly of the trade. In other words, with a certainty of the charges for any fixed length of time 1t Is possible for business man to figure ahead on what 1t will cost him to handle his goods by water af4a to compare such cost with rail haulage. So it is thought some fun may develop be- fore the end is reached.
 Child Labor Protest.
 The New Orleans conference in the in- terest of child labor laws has come and gone, and so far as has been made public the petition of the Montgomery club women for Governor Conner to reconsider his refusal to send delegates never reached the executive office. The agita- ton, however, has brought about consid- erable discussion of the Alabama law. and develops the fact that most of its provisions are being rigidly enforced. Cot ton mill men stated emphatically that the compulsory education feature of this act could not be compiled with. However. it has been and In every town and city where opposition to the eight weeks schooling was expressed, provision has been made to carry out the intentions of the law.
 Extra Session Outlook.
 There Is a bare possibility that the su- preme court will pass on the general pro- hibition bill early next week as result r1f faI, 6o inst how soon, if at all, Governor Conner will as- semble the legislature in extraordinary session.
 The case involving the prohibition act was submitted to the court just before ad- journment in February It was assigned to one of the associate justices and 1t is very likely that during the recess he has written an opinion. That opinion might go to the conference on Tuesday or Wednesday. and if 1t does not bring about a lot of discussion it could be announced by Thursday or Friday.
 It Is believed that the decision will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible, be- cause of the immense importance of an early adjustment of the question and the dispelling of the doubts which now exist with regard to the validity of the meas ure. There are as many opinions as men on what the outcome will be.
 Bill Already Held Good.
 A great many forget that this general prohibition act has already been held con- stitutional by the supreme court. In a case which came up from Cullman and which was written by MT. Justice Mc- Clellan the validity of the act was estab- lished on all of the points raised Some new grounds are presented in the case now at bar which comes from Dallas county, and there is a possibility that in them may be found disastrous weakness. However, the friends of the measure cling to the hope that it will be able to hold it's own and finally come out clothed with all the authority that law can place about it.
 Another feature of this idea is that Judge A. D. Sayre. now member of the supreme court, held this bill to be valid while on the city court bench of Mont gomery.