The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-02-19
Commission Measure Will Get Unanimous Vote in
 the Senate
THIS CITY GETS TWO
 MEASURES ASKED FOR
Numerous Local Bills on the Liquor Question Will Be Introduced to Avoid the Calling of Fur
 ther Elections
By HUGH ". ROBERTS


 Montgomery, February 1S.-(Special.)- A remedy for the evils of the reign of the blind tiger," and provisions for the substitution of a commission government for the present aldermanic system-the hearts desires of Birmingham-have been obtained. #s
 The great principles have been estab- lished. That which remains to be accom- plished is of routine nature The legs- lature will pass bill complementing the Parks local option bill. making the lat ter effective in every county of the state. and the senate will enact into law tho commission government bill of Birming- ham.
 Those results are practically assured. The strength of the local optionists. as has been pointed ont for weeks, is the majority strength of both houses of the legislature. And since the compromise of in reference to commission government, the Birmingham bill will be indorsed by an unanimous vote in the senate. even as 1t was in the house.
 And there is another feature which doubtless appeals to the people of Bir- mingham. The commission government and a system of dispensaries will be es- tablished without subjecting the citizenry to the agonies of what would necessarily be. bitter elections.
 Local Dispensary Bill
 As was stated in Tho Age-Herald on the morning of February g. Senator Morrow will father local bill providing for dis pensaries In Jefferson county.
 This bill cannot be properly introduced, has passed bill compementing the Parks bill, and. with provisions regulat- ing the traffic in liquor, make that local option measure effective.
 Immediately after this bit of legislation Is accomplished. however, Senator Nor row will introduce his bill
 There Is not a particle of doubt but that such bill will be enacted into law Yesterday afternoon when the local option- fists of the senate. in their determined policy to carry out the platform of tho democratic party, defeated the amend ment of Senator Tunstall. which would have precluded the effectiveness of ths Parks bill in cities of 5000 and less popu- lation, Senator Stevens of Mobile, the local option leader of the upper house, stated:
 Tt is not our purpose to endanger with the possibility of the licensed saloon those communities which are earnestly opposed to such a system. But 1t is our purpose, by a general bill, to establish local option as the policy of this state and to reject the fallacious system of pro- hibition as a state doctrine. We are sin cero in this position. and we will pledge ourselves to support any local bills. the purpose of which is the establishment of dispensaries in certain communities. or the purpose of which is to retain in force jn certain communities prohibition"
 This sentiment was warmly applauded by the local optionits seated about the speaker.
 Opposition to Election
 The membefs of the Jefferson delega- tion are opposed to the idea of enforcing on their constituency local option cleo tion. ff
 The idea has taken hold that the senii- ment in Jefferson county favors a dis pensary as the best means of rectifyiug the evils both of prohibition and the H. censed saloon.
 So when Senator Morrow's bill is intro- duced, 1t Is believed that 1t will glide through both houses without serious -op- position It Is known that the senate will not oppose the passage of such a bill The house, while not as unanimous on the proposition. will not endeavor to deny to Jefferson what its representatives believe Is demanded by the people of that county In this regard it Is interesting to note that while the majority of the members of both houses are in favor of local op- tion-that is, the majority believes that the matter of liquor regulation should be left to the people of the several counties tho majority, too were 1t to set out what shall obtain in every county of the state would establish a system of dispcn- earies. The local optionists contend that there Is no inconsistency in their position. They contend that they are willing to sub- ject their own individual ideas as to the best remedy in order that the great prin- ciple of democracy. local option, might have unopposed reign and sway.
 Bill of Regulations
 The regulations of the Morrow dis pensary bill will depend on the pro visions of the bill of regulations which will be passed as a complement to the Parks bill.
 It is believed however. that the gen. eral bill of regulations will content itself with declaration as to how the A DrOHI or QlSp6HbhTlcS sIldil pS ulNiucu between the cities. the counties and the state
 If this idea materializes the Jeffer- son county dispensary bill will set our the number of dispensaries that may be established in Birmingham and the other communities of the county. The number will be based. naturally, on the population of the several communities
 It was the original idea of Senator Morrow to provide for the sale of beer and possibly light wines in city cafes Senator Morrow believes in the encour- agement of the consumption of beer as polite course leading to temper ance in drink. Because of this belief, if is probable that his bill will SC provide for Jefferson county.
 One argument that is made against the dispensary is that 1t will not pre- vent the existence of blind tigers But the "blind tigers will be put out of business, according to the best opin- ion, when. in connection with dispen- saries. light wine and beer cafes are permitted to operate.
 Swarm of Local Bills The local optionists are preparing at the present time a bill of regulations, m the pass8 Qe of which the operation