The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-13
CAUCUS OF HOUSE
 PROVES FRISCO Mere Handful Gathered to
 Discuss Bills NO BINDING ACTION Chief Discussion of Afternoon Was On Bill to Prohibit Selling
 Goods On Lands of
 Another
By BERRyMAN c. BETTY

hbulBOlltfNt ADIll lE.-NtoptSidi-t- Much ado about nothing Such nigh. be brief summary of the work of the caucus of house members this afternoon for the purpose of considering bills OF the calendar. A mere handful of mem- bers were present when the members convened in conference about 3:30 o'clock, and with this limited number, about 9 all told. some 10 or 12 bills were informally discussed.
 When the caucus first convened this afternoon an effort was made to ad- journ the conference until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, but Chairman Alex Pitts, Judge Almon and few others in- sisted that much good might be accom- plished by remaining in session, and the minority was overruled. The members remained, some 25 or more legislators, and the afternoon passed away slowly.
 There was a practical unanimity of opinion that the action of the caucus would not be at all binding upon mem bers when the bills were called up for passage on Friday. It was the sense of the members that the conference should act in the nature of house com mittee, in order that the few who were present might be in position to explain the measures when the house convenes in regular session. Those who wanted the caucus to adjourn thought the meet ing was a sheer waste of time, partic- ularly in view of the fact that the action of the few who were present could not be considered at all binding on house members Friday.
 The principal discussion of the after noon occurred on the bill by Senator Morrow to prohibit the selling or ex hibiting for sale, any goods, wares or merchandise upon the private roads or lands of another in counties having a population of less than 6O,oOO inhabitants. The bill is aimed to prevent peddling, and the farmers in the caucus were unanimous in indorsing the bill whicl was reported favorably.
 The bill to increase the salary of the director of the department of archives and history from $2500 to 5000 received the unanimous approval of the caucus, as did the bill to further prescribe the duties of the assistant attorney general, giving that official the right to act iE the absence of the attorney general.
 The bill to prohibit all children from attending the white public schools of the state of negro lineage was also fa- vofably reported The measure is by Senator Fite. and provides a regulation regarding those who shall attend the public schools.
 Several other bills were discussed at the afternoon session of the caucus, and will be reported favorably to the house on Friday The caucus will meet again tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
 MornHg Session of Caucus
 For the first time since the begin ming of the present legislative session GUS at the capitol for the purpose of considering a number of bills on the calendar. During the hours of the morning session much important work was done in conference, and a large number of measures were acted upon. These bills will be reported to the house on Friday, and will doubtless be passed without further debate.
 The caucus assembled shortly after no o'clock with Alex Fitts of Dallas, who had been selected chairman, in the chair. Not quite half of the members were present when the conference was called to order, but the legislators got quickly down to work and transacted much business before the caucus re- cessed at 1 o'clock,
 The chief discussion of the morning session occurred on an effort to have the caucus report favorably bill to establish school for juvenile negro delinquents in Tuscaloosa county. MT. Rice of Tuscaloosa was the champion of the bill and he made a strong fight for a favorable report. Members of the house were inclined to think, however, that the state could not afford the s5000 appropriation that was asked for in the bill, and the measure was ad- versed
 Bills increasing the salary of the cir cult court judges of the state to $3600 per annum and the salary of super numerary judges to s400o annually re- ceived favorable consideration by the members of the caucus. Judge Almon and MT. Mulkey both champioed the measures. and other prominent house leaders spoke for the bills, the senti- ment prevailing that the present salary paid judicial officers is inadequate The bill to appropriate $15,000 for the development of the oyster resources of the state received a unanimouS vote of approval. The chief advocates of the measure were MT. Chamberlain and MT. Sullivan of Mobile. both of whom drew attention to the fact that the gov- ernor had recommended the passage of the bill, and that the present oyster commission was greatly hsmpered in the proper discharge of their duties from lack of funds
 number of other bills were given favorable consideration at the morn