The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-08
PLEADS AGAINST
 TAKING OF LIFE Senator Moody Opposes Capital Punishment FEATURE OF NIGHT After Impassioned and Eloquent Speech Debate Is Finally Cut
 Off By Motion to
 Table

paSSfOned ana elOquent duuIeSs yet made on the senate floor, the upper house of the state legislature tonight for the first time this session allowed its enthusiasm for the quick passage of bills to get the better of ita sober de- libera tions when a motion was made that cut off debate on one of the most important measures that has been in the legislature. The Interruption came Immediately following upon a speech Ax Senator Moody on his bill to pro- hibit capital punishment.
 In the course of his remarks, which thrilled with the enthusiasm of his subject, the senator was reminded that his five minutes had expired, when Sen ator Screws of Montgomery offered a motion to extend the time. Senator God bold al first objected but later with drew his objections The speaker then proceeded with his remarks, but before he could close Senator Allen objected to further time extension which ob jection was Immediately followed by a motion to table the bill, which was carried.
 Senator Moody made an eloquent plea in defense of his measure, declaring g that the practice of capital punishment was theoretically and practically wrong. He said that the ending of life on the
 
 crime than cure of evil.
 q speak from feeble heart, though" said Senator Moody. "The time has passed when the law has an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. And we should just as well pass out of the stage of life for life"
 In the course of his rema rks the ven- erable and respected speaker reviewed at length the history of criminal law He read from the authorities to show that the custom of capital punish ment was theoretically obsolete almost cen tury ago. He also quoted from the Bible to. show that the murderers of that time were made "vagabonds upon the face of the earth" rather than put to death.
 At this stage of the senator's address the interruptions came, and Senator Godbold offered q motion to lay the bill on the table. The motion prevailed by a vote of 10 to 8.
 Votes were cast as follows:
 To table bill: Senators Allen, Atkins, Beasley, Fite, Godbold Norman, Rog- CTS, Sloan, Stevens and Walden
 Aganist tabling: Senators Morrow, Crumpton, Justice, Kilby Moody, Flow man, Screws and Spragins.
 Four bills of special importance to the city of Mobile were passed at the night session of the state senate when two of Representative Sullivan's meas ures and bill by MT. Bush and Mr. Chamberlain were unanimously in :. dorsed by tile upper house.
 The most important of the measures was the Bush instrument which, if approved by. the governor, will abolish the offices of justice of peace and es- tablish in lieu thereof an inferior civil court. The Chamberlain measure is one which seeks to further protect the cyster reefs of Alabama and to pre- serve the sea food products of that section of the commonwealth
 Representative Sullivan's bills seek to provide for the more efficient work k- ing of public roads and to regulate the purchase of books. printing etc. for the officers of Mobile county.
 bill of general statewide interest was passed when the Smith measure to establish reform sch ool for negroes at Mt. Meigs received unanimous indorse- ment
 Riils passed at the night session of the senate were as follows:
 MT. Chamberlain: For the preservation protection, development and improvement of the oyster reefs and beds in the wa :. ters of Alabama.
 Mir Rice: To regulate proceedings in the supreme court in cases which, jo the opinion of that court. should be re- versed because the judgment of a lower court is excessive.
 Mir Sullivan To amend an act enti : tied An act to provide for the more efficient working of the public roads In Mobile county and certain streets ani public thoroughfares In the city of Mo- bie'
 MT. Milner: To repeal an act approved on January 30. 1891, to reduce the fees of the probate judge of Lamar county in certain cases
 Mir. Stollenwerck To amend an act entitled an Act to create office of as- sistant solicitor for the county of Mont gomery'
 MT Smith To fix the salary of the judge of the Fifteenth judicial circuit Of the state of Alabama at the sum of s4000 per year
 Mr. Smith: To create and establish a reform school for the training of juve- nile negro lawbreakers at Mt Meigs.
 Mir Cranford: To allow the constable in Beat 1a of Walker county, Alabama to appoint deputies.
 MT. Burton: For the relief of Mrs Mary Sasser, widow of J. J. Sasser, an ex-Confederate soldier, who was a pen sionerr of the state of Alabama, Cham bers county. numbered 92S6, and died on March 23. 1909
 MT. Sullivan To provide for and reg ulate the purchase of books. printing, stationery, material and supplies for the officers of Mobile county
 Mr. Pitts. To prevent trains. engines cars and other vehicles on railroad an1 street railroad tracks from being wrecked or caused to be wrecked, and to provide for the punishment of persons guilty thereof.
 MT. Bush: To establish an inferior civil court in lieu of justices of the peace for all precincts lying within or partly within the city of Mobile
 Mr. smith: To require the tax collector of Montgomery county 10 keep record showing in abstract form the namesa of all registered voters who pay their poll tax.
 MT. Percy: To make an appropriation for the maintenance and support of the Mercy Home Industrial Schools for Giris located at Birmingham, Ala, for the years 1911, 1912. 1913 and 1914, and also to provide for the Commitment of de :. linquent white girls between the ages of F and 16 years.
 Mir Greene To amend an act approved August 26 1909 entitled an act to amend section 70S3 of the code of Alabama of 1907
 Mir. Richeson: To repeal an act en- titled an act to amend an act to pro- vide for the better construction, repair ing and maintaining the public roads and bridges in Franklin county.
 MT. Miner: TO repeal an act to re- duce and regulate the payment of ex- officio fees so far as it relates to La mar county. approved on February 21. 1903 MT. Milner: Entitled an act to repeal an act to fix and regulate the fees of deputy solicitor of Lamar county.
 Mir. Miner: To amend an act enti- tied an act to authorize and require the commissioners court of Lamar county