The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-27
FURIOUS FIGHT ON
 BILL FOR PASSES.
Sheriff Amendment Made It
 Close in Senate
THE VOTE STOOD IT TO 16
Opposition Was Based Largely on de- sire to Keep the Railroads From Wedding With the Affairs
 of the Press
BY BERRYMAN G. BETTY

BY BERRfMAN G. BETTY
 Montgomery, January 26.-lSpecial)- Barely escaping defeat, the railroad pass amendment of Senator Michael Screws Of Montgomery, which seeks to allow rail roads of this state to issue passes to newspaper men in exchange for advertis- ing, swept on to victory today in the prettiest contest which has yet been vaged in the upper house of Alabama s 1911 legislature. The measure was ham, pered by substitute which had been tagged on by the committee on commerce and common carriers. and which substi- tute was the real casus belli.
 As originally framed, the measure pro- vided that newspapers of the state alone should be given the privilege of franks, '' but similarity of another bill which had been introduced in the senate, and which sought the same privilege for sheriffs and their deputies and widows and orphans, caused the committee to substitute these features of the last bill in the original measure. The step was almost perilous one, as evidenced by the vote on the sub stitute. for 1t just succeeded in squeezing through on vote of r to Is.
 Vote on the bill and the substitute was improved h0 the change of one senator, the final result being Is for the measure and 15 against 1t. Senator Norman, who voted to kill the substitute, voted for the entire measure in order to cast a ballot in favor of the privilege for the news paper men.
 Furious Opposition
 Opposition to the bill in it's substitute form was explained as being due to de- sire to keep the railroads from meddllng too much in affairs of the press and af- fairs of the state. It was suggested by many of the opponents of the measure that the condition pointed to a kind of subsidy from which the sheriffs especially should hold themselves aloof No words were minced in leading to this conclusion. Result of the passage of the bill in the senate is that the measure will now have to be thrashed out in the house, where the warmth of it's reception is unknown. The bill is to be a law immediately upon its passage in both houses, and as soon thereafter the governors signature can be attached.
 Railroad Passes
 Discussion of the amendment to section 1892, which, with substitute, repeals that section of the anti-pass bill which denies passes to newspa pernen, sheriffs, widows of employees and other agents who make regular use of common carriers, was fast and furious and was easily the feature of the days work in the senate. Opposi- tion to the measure was led by Senator T. NJ Stevens of Mobile
 Speaking against the substitute Senator Stevens said that he did not object to legitimate barter or. business exchange, when 1t Is carried on along a fair basis, but that he was unalterably opposed to something for nothing He stated that - the trade of passes for newspaper space would be meritorious provided that this intent was adhered to. The speaker went on record however, as opposed to the substituting of interests He said that the pass legislation of the Conner legis- lature was one of the few wise steps of that body.
 Senator C. M sherrod of Lawrence county supported the bill on the ground that the trade was just. Newspaper space, he said, was valuable to the railroads He stated that sheriffs should be entitled 10 the privilege, well as widows of employees.
 Senator Justice of Elmore county urged that the law should not be tempered with at the present time. He said that 1t had not been on the statutes long enough for one to obtain any idea of it's usefulness.
 Senator Curry of Chiffon county said that the state should concern itself with present and future conditions, not with the past. Addressing himself chiefly to the giving of passes to sheriffs and edi- tors, the speaker stated that the gift of passes to them would not serve the pur- pose of subsidzng them. If subsidy should result, he said, upon any such amendment to the present pass laws the officials could just as easily be subsi- dized by the gift of money. He stated that he looked upon these men as irre- proachabls, and not with doubt
 Senator Moulthrop stated that substitute to the proposed amendment was unwise, in SO far as sheriffs are concerned He said he was in favor of a law that would grant to them special concessions.
 Senator Norman said that he was against the substitute because it permit ted passes to some who had nothing to exchange for the privilege. He paid a high tribute to the work of education state.
 Senator C. w Brown said that he was In favor of giving passes to all specified in the bill with the exception of deputies.
 Senator Crumpton spoke against both the substitute and the original meas ure. He went into detailed explanation of the work of the last legislature. and its endeavors to regulate the railroads. He aired Senator Stevens views in subsidy of the interests involved
 Senator Lovelace, owner of a newspa- ger, addressed himself to that phase of the bill which relates to sheriffs He favored both the measure and the sub sfitute.
 Senator Watt Brown said that he be- lieved the small newspapers ought to be encouraged in order that their mis- sion in the state might be more effective,
 Upon vote on the substitute there were IS noes, IS opposed to + ayes. Those who opposed the measure were Crumpton, Espy, Fite, Folmar. Frazer. Justice, Kilby, Lovelace, Miller, Moody, Moul- fhrop. Nance. Norman, Renfro, Stevens and Stokes. Those supporting the substl- tute were Allen. Atkins, Beasley, c. w Brown, w T. Brown. Curry, Godbold Merrill. Morrow. Plowman. Rogers ecrews. Sherrod. Sloan, spott Tunstal and Walden.
 Thirty-one Present
 Senator Norman's strength thrown or the side of the measure brought about its final passage by vote of IS to 15
 senate called to order at il o'clock wftf President Walter D. Seed in the chair Thifty-one were present.
 Memorials to the senate from the Bir niingham Pastors union and from cer . thin voters of St. Clair county wer, read. beseeching the legislature to pre- serve and maintain on the statutes tn. present statewide prohibition laws. I'm memorial from the Magic City wa; signed by Pastors Bryan. Ray and Whit man. Both petitions were referred to th committee on temperance.
 Joint resolution fIDn the house wal read requesting the senate to adjourn