The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-27

mittee. There is bound to be hard wrestle over any question among such men. There may be an indefinite wran- gle. It is more than possible 1t is quite probable, that the joint committee, with so much brains and determination, may recast the whole measure, and formulate
 something totally different from what
 has passed either house.
 In the light of this unexpected snarl
 between the two houses at this late day
 and of the situation outlined, 1t is not likely that the conference committee will be able to work out an agreement on Monday and Tuesday. It is not certain that all of the committeeman can be here during the recess. It is quite pos-
 sible that some of them will go home and consult their constituents. The net
 result, it is to be feared, will be that on Wednesday the conference commit tee will not be able to make a unanimous | report to the two houses. If general
 revenue bill is not perfected and passed by both houses promptly on reassem-
 bling, it cannot be passed within the constitutional five days before adjourn
 ment. This would certainly force an l extra session.
 This would be almost a calamity at this time. The people of the state are already restive over the prolonged ses- sion. They have not understood nor ap- preciated the fierce tussle over the locar option bills. They are becoming alarmed at some manifestations of a tendency
 to harrass business interests. They want quiet and harmony. They do not want an extra session right on the heels of q regular one. The legislature has
 been sitting practically three months. The best opinion in the state will con- demn any proposition for another month or two of debate and inartiOu
 In this serious juncture the Advertiser offers this suggestion as a way out of this impending difficulty: If on Wednes- day the conference committee on the rev enue bill is not ready to make a unani nous report, so as to ensure a prompt close of the legislatures work let the two houses agree to a legislative recess of two weeks or possibly 90 days. Let this recess be distinctly taken with a resolution to accept no pay. Thus 1t will cost the state nothing for legislators to go home. Its members can attend to some of their urgent private business at this season. In the meantime that ad- mlrable conference committee of some of the biggest men in both houses can have ample time to work out a real revenue bill that will produce an a ,und- ant income for this growing state by methods that will be effective. uniform and equitable, yet not alarming to busl- ness interests or oppressive to any class This needs to be done. and to be done right. Why not now?
 This plan will avoid the necessity of | the great expense of an extra session, at | least $50,000. It will give the members a | full opportunity to get at public opinion
 on this matter which has been so recently i broached. It will give all factions in the l legislature a period to cool off, to forget | all temper about the liquor differences, 1 about administration" and 'anti-admn- | istration," to harmonze on the purely ab- | stract matter of taxation about which the | people have never seriously differed. It
 will be the best thing for the democratic | party.
 There can be no serious objection to 1 this plan. The liquor matter, which was
 first and foremost in all minds, has been | virtually settled by the Parks and Smith | bills and any remaining details can be
 easily fixed Wednesday. By all means,
 let this cooling time be provided, let this | abstract matter of taxation be handled without feeling, with the greatest effort
 at wisdom and fairness.
 The Advertiser has not consulted Gov ernor O'Neal, or any one in high position
 of authority, about this proposition. Nev- l ertheless, it believes that nothing more advantageous to Governor O'Neal than the proposed recess could occur at this | critical iuncture. His administration Is | going to be greatly benefited, or greatly
 impaired by developments in the next 1 week. He and his best friends need time
 to get together for there is imminent dan
 ger Of their getting far apart He is an
 able man, who wants to serve the state
 and his party, but he has been kept in a Eerve-racking tussle night and day fol three months. He has made mistakes, | perhaps biunders, but they are not ire | trievable. Order can yet be brought out | of chaos, and complete success may yet
 crown his administration. AS his earnest
 well wisher, the Advertiser hopes this
 recess can be brought about, so there may l be full opportunity for wise counsel and | for sagacious plans.
 1 The short recess is the way out of d | bad situation Why not take it?