The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-07-07
PROCLAMATION MAY BE
ISSUED EARLY THIS WEEK
Prohibition Bills VIII 0vershadow
Everything Else.
Brooks Lawrence IN close Conferences
with Governor Recently anA May
Have His LAWS Prepared.
VIII spend More
Money.


Governor Conner sent out letters yes
terday to members Of the Legislature
fixing positively Tuesday. July "a. as
s the date for converting the body In
Z extraordinary session.
1t was but brief uniform letter
which the Governor sent TO all tha
solons-or at least he said that he sent
1t to all, Irrespective of creed or align
Ment. He declared that the "ofiicial
call will be made within a few days"
It may be that before the end Of the
week there will be forthcoming pro-
clamation containing the many sub
Jects on which the Governor wishes
new or perfect legislation.
Yesterdays letter dashed the hopes
of many. even OF his friends, to the
ground They-as well as powerful
contingent of business interests ! Of
the State-hoped the Governor would
retract his bent on assembling the leg
fslators for the third time during his
term Of ONCE.
1t is. therefore. a go. and whatever
the subject matter of the call. lively
doings are slated for several days fol-
lowing the coming of the lawmakers
July az. To estimate the cost Of the
extra session is futile when the length
of the session is unknown. II they
should sit out the thirty days to which
they are by law limited. It would cost
no less than $4,000. Approximately.
$4,000 and more was what the 1907
extra session cost, and approximately
100000 was the bill inflicted on the
treasury by the regular session In
; 1907.
Prohibition the Main Thing.
Looking from the present angle, pro-
hibition will overshadow every prob
lem with which the soions are ex-
pected to deal. II Is in the very air
rermeating all places Of business and
social life. IS the basis OF gossip daily.
and II Is known that the Governor
Is SO interested in more effective leg
islation along this line that he viii not
omit the matter from his call. On the
contrary, the wisacres confidently ex-
pect II to be paramount in his mem
tion.
Then, besides, there will be the re-
enactment of the King Greater Bir-
mingham bill. which was nullified by
q decision of the Supreme Court. and
which the Governor has practically
pledged that he Will attend to this.
summer other probable mention will
be perfected laws regulating river boat
trafic, i-shipping liquor acts. more
eficient forestry laws. Improvement of
insurance laws, including the creation
of the ONCE of FIRE marshal and estab-
and generally minor acts to pay equit-
able claims against the State which
have not been authorized by law or the
condition Of the treasury.
The editors who published the Gov
errors election proclamation last fall
relative to constitutional amendments
then proposed, have never been paid
their advertising bills. because the
S fund out of which only 1t could be
paid was exhausted. The Governor
and Legislature must refill this bucket
of gold as well as several others:
among them the fund for removal OF
prisoners, which, already exhausted. IL
tending to hinder justice.
The prohibition problem. though. 10
said to be uppermost and in his mind
His Excellency is revolving 1t through
its numerous phases. His closest legal
adyiser--reputed to be Judge Samuel
ID. weakley-in a public utterance at
the Majestic Theatre in Montgomery
less than a month ago, foretold the
tourney of a carload of prohibition en-
thusiasts from Jefferson county to
press prohibition upon the attention OF
the lawmakers. If his prophecy comes
true animated doings are looked for
Indeed. For in the same prognostica-
tions. the Governors adviser SAID tnat
a hill would probably be submitted at
the extra session looking to the de-
struction of the locker system. This
proposes to forfeit ipso facto the
charter of a social or literary club
whenever there are found on their
premises any intoxicating liquors,
whether held for the purpose OF ia
ciIitatinR the learning of the ancients
or the violation of the prohibition
law.
since this utterance by q former
chief Justice of the Supreme Court
the justices of that court have held
that social clubs have rights OF prop
erty ana otherwise under the Consti-
tuition that the state and the Legisla-
ture must respect.
Brooks Lawrence and Conner.
But the Prohibitionists feel them
selves rather paralyzed on the SOL
drink proposition. This they have al
legged tire and again Is the CHIEF al
tifice the violator has. saving alone
the locker system. For this reason
bills were about to be presented this
month conhscating all liquor found In
the soft drink stands. But the decis-
ion of the Supreme Court in the Bes-
semar ordinance storage case knocked
the pillars from under the leaders.
It-is an open secret that Rev. Brooks
Lawrence. visiting Montgomery at the
time this decision became known. hur-
ried to the ONCE of Governor Conner for
a conference. What was the purpose
none but these can disclose. but to a
friend in private Mr.. Lawrencs IL
known to have vented his indignation
in hotter language than even his pep
perry card issued last Saturday. Inn
putting wrong motiveS to the Supreme
Court judges, by inuendo. in the rom
IdsrInR of their decision.
Therefore. what stems arc to be TAX
an by the Solons to meet the point that
uouor is subject to some property
riehts--depending upon the purpose for
which It IL held-are not known.
As for the rumored GILL to provide
n method for the State 70 ask a change
of venue In prohibition cases. this
eeems 20 gain less streagsh as the
iaays grew cid. Lawyers disagree as