The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-22
WHAT LEGISLATURE WILL PROBABLY DO Much Gossip Already Heard In
 Birmingham WILL LET BUSINESS ALONE Special Elections Will Have to Be Called to Fill Several Vacancies / Which Have Occurred Since
 Adjournment.
WILL LET BUSINESS ALONE

Now that 1t appears to be fairly well settled that there is to be an extraor- dinary session of the Alabama legisla- ture later in the year there is much gos- sip in Birmingham as to the probable action that will be taken by the law makers The official reasons so far given for an extra session are the need for Greater Birmingham and the necessity of correcting measures which have been voided as the result of a faulty legisla- tive record.
 While there seems to be a general im- pression in well informed circles that the legislature will do nothing which might disturb the business and financial inter- ests of the state it is generally aeknowl edged that leaders regard certain cor rections in the prohibition laws as of especial importance in bringing about their enforcement. Among the sugges- tions made is one that the legislature will probably attempt to enact a measure making whisky sold in violation of the law contraband and as such subject to immediate destruction by the officers finding it. In other words, certain lead CTS state that state officers should be given powers such as are now possessed by federal marshals, which enable them to destroy illegal liquor at any place it is found. It is argued that such a pro vision as this would do away with the many suits for damages that have been instituted against state officials and that it would do away with piling up barrel after barrel of liquors in the offices of sheriffs and chiefs of police.
 substitute will probably be passed for the John pistol law, which was thrown out because of its faulty legislative record.
 It seems to be the general opinion that nothing will be done in the railroad and corporation matters many of which are still pending in the courts
 Another interesting feature in connec- ton with the calling of an extra session is the fact that numerous elections will have to be called by the governor to fill vacancies which have occurred in the house and senate since lne legislature adjourned. Among the vacancies and probable vacancies may be mentioned the following:
 
 ty, from the fifth sensatorial district. MT. Lusk was the administration leader in the senate and has since been appoint ed associate railroad commissioner by the governor.
 Senator w. w. Barbour of Fort Payne, from the twenty -slinth senatorial district, has been residing in Brewton for several months and might decide to resign in case an extra session is called Senator Norman Gum of Thomasville, from the nineteenth senatorial district, embracing Clarke and Washington coun- ties, has moved to Jasper since the leg islature adjourned and formed partner ship with Senator Leith. He, too, might resign because of a feeling that he no longer represent his old home district.
 Senator c. B. Teasley of Montgomery, the twenty-eighth senatorial district, has been elected tax collector of his county since the legislature adjourned, and as his term of office begins in May he will probably resign before that time.
 Representative R. F. Lovelady of Jeff ferson county resigned some time ago when he assumed his duties as a mem per or Ine BOdrQ OI iktNeHue Ol JeneF- son.
 Representative Gaston Gunter of Mont gomery has been elected mayor of the Capital City and his term of office begins in May, so that his resignation can be expected before that date. Representative Jesse A. Coleman of Mt. Willing Lowndes county, was some time ago appointed sheriff of Lowndes. Representative J. Manley Foster of Tus- caloosa was appointed district counsel for the Louisville and Nashville railroad sev- eral months ago.
 Representative w. A. Weaver of One onta, Bount county, rendered his resig- nation as a member of the legislature several months ago.
 Representative John L. Houghston of Florence, Lauderdale county, was ap- pointed judge of probate of Lauderdale some time ago.