The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-10
SENATORS In
LONG DEBATE
Take Up Compulsory
Education Bill.
SEN. MOODY MAKES WAR ON IT
Declares That the Reynolds Bill is
Dangerous.
Say. II Involves Our Democratic Cow
ernment and that tbeN Only Great
Body Behind the Bill are
the Teachers.
SEN. MOODY MAKES WAR ON II

A debate INDUCED IN by senators
Reynolds and Moody over the passage
of the Reynolds bill, to provide for the
attendance of certain children upon the
schools OF the State. and to provide
for the enforcement of the act by fix
ing a penaky Tor violations thereof,
occupied most of the attention of the
Senate yesterday morning and after
noon.
Senator Reynolds Of Bibb strongly
advocated the passage of the bill, call
ing attention to the fact that Ala
bama was behind In the matter OF es-
ucation, according to statistics of the
Census Bureau. Senator Moody of
Tuscaloosa strongly opposed the meas
ure, stating that the bill sought to
deny the liberties of the people. That
IL violated the sanctity of the home
invaded fathers personal liberties,
and was but the small hole In the levee
by which all liberties of race would
soon be overcome.
other than the debate upon the COM
pulsory education bill, the Senate ac-
complished very little work. but one
bill being passed.
Morning Session.
The Senate is determined TO md out
the exact status of pension fund. the
school fund, the general fund and the
exact amount of cash on hand In the
State Treasury. Senator Spragins yes
terday morning introduced resolution
requesting that Governor Conner FUR
nish the information Immediately. as
the Senate needed the information In
its consideration of bill seeking Il"
consolidate all the funds of the state
treasury In q general fund,
The resolution was introduced quiet
ly, and was passed upon By an aye
and nay vote. there being no dissent
ing votes noted by President Gray.
The resolution Of Senator Spragins fol-
lows in, part:
Whereas 1T is being charged that the
tax for the pension fund. Nthe school
fund and the general fund are Icing
merged in the. general fund Of the
State. be 1t resolved that Governor Co.
mer furnish the following informa-
ton to the Senate:
The balance credit to the pension
fund August Z. 1903.
The balance credit to the school
fund August z. 1903.
The balance credit to the general
fund August Z. 1908. =
The cash balance on hand in the
| treasury. August 7, 1903.
Meeting shortly after 10 o'clock af-
ter a recess of two days. the Senate
was opened in prayer by DR.. Neander
M Woods, pastor OF the Central Pres
| byterian Church OF this city. On the
roll call Of districts for the introduce
| ton of bills. Senator Miller proposed
an amendment to section sass OF the
Code, relating to waterworks acquir-
ing rights, riparian rights lands. etc.
The bill was referred to the committee
| ON Judiciary.
Senator Thomas introduced bill
seeking to amend section 1889 of the
CndG- -alafintr liaa1ro0 Of uS
amusements. etc. Senator Blaekmon
introduced a bill seeking to furnish
United States Government land sur
veys in Alabama. The bill was referr-
ed to the committee on revision of
laws.
On the call Of committees. Senator
Merritt, chairman of the committee on
local legislation reported favor
ably on the bill seeking to
abolish the County court OF
Shelby and also on a bill seeking to
create county court of Shelby. Sem
ator Hamburger reported favorably on
the bin seeking to establish a stenog-
rapher for the city court Of Admission
and also upon section 1918 OF the Code,
relative to the playing of baseball on
Sunday in cities and towns OF the
State.
Senator Reid then called for his bill
providing for the establishment of
shorthand reporters in all circuit and
county courts of the State. The bill had
been made a special order for Mon
day morning Immediately after the call
OF committees. Senator Reid said that
the matter was Of great Importance.
and that Governor Conner had recog-
nized it as such when he had INCLUDED
the matter In his call for the special
session.
Explaining the terms OF the bill.
Senator Reid stated that the bill
sought to have a shorthand reporter
for the circuit and county courts ap-
poipked by the judge of the court, and
that the salary of the reporter should
be $1,000 year. An amendment to
the bill fixing the costs which should
be assessed by the court for the ste
nographer at 50 for both civil and
criminal cases. There was no debate
upon the bill, and 1t was passed
Senate bill 36 by senator Reese. re-
lating to practice in the chancery
courts. was then taken up. The bill
had been passed upon last week. but
Senator Reese stated that the bill had
not been voted upon by a quorum, and
he wished the vote reconsidered, and
the bill passed by quorum. The bill
was passed.
Compulsory EducatIOn.
Senator Reynolds then took up the
matter OF compulsory education for the
white children of the, State. The bill
provides for the attendance OF eel tain
children on the public schools of the
State, and for the enforcement of the
act. fixing a penalty for its violation.
The provisions of the bill are to apply
to counties having schools which run
at least four school months of the year.
and provides that all children between
the ages of eight and fourteen years
shah attend school at least two con-
tinuous months OF the year.
Senator Reynolds read some very
Interesting statistics upon the attend
ance of the children upon the schools
of the State. showing that the law In
his opinion, is justified by three rea-
sons: the good of society, the child
should get the benefit Of his fathers
tax paying. and every child had the
right to the opportunity of the high
est development in mind. body and
morals.
1t was argued that the proposition
was not an undemocratic one. as sew
eraI Senators would doubtless suggest.
but one which should have the sup
-port\of every Senator and Representa-
tive in the Legislature.
Senator Reynolds was interrupted bv
messenger from the house bearing
several bills which that body had pass
ed. One of the bills was introduced
by Mr.. Ballard. of Autauga, upon con-
stitutionaI prohibition. The bill was