The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-11
DIVIDE SCHOOL FUNDS ON
 BASIS IF ATTENDANCE
House Votes Down Bill of Mir. Mastin of Montgomery to Put a Tax on Dogs-Ragsdae Is Carried To
 Seat in the House.
BY HERVEY w. LAIRD.

Montgomery, August 10.-(Special. 1.-The popularity of the income tax amendment to the national constitution was shown when it passed the senate today without a dissenting vote. Senator Hayes. who had been plotting it through a concourse of friends, with not an enemy in sight, secured permission to call it up before resumption of the argument on the com pulsory education bill. Not a man voted against it. and. to be frank. not a man seemed to have any special interest in it other than to be reported in line for its passage.
 Senator Reynolds, anticipating the re- fusal Of the black belt men to aid him in his effort to pass the compulsory edu- cation law, presented a resolution look ing to amendment of the state constftu- ton so that the school funds of the state be divided on a basis of attendance upon the schools, rather than upon census report The bill was indefinitely post roned.
 The house had little excitement over the bill of MT. Mastin of Montgomery to pass a law taxing dogs, but vote, 1t down in the end. Mr. H-roulart nrf / poses to have some interest in his mo- ton to take the commission fos4i Of gov ernment bfll from the a,f4ers, calendar which he will argue tomorrow He is confident that it will go through
 Dr. Ragsdale. the invalid Jefferson coun- ty member was taken into the house by his physician In order that he might lend interest to the movement for a new coun- ty at Bessemer.
 I.t,-
 The senate committed, after juggling little, voted to favorably report the constitutional prohibition bill, which was accomplished by breaking tie.
 Reynolds Bill Lost.
 The debate in the senate this afternoon on the compulsory education bill brought about much feeling, especially following the statement of MT. Reynolds, the father of the measure, that in days gone hv tba black belt had squandered the money of the school children, telling of reports that white men had sent their sons and daughters to college with the common school fund of the county that was never used for its legitimate purpose It was also recalled that one county in the seo- tion had so padded its rolls that under the new laws several thousand names were cut off by the state superintendent.
 MT. Reese rose to defend the black belt ana grew quite in earnest in his speech He said that Dallas, his county. had ever been the friend of the school: had always stood for education and was one of the counties that in the dark days of the past had stood by and helped to save the rest of the state. He was not willing to stand by and have his people sandered nor his county held m to scorn because of its occupancy of a certain section.
 However, after the speaking, the bill was killed by being indefinitely post poned on the motion of Mir. Hammer. the vote being as follows; To postpone (which meant killing iD: Blackmon, Glenn, Ham ner, Hayes, Heacock, Horton, Jones, King. Leith. Lowe, Moody, Reese. Strother. Thomas White. Nay: Barbour. Gamble, Gum, Hamburger. Miller McWhorter. Overton, Phillips, Reid, Reynolds. Wilson. Wimberly.
 Senate Session.
 The senate chamber was filled early to- day by all sorts of lobbyists. including bankers lawyers, doctors both of law and medicine.
 President McEldery of the bankers, with Secretary McLane Triton and half dozen other leading financiers, joined the bunch for the new banking laws.
 Senator Reid received a petition Is feet lone lrolH HIS people demanding that he vote for constitutional prohibition. There were over 600 names, all from the one county of Conecuh.
 Pressure for the prohibition laws and the new county movement was indicated by number of Methodist preachers busy in the lobby. The Rev. George F. Sur divant and the Rev. F. w. Brandon, Bes- semer preachers, being among the number Mayor Frank P. O'Brien of Birminr ham was busy In the lobby for some municipal bills from early morning Half dozen other leading Birmingham busi- ness men were present for some measures and against others.
 TeasIey Busy Again.
 Former Senator Teasley whose ambition Is to guard the funds of the treasury in all their individual integrity and to keep several eyes on the wealth of the old soldier, was as busy regular
 Senator Forester of Houston Ill since the opening of the session, was present for the first time today and was warmly greeted.
 The committee on constitutional revis- ion reported the constitutional prohibition bill favorably after tie vote. Thomas. Blackmon and Spragins were opposed to it. Reese, Forester and Merritt for it. Chairman Hayes voted aye and untied the tie. It was at first agreed to report with out suggestion but on the arrival of For rester it was found that favorable re- port could be secured in the manned noted.
 The day was especially productive of pretty girls and handsome women in the gallery Visitors to the city largely pre- dominated.
 Sturdivant Prays.
 The Rev, Dr. George F. Stur,iivant oe