The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-08
SPLIT SESSION |S GIVEN DEATH BLOW House Settles Matter in
 Five Minutes FIGHT WAS EXPECTED But It Was Found That Discussion of Rules Committee Reports
 Would Be Useless
 Procedure
By BERRYMAN c. BETTY

ny bEhH MAN h6
 Montgomery. March 7.-(Special)-The split session resolution received it's death blow in the house today when Speaker Almon moved the. indefinite postpone ment of the report of the rules commit tee of the two houses favoring adjourn ment on the seth day of the present session.
 When the resolution was postponed last Friday it was then believed that there were very slight chances of a split ses- sion. It was not anticipated, however. that the resolution would be killed with out hard fight on the part of those who favored an early adjournment
 The resolution was today disposed of in less than five minutes after 1t had heen called up There was no debate, the opinion prevailing that a discussion of the subject would be altogether an useless procedure. Consequently when the speaker of the house moved the indefinite postponement of all further consideration of the resolution the question was imme- diately put, with the result that nearly two-thirds of the members of the house voted against the split session.
 Session in Detail
 After the introduction of bills today the split session resolution was called up by Speaker Almon, the resolution having been made a special order for this morn ing The speaker of the house said that the condition of the two calendars was such as to require the legislature to re- main in session during the entire 50 days.
 Judge Almon declared that if a major ity of the members wanted split ses- sion it would be satisfactory to him, but that he did not think the plan was prac- ticable at this time.
 The speaker then moved the indefinite postponement of the resolution, which motion was adopted.
 Speaker Almon introduced joint reso- luton in the house inviting Col. James Gordon, United States senator from Mis- sissippi, to address the legislature on the floor of the house at 12:45 o'clock. The speaker said that Colonel Gordon was one of the most distinguished men in the south, and that he thought the Alabama legislature should extend this courtesy to the well known Mssissippian. The rules of the house were suspended and the resolution was adopted.
 Night Session Resolution
 Representative John V. Smith of Mont gomery introduced a resolution in the house today the sense of which was that hereafter on Wednesdays and Fridays the house shall hold three sessions-the first from 10 o'clock in the morning till 1 D. m.; the second from 3 o'clock in the aft ernoon until 5:30, and the third from 8 o'clock in the evening till 10 o'clock; that at the morning and evening sessions only local bills shall be considered. The reso- lution was referred to the rules commit tee.
 Birmingham Commission
 The speaker of the house today signed the Birmingham commission government bill, which had passed both the senate and house with the several amendments proposed by the governor.
 Convict Bill
 The principal discussion of the morning session occurred on the bill by MT. Mar tin of Jackson, to provide for a con- tinuation of the present method of em- ploying, supervising guarding, hiring out and working the ssdte convicts in the state of Alabama; to provide for the pay ment to the state and the several coun- ties from which such convicts are sent all costs of their conviction except va wards, including the continuing expense of such imprisonment, and to provide that 50 per cent of the remainder or net earnings of such convicts shall be paid to the family or dependent ones of such convicts, through the probate courts of the several counties or into the com mon school fund of the county from which such convicts are sent.
 This bill was called up by MT. Mar tin, who briefly explained the provisions of the measure. The bill carried with 1t a substitute. which differed in only a slight respect from the original in- strument.
 The first speaker to oppose the bill was Representative Mulkey of Geneva.
 MT MulSey said that no man in the state went before him on the subject of humanity. He declared that the state was the guardian of Ter convicts, and that the convicts are well cared for. He did not think, however, that it could welt be determined, under tre provisions of MT. Martins bill what members of the convicts' families would be entitled to q share of their earnings. He said that It might come to pass that a second or third cousin of a criminal might make appli- cation for share of the earnings of the convict
 Mir Mulkey declared that there are many bills pending in the legislature Ia transfer convicts from the state to the counties, where they may be worked on the public roads. He expressed the be- lief that the bill under consideration would tend to disrupt ihe present sys- tenn and that it should not be passed
 MT Mulkey then moved the indefinite postponement of the bill and its substi- ute.
 Martin Speaks
 Mir Martin of Jackson followed MT. Mulkey in the discussion of the bill. He said he had long anticipated the oppor- tunity of addressing the state lawmakers in the interest of the unfortunate con- victs. He declared that the condition of the eonvicts was deplorable, and one that made it doubly unfortunate for the wives and children of the convcts.
 .'The people I am talking about" said MT Martin. are outcasts from society," many of the women are worse than widows and their children are worse than orphans. There are about 12Oo women In the state who are wives of conyicts. and these women are poor. It is our duty tc relieve their suffering insofar as we cam
 He said 1t was the duty of the state to allow portion of the convicts' earnings to go to their families; that it was they who suffered. they who were punished MT. Martin said that such a condition should not be allowed to exist, that the state should provide for these unfortun- ate people who were victims of circum- stances: that their sons would some days become citizens of Alabama, and that