Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25
ALABAMA TO Be GOOD
New Legislation to Produce
Exceedingly Moral State.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
Gov. Conner Believed to Aim al
Election to Senate.
MOST STRINGENT PROHIBITION
| New Counties to Be Created-Bien-
NAL Sessions Of Legisla-
ture Proposed.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BIRMINGHAM Ala, July 24.-The
extra session Of the Alabama legis-
lature, which assemblies next Tuesday in
response to the call recently issued by
Gov Conner. will be one of the most re-
markable and interesting ever held in this
state or in the south, for the reason that
it will be the fourth session held during
Gov. Corners administration of two and
half years. although the constitution
calls for quadrennial sessions
The many propositions blocked out in
the call affect many large interests out
side the state The session is supposed to
continue thirty days. If all the legislation
proposed is enacted or even seriously con-
sidered the body will have to remain in
session at least two months and perhaps
more.
No session of the legislature in twenty
years in this state has undertaken more
important enactments There are sixty
| five propositions set forth in the call, and
these include the enactment of laws that
will not only make Alabama the dryest
| territory on earth, but also the most rig
| idly moral. if the administration, sup
| ported by considerable majority as 1t
now appears, dominates the session.
Three Constitutional Amendments.
Three amendments to the constitution
are proposed in the call.
One of these is for the creation of new
counties out of one or more counties by
an amendment to the constitution submit
ting the matter to the vote of the people.
This was submitted to a popular vote
about year ago and failed to carry by
a large majority. 1t is claimed that the
sentiment in the state is stronger for 1t
hoy
pect of passage.
Another constitutional amendment pro-
posed is for biennial sessions of the leg
islature instead Of auadrennal sessions
as at present. The auadrennial sessions
rlan was adopted by the constitutional
convention of 1902. The move for BIZ
ennial sessions is taken by many to mean
that Gov Conner will use this plan TO
reach the United States Senate.
The constitution of Alabama requires
that a governor has to be out of office
year before he can be elected to the Sen
ate. Through the biennial session plan
have time to be named in the primary OF
| 1912 and be elected by the legislature of
| 1913 before the expiration of Senator
| Bankheads term in March, 1913
The most important constitutional
| amendment proposed, far as it affects
| interests outside the state. is that pro-
viding for constitutional prohibition. This
| is notably far-reachng in its provisions.
and If adopted VIII make Alabama
verita BILE Sahara and make 1t exceeding
| IL difficult for liquor to be sold in the
! state or even shipped in under the inter-
| state commerce traffic.
! The new proposition provides that the
police powers of the cities be largely in
creased both to jurisdiction and au-
/ thority for making raids and arrests
/ that so-called social clubs-Which are
virtually saloons. and which sprang up
| in large numbers as result of the de-
cision of the supreme court of the state
that destroying liquors stored in stores
or other premises by individuals for per-
sonal use is nconstitutionai--be abol-
;shed: that severe punishment be pro-
vided for the sale or giving away of
| liquors in the state; that the police shall
/ have authority to destroy all liquors
shipped into the state for distribution
| in local business: that local agents who
receive and distribute liquor for parties
sending it in the state from other states
| be prohibited by law. and. In fact that
every means and scheme for the sale or
! barter OF liquor in Alabama be outlawed
| under heavy penalty and Imprisonment
| This includes denial of new trials under
| appeals from the verdicts of conviction
| in misdemeanor cases involving the vio-
| ,ation of the prohibition laws. Under the
proposed constitutional prohibition it will
be exceedingly difficult to have any sort
| of connection with the liquor business
| In this state.