The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-15
TWO VERY LIVELY
 FIGHTS IN SENATE Governor Will Appoint All
 Commissioners FOR THE FIRST TIME Upper House Also Defeats Resolu- tion to Have Statewide Elec-
 ton in 1912 on the
 Liquor Question
FOR THE FIRST TIME
By BERRyMAN G. BETTY

By BERRYMAN G. BETTY Montgomery, April 4.-(Special.) 1.-TWO scraps of general significance featured the
 morning session of the state senate, when the upper house, after a lively debate, concurred in the amendment to the Kilby commission government whereby the gov ernor is given the appointive power in | the smaller cities, and when the upper 1 house solons defeated a resolution which | sought to have another election in 1912 to determine the will of the people rela- l tive to statewide prohibition. | The last question was sprung by Sena- | tor Kilby, who stated in introducing his | resolution that the people of the state
 ought to be given an opportunity to fully express themselves on the question: He said that the constitutional amendment election was not an expression of the pub | lie will. l Debate on the amendment to the Kilby
 commission government bill came up on
 report of conference committee which
 had been appointed to investigate dis ] agreements in the two bodies on house
 amendments. The amendment to which
 most objection was had was one which
 sought to take the elective power out of | the bill, and to make the commissioners appointive for the first four years. In the house of representatives the report of
 the committee, recommending the amend
 ment prevailed by majority of only l.. while in the senate the majority was g.. l Session in Detail l The senate was called to order at 10 o'clock with IS present. President Pro Tenn Hugh Morrow was in the chair.
 Reading of the journal was dispensed
 with.
 | There being no committee reports the
 senate at once got down to passage of
 hills, the greatest eagerness being mani fested to wipe the calendar as clean as
 possible. From the assembly of the up- per house solons to their adjournment I for lunch the fact that the day entered
 upon was the last one of the session, lent
 kind of enthusiasm to the days work,
 and greatly tended to the quick passage | of measures.
 1 Bills of merely routine interest were first entered upon, the heavier work be-
 ing left for the afternoon and night ses- sions.
 l Commission Government
 The first decided struggle of the day was begun at II o'clock, when the con | ference committee appointed to investi- gate the disagreement on the Kilby com mission government bill reported to the l upper house.
 l sSenator Moody objected to that feature | of the committee report which permitted l the governor to appoint the commissin- CTS. He said that his opposition was not
 que to the fact that Governor O'Neal | would have to make the appointments,
 but to the fact that such a policy was against the best democratic principles of i a republican government.
 | Senator Spragins was of the contrary opinion, stating that the senate had al-
 ready gone on record as in favor of such
 appointive power.
 | Senator Atkins called to the attention
 of the senate the fact that there has de-
 veloped such general opposition to the ap-
 rointive power throughout the state that 1 this prejudice might defeat the commis-
 sion government plan itself. This bill must be voted upon," he declared, "and l if 1t Is harnessed with the appointive I power chances are that 1t will be de-
 feated." He added that so far as he is
 concerned he would prefer having the governor name the commissioners, but l that he doubted the wisdom of such an enactment.
 1 Senator Allen opposed the report. Let l the people govern'' he cried, "and thus keep our place among our sister states ,
 He said that the people were not fools,
 and that they could be trusted. l Vote was then taken on the report, which prevailed by a ballot of IS ayes
 and noes.
 Prohibition Resolution 1 Ginger was injected into the days work l promptly at the hour of noon, when Sen ator sKilby of Calhoun county, introduced l resolution providing for submission to | the people at the general election of 1912 | the question of whether or not the state shall return to statewide prohibition. The
 resolution read that the state has not been
 allowed full opportunity to speak out on l the question.
 | Senator Spragins moved that the resolu- l ton be referred to the committee on rules with instructions to report at the next | legislative day Senator Kilby moved to l table the motion. Senator Sherrod there
 upon made the point that the resolution would necessarily have to be referred to | the rules committee, unless unanimous l consent should be given to it's passage. l Following upon scrimmage which last | ed fully five minutes, the resolution was defeated by vote of IA to 8.
 Mulberry Time"
 Representative Helms bill to further
 regulate the shooting of squirrels brought
 forth warm advocacy and equally as en-
 thusiastic opposition. Debate occurred l on an amendment to prohibit the killing of squirrels in mulberry time, between May 15 and June 15
 The bill was amended by Senator Moody | to permit killing of the animals from october to March 1, but before the
 vote was reached quick and active discus
 sion of the measure was enjoyed. The
 battle waged fiercely between Senators
 Moody, Sherrod, Curry and Allen in the
 progress of the debate.
 Final vote on the measure was IS ayes and 8 noes.
 | Senate then took recess for luncheon l to meet again at oclock. l Bills Passed l Other bills passed in the senate today ! fcllows
 | By MT. Dennis municipalities and muni- o,,;r e. riva