The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-25
HOUSE VOTESFOR
 MONROE'S COURT Long Debate on Measure
 Yesterday MANY IN OPPOSITION Believe That No More Courts Should Be Established in the State Just Now-The Session
 in Detail
By BERRYMAN G. BETTY

| roe county by vote of A to 40. The bill was called up by MT. Jones, the
 author of the measure. yesterday after noon, and was debated up until the
 hour of adjournment, Speaker Almon and
 Representatives Percy, Pegram, Huddes- | ton, Williams and others taking part | in the discussion.
 Some days ago the house passed bill to establish the Cullman county law and | equity court, at which time there was apparently no opposition to the estab- l lshment of these courts in the state. | The bill for the establishment of the | Cullman county court was opposed only | in the committee meeting, which gave | favorable consideration to the measure At that time a delegation from Cullman
 was present urging against the bill. In the house the bill met with little oppo- sition.
 When the bill by MT. Jones was called up yesterday it was thought that this measure would also pass without any great opposition, but it soon became evil
 dent that there was a strong sentiment in the house against the establishment of any new courts in the state. Debate on the Bill | The debate closed Thursday afternoon | with no apparent advantage having been gained by either side. though with the
 promise that the vote would be close
 when it was taken today. There are a number of other bills pend ing in the house which look to the es- tablshment of law and equity courts in the state, and it is believed that the
 passage of MT. Jones bill may be regard ed as a strong test in preference to the attitude of the members on the sub- ject.
 The debate on the establishment of the Monroe county law and equity court was resumed just after the house con- vened. MT. Jenkins of Bullock was the first speaker on the question and he made a strong plea for the establish ment of the court. He said that there had been more murders in Monroe coun- ty during the last ten years than in any other county in the state, with the ex- ception of Jefferson, Montgomery and Mobile counties. He declared that the circuit court docket was all the time crowded, that the administration of jus tice was impeded by the fact that these
 
 MT. Pruett of Bullock said that when a mans pocketbook was touched his heart was touched, and that he thought the chief advocates of the measure were those who expected to profit by the new court He said the establishment of the court would give the lawyers more work, and that he believed this was the motive which actuated them in advocating the measure.
 Mir Williams of Barbour offered an amendment to the bill to make the sal ary of the judge s25Oo per annum instead of $3000
 The amendment was adopted without opposition.
 Judge Almon again spoke against the establishment of the court declaring that he opposed the court simply because he did not think 1t necessary at this time.
 T shall oppose every new court" said the speaker, unless it shall be shown that new court Is necessary. If the circuit court docket of that county is full the judge of the circuit should hold extra sessions.
 Judge Almon next referred to the possl bilty of a split session, declaring: II an in favor of a split session. I am in favor of a split session either should we ad- journ on the 40th day and come back in July for a ten days session" At this joint Judge Almon was inter- rupted by applause which continued for some moments, indicating very clearly the attitude of the members of the ques- tion of a split session.
 "They say that we have not yet passed the revenue bill or the general appropria- ton bill The revenue bill might go oyer till July and a number of the appropria- tion measures might also go over till that time It may be hot in Montgomery, but 1t will be hot everywhere else in the state" |. Judge Almon said further that he thought a split session would give the redistricting committees an opportunity to finish their work, and that they could report back to the legislature at the July session.
 The vote on the bill as amended resulted in the passage of the bill by vote Of | A to 40
 Smith Resolution | Mr. Smith, author of the regulation | bill offered a resolution to make his Dill | the special paramount continuing order for next Wednesday, March l, at noon, and moved the suspension of the rules In or der that the resolution might be adopted | MT BrinGey said that he thought We'd | nesday not a good day to discuss the | regulation bill, particularly as the ma
 iority of the members will have just re- | turned from the hospitable city of Mobile He declared that the discussion of the bill 1 on WedneSuhy Woulu uOt DC ldiT to lHc | opponents of the measure, and he offered
 to amend the resolution by making the day Thursday instead of Wednesday. 1 M-. Richerson wanted to have the bill | discussed on Friday. To this MT. Brown | of Pike objected, maintaining that this | would not be fair to the local option
 ists, as by that time the Mobile delegation
 would be ''sobering up'' from the result
 of their trip, and he thought that, since
 A man usually "swears off during his
 soldering" period, 1t would be better to
 have the bill discussed on Thursday.
 Other humorous comments were made
 by various members, after which, by a
 suspension of the rules, the bill was made | a special paramount continuing order for Thursday at noon.
 Optometry Bill
 Considerable discussion came up on the passage of Senator Frazer's bill | to regulate and define the practice of optometry in the state. which was called up by MT. Stollenwerck of Mont | gomrey The bill provides for a state board of examination and registration and prescribes the duties of tn Is board. I Under its provisions optometrists are licensed by this examining board to sell eye glasses. and to engage in the oculist business
 | MT. Stollenwerck explained the pur- pose of the bill and said that he had | been petitioned by large number of
 people to introduce the bill, which
 he thought, was meritorious meas
 ure.
 The technical terms of the 'ill were explained by Senator McIST oon, after
 which MT. Huddleston of Fillmore made
 anothar of his characteristic sDeech es