The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-09
Debate Lasted Until After
 Six O'Clock
FINAL VOTE WAS II TO 13
on Ground That $2OOO for Each County Is But Drop in the
 Bucket
BY BERRYMAN G. BETTY


 Montgomery, February S.-(special)- Today's session of the Alabama legisla- ture, which began at 10.3O o'clock this morning with forensic eloquence in both of the legislative branches, ended in a blaze of glory at 6:2O o'clock tonight, | when the house of representatives by an | overwhelming majority, passed the good | roads measure of Speaker E. B. Almon, for which thousands of citizens through out the state have from time to time i'm portuned the lawmakers
 While the vote in favor of the measure T for and 13 against-was decisive the number of ballots are not indicative of the spirited fight in favor of the bill which was made in the house by advo- cates of the measure
 l From the assembly of the solons after l the luncheon, hour to adjournment the rafters of the room rang with enthusias- tic speeches in behalf of the measure, and with speeches that were equally as enthusiastic, but less effective, against the measure As l Opposition to the instrument as passed this afternoon was not due, however, to | lack of appreciation for good roads, but to doubt as to the effectiveness of the appropriation of $154OOO which is allowed l for the purpose.
 Those who voted against the i'neasure at the final count were: Representatives Boswell, Flanagan. Huddleston. Hat thews, Motion, Page. Parks, Pegram Pitts, Pruett, Quin, Sanders and Twom- bly,
 Introduced By AImon
 The bill on which the vote was taken is the one which was introduced by Rep- resentative Almon, speaker of the house, l after collaboration with Senator Hugh Morrow, president pro tenn of the senate, and leading legislators of both branches. | It provides for the appointment of a I state highway commission, and regula. tions therefor; and for the appropriation of $l540O0 and regulations.
 According to the bill there are to be three commissioners, who are to be ap- pointed by the governor. and two com 1 rntssioners who are named in the nieas- l ure. The commissioners who are named for office are the geologist at the Uni versty of Alabama, and the professor of | civil engineering at the Alabama Poly- | technic institute. All of these commits sioners are to serve without pay, but l there are expenses to be paid out of the l funds appropriated. The commissioners l are empowered to appoint a competent | civil engineer, at salary not exceeding l S5000 per year, and as many clerks and l stenographers as are deemed advisable. 1 The expenditures of the commission, however, must at no time exceed $20000 l The commission Is empowered to- have l full supervision of the roads, bridges highways and other similar institutions 1 where state aid is given. The various 1 ,,,ft- ,,iccin fr oot f,,< | operation with the state board
 Of the remaining s134.000 it is stipulated 1 that s2000 shall be allowed to each of l the 67 counties of the state. provided, however, that each county appropriates a similar amount of money.
 Leads With Eloquent Plea l At the discussion of the measure this afternoon, Speaker Almon led off with an eloquent plea for better supervision | of the roads. which, he said could only be assured by expert services. He men toned the fact that the Alabama Good | Roads association had for years endea- vored to have such a commission cre- | ated. while the constitution of the state had been so amended as to permit it. Governor O'Neal he declared, and the states democratic convention had advo- cated the measure
 Representative Pegram of Marengo | county led the opposition to the bill. stat ing that the "Three historic R's of Rev enue, Retrenchment and Rest might be | supplemented by the additional of Retribution." if the legislature was not more careful in its appropriations He was of the opinion that each county couli, hest provide for its roads. He was of the opinion that s2000 would not be drop ill the bucket" for the purposes required of 1t.
 Representatives Stollenwerck and Flu quay joined in answering the speech of Representative Pegram. insisting that the measure would furnish an incentive for further road improvement throughout the state.
 Representative Pitts. joining forces with l MT Pegram. was of the opinion that the desired appropriation could be of no ma terial use in effecting the desired end. He said that S4O00 would hardly build three-fourths of a mile of good road. He declare himself thoroughly in sympathy l with the movement but chary of the re- suit under the bill under consideration.
 Pitts Offers Substitute
 Representative Mastin of Montgomery | thought that the appropriation would prove one of the wisest ones that couiI possibly be made, to-which Representative Sanders objected, thinking quite the con trary. He said that the money could be more effectively spent. Representative l Pitts thereupon offered substitute to the original bill to provide for an appro- priation of $1S4OO0, without the creation of I a highway commission. This was object l ed to by Speaker Alnlon and others. Up- on a vote MT Pitts substitute was tabled.
 Representatives Green of Dallas and I Rylance and Jackson joined in further ex-
 tolling the good results of roads. each declaring himself of, the opinion that the bill as planned would work greatly to- ward the upbuilding of the state. I
 Representative Huddleston of Fillmore said that the movement was pushed by I owners of automobiles, giving that fact as one of his reasons for objecting to the
 measure He said that the money had ! better be spent for educational purposes. I Representative Bush of Mobile declared that the bill was for educational pur- poses If automobiles inspired good roads,
 he said, monument as high as the sky T ought to be erected in their honor. ~
 Representative Jackson then called for vote on the question. which prevailed, the measure carrying by vote of 71 to l3.
 Woman Suffrage in Kansas