The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-08-04
A BUSY DAY
In THE HOUSE
Volun1inous Debate Is
! Heard.
MORE INSURANCE MEASURES
Constitutional Amendment Bills
Come from Committee.
Receives Favorable Report, But VIII
Have 20 BE Moved Up ON CAL
endar to GET Hasty
Action.

Besides the passage Of the Carmich-
ael prohibition bill, attended with the
| voluminous debate 1t entailed, and the
| enactment of a pair of additional insu-
rance measure, the House of Represen-
| tatives yesterday spent busy day 9TH
| erwise, receiving reports of commit
tees aud the unending new bills that
keep congesting the calendar. Among
| the favorably reported bills was the
one which proposes to submit to the
| people of Alabama on the first Monday
| three months after adjournment of the
Legislature an amendment to the con-
stitution carrying prohibition.
Unless the constitutional amendment
| bill Is moved up for special order of
business 1t may be many days yet be-
| fore 1t is reached. This will probably
rest with the strategy Of the prohibi-
tionists. who have had Easy sway In all
collateral issues relating to prohibition
| but who move cautiously on the main
| issue of the session.
The House will attend especially to-
| day to the bill which purports to ap-
| propriate $4,000 for the use !, of the
| Governor and State in defraying future
| expenses incurred In the railroad rate
| litigation. This 10 in addition to the
same amount appropriated at the last
session, and 1t Is said that opposition
will be met with by the administration
friends Of the bill The committee re-
ported favorably on 1t.
The bill striking directly at social
clubs that may be prone to cloak pro-
| hibition violations. providing for dry"
charters to all such organizations be-
fore receiving the sanction of the
County or State, was reported favor
ably from the Temperance Committee.
No hitch In the passage Of this bill is
predicted though there 10 said to be a
widespread Instruction among clubs
of outstanding against heing deprived
OF the right to keep in good faith
liquors for tseir own consumption.
This the bill would stop on pain of for
fixture of charter and imprisonment of
the member.
The House will today resume consid-
Grafton OF the insurance reformation
series which have engaged the atten-
ton of the legislators from the begin
ming of the session. There was practi-
cally no opposition to the two bills of
this class that were passed yesterday.
one being the new fire investigation
law and the other the rock-ribbed
anti-rebate insurance statute.
Morning Session.
The first bill among the special or
ders was the fire investigation meas
ure introduced by Mr.. Rushton which
proposes to make thorough inquiry In
to suspicious fires by the Commission
| err OF Insurance on notice of mayor,
chief Of police. or sheriff. to provide
for compulsory process for examina-
ION OF witnesses and to create the Of
/ fee of Deputy insufance Commission
er. whose salary shall be paid by Il
tax of one-fifth of one per cent on
the gross premiums of fire Insurance.
companies. The deputy, II is provid-
ed, shall have the special duty Of MAX
Ing the investigate required by the
act. The salary OF the extra Deputy
Commissioner is $1,000 per annum
While Mr.. Rushtpn was explaining
the intent of the bill a message was
announced from the Governor con-
tanning the statement of the expendi-
lures of the State In the legal fight
against the railroads 1t was identi-
cal with the statement made to the
Senate. showing that to counsel has
been paid in fees and travelling ex-
penses approximately s22.s0o and costs
about $4,000.
Mr.. Rushton's appeal on behalf of
| Ineffective present law on the subject
| Of fire investigation, which provides
no means of paying the expenses of
the investigation. SO far as sheriffs,
witnesses, solicitor. ETC., are concern
ed The Speaker declared that the bill
would deter incendiary fres.
Those speaking for the bill urged
that It would work ultimately tor the
beneft of the policy holder in that 1t
premiums charged because the cost of
paying for non accidental fires is
levied on the honest fellow In an In
creased premium or at least no de.
crease.
Mr.. John spoke enthusiastically for
the measure, declaring that II has the
approval OF the companies. Of the De-
partment Of Insurance. and Of the aoy-
ernor.
Mr.. Ballard. of Autauga. added that
It would provide quick means for
making an investigation.
| Mr. Bloch, OF Wilcox spoke against
the creation of the new Deputy Com
missioner.
Answering Mr.. Glover, OF Jefferson.
Mr.. Rushton said that either the Com
missioner or the FIRE company could
swear out the warrant against the
guilty party for arrest and prosecu-
ton.
Mr.. Bulger. Of Taliapoosa, spoke for
the bill. saying that the creation of the
new ONCE was no draw on the treas
ury and should not, therefore, be OBJ
jected 10.
The bill was passed So to 23.
House Bills Nos. rs, 81. 32 and SO
were postponed and made a special
order OF business for today after the
report OF committees,
The bill of Mr.. Ballard. of Pike,
was next called and read, the same
being the anti-rebate insurance law
The purpose Of the measure is to pre-
vent discrimination against some poll
eyholders and impositions on them in
favor of other policyholders of the
same class. "class'' being so defined
as to circumvent recent decision of
the Supreme Court on the existing So
called anu-rebate law
| The penalties for Misrepresentation
of agents, officers. and directors of the
company are by fine of from 500 to
$500 or Imprisonment In Sthe county
jail. Also the license Of the company
so offending. or whose agents, officers,
or directors, SO offend. is revoked
The bill was passed unanimously
The House had a large number of
new bills introduced and no few re-
ports from committees were received.
There was a favorable report on the
| bill of Mr. UrQuhart to consolidate the
special funds Of the State into a gem
eral fund to be expended. indiscrimi-
nately for all purposes.
Gets Favorable Report.
The Ballard (Autauga) bill to sub
1 init constitutional prohibition TO the
people three months after adjournment
| Of the Legislature was favorably re-
ported as was also the bill of Mr.
| Tarrant, of Jefferson, regulating the
| organization of social clubs with es.