The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-06

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 Montgomery, April 5.-(Special.)-Ihe local optionists In the two houses or the Alabama legislature have at last acnleseo victory. The fight for the redemp'ion of the party platform, which mas peen yaliantly waged for the past 10 weeks De- tween local optionists and prohipitlohlsts was brought to a close today by de- cisivc vote of the two houses. The long nooted question in reference to the smith regulation bill has in all probability oeen definitely settled in so far as the present session is concerned
 The policy of local option to which the state was committed when the Parks Dill was signed by the governor was 1uily Justified today in both houses or the ies- islature when the two branches or s'a'e lawmakers voted to concur in the report of the joint committee on conference
 In the senate there were prac- tically no discussion on the report 'ha' body voting to adopt the conference re- port by a vote of 20 to g. A strong e1- fort was made In the house, however 10 have that body non-concur in the report. The opposition fought valiantly for nearly two hours, but they were at length over whelmed, and the house concurred In the report by a vote of 57 to 42
 Local Legislation
 The opposition was lead by Representa- five Henry Merritt of Macon, who has heen the most ardent supporter of the pro- hibition cause in the house during the present session. MT Merritt made bold fight his eloquent speech receiving the most careful attention of all members of the house.
 The Macon representative contended that the bill, as amended by the senate. committed the state to a policy of local legislation rather than local option; that the bill in it's present form embraced feat ures which were never contemplated in the Parks bill. He was sustained by Rep- resentatives Rice, Mukey, Speaker Al mon, Jackson, Greene, Fuquay and oth- CTS, all of whom urged the house to non- concur in the report.
 Representative Smith and Pitts lead the fight for the local optionists. MT. Smirn explained at length the various provisions of the amendments, denying that the new features of the bill granted local legisla- tion He declared that the regulation Dill The speeches were all of short duration, measure of it's kind In existence.
 Representatives Pitts, Bush, Sanders and others spoke for the adoption of the report, all contending that non-concur- renee would only delay the final Issue. The speeches were al lof short duration, the limit being five minutes.
 How They Voted
 For concurrence in the report: Ar mold, Barnard. Bell of Autauga, Brew CT, Boswell. Brown of Pike. Bush, Butt. Carroll, Chamberlain. Cranford, Dar- den, Dennis, Eastis Edmonds, Fletch- CT, Gewin. Griffith, Hood. Horton, Hud- dleston. Jenkins of Baldwin, Johnson of Marshall, Judge, Lane. Lavender. Lawler. Lloyd. Martin of Calhoun, Mar tin of Jackson, Mastin. Mathews, Mol ton, Mcdonald, ONeill, Overton, Parks, Pharr, Pegram, Pitts, Popwell, Pruett, Quinn, Rylance, Sanders. Smith, Strick- land, Stollenwerck, Sturdivant, Sulli- van, Twombly, Waddell. Waite. Wal ker. Wilhite, Williams and Wright-57.
 For non-concurrence in the report: Almon, Acker. Avery. Bell of Pick ens Brindley, Brown of Tuscaloosa, Borton. Capps, Flanagan, Fowlkes, Flu quay Greene, Helms. Hollis of Choc- taw, Jackson, James, Jenkins of Bull lock, Johnson of Clarke. Jones, Kill burn, Knight. Lawson, Lee. Letson, Lumpkin. Merritt, Mlner, Mulkey, Me Curdy, McGowan, Nicholson. Page. Pitt man. Preston, Ramsey. Rice, Richeson, Roberson. Thomas. Walden. Whatley, Wheeless-42.
 Committee Amendments
 Report of the conference committee was as previously predicted that fea ture of the senate amendments which auth orized the sale of liquors from the basements of buildings in the cities of Mont gomery, Mobile and Birming- ham being eliminated in toto, as well as the provision which sought to allow social clubs to dispense liquors after the closing hour of II o'clock. Sena- tors Stevens and Atkins. and Repre Pentatives Smith and Pitts constituted the majority to agree on the measure. while Senator Fite and Representative Merritt, the remaining members of the conference committee. objecting to the bill as m entirety. and as such, voting against 1t.
 Under the senate amendment, with respect to social clubs. such organiza tions could have kept "open" all night for the purpose of dispensing liquors. They are now placed on an identical footing with saloons.
 That senate amendment which sought to permit the establishment of saloon upon the indorsement of 10 freeholders. subject to the action of the excise com mission. was recommended to be re- ceded from. This was done. the situa- tion now being that such saloons can be esta blished only upon the indorse- ment of 20 freeh olders.
 Committees Report
 The report of the conference commit tee was as follows:
 "The conference committee appointed by the senate and house of representa- lives, respectively. to consider house bill 563 and the amendments made to 1t by the senate and -concurred in by the house, beg leave to report as follows:
 '.1. The said conference committee