The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20
FOUR COMMITTEES
WILL Be IMPORTANT
Temperance Committee to In
fiuence Liquor Law
TEACHERS GET PAY ROLL
Supreme Court Takes Up Fifth Divis-
ion Cases Observation-Disclosures
cry Is at Last Claimed to
Be Dry-Other News

Montgomery, November 19.-(Special)-
The radical changes and activities of the
next state legislature, which meets in
Alabama in January of 1911, will rest
largely with four committees which are
to be appointed in the house. The COM
mittees are temperance, banking and In
surance, railroads and corporations, and
upon them will devolve the duty of put
ting into force the policies of Colonel
Emmett O'Neal, who is to be inaugurated
as governor of Alabama in January. x
With the temperance committee, Of
course, will rest largely the nature Of the
local option laws which are to be put
into effect, and It is admitted on every
side that at the next legislature the ques-
ton will be one of more than ordinary
interest. 1t is pointed out that under
the liquor regulations prior to passage of
the statewide act about 90 per centum
of the counties of the state were already
dry. or course, it is not to be forgotten
that these counties are to be respected
at the passage of the local option laws.
II possible, an effort will be made, II 1t
seems fit, to save these counties the ex-
pense of holding another election.
The committee on banking and insur-
ent bank examination laws of the state.
and to pass sale and sane bills for the
regulation of insurance companies. The
effort In this respect will be to allow
as wide scope for development of such
companies as possible. Within the past
three years the state has forged ahead
as one of the largest insurance centers
of the south.
All railroad legislation will be put up
to the committee on commerce and COM
mon carriers, the committee of the legis-
lature which during the present admins
tration of Gov. B. B. Conner was in all
probability more useful than any other
branch of the legislature in carrying out
the planks in the platform of Governor
Corners declaration of principles.
The committee on corporations will pay
especial attention to the policy of Gov
ernor-elect Emmett O'Neal. who in nearly
all of his speeches during the recent cam
paign sounded as a keynote the oppor-
tunities which should be given all such
companies to develop along a legitimate
line. Conservation in this respect has
been sweeping the state throughout the
past six months.
Within the next two or three weeks, in
all probability, advertisements will APP
pear In the newspapers of Alabama Civ
ing notice to the public Of certain local
option laws for the state which are de-
sired to be passed at the coming session
of the state solons. The code of Alabama
requires that such advertisements shall
appear for four consecutive weeks before
the measure can be taken up in the leg
islature. Inasniuch as the legislature
meets January 10, until December 10 Is
allowed in which to get busy on these
measures.
1t is generally conceded that the speak
ershp of the house will rest with either
]. Lee Long of Butler county or Judge
e. B. Almon of Colbert. Among the leg
islators chosen for the O'Neal admins
tration, as a consequence, the choice of
the solons is a matter of deep interest.
Whoever Is elected speaker will have
thrust upon him the power of naming the
committees of the house.
The legislature will undoubtedly discuss
measures for a redivision of the con-
gressional districts of the state, and an
effort is expected to be made to have
the strongly republican counties put in
districts where the large democratic
vote would easily offset any republican
gains. Should Congress authorize Ala
hama to elect another congressman, al
lowing this state 10 districts, the re-
division will undoubtedly be made.