The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-06-11
SUBJECTS ID COME BEFORE LEGISLATURE Gossip About Action That
 May Be Taken RATES WILL BE ISSUE Generally Believed That Change in the Revenue Bill Is Going to
 Be Accomplished With
 Great Difficulty
RATES WILL BE ISSUE
Ny unGH N. ROBERTS

Were Governor ONeal to call an eS- traordinary session of the Legislature 1t Is generally believed that he would experience comparatively little trouble in securing the passage of Legislation restoring the 2h cents passenger rate, and a companion bill making effective the freight commodity measures of the Conner legislature.
 But it is considered exceedingly inn probable that he would be able to bring about the repeal of the present revenue bill-and that the governor as well as practically every municipality In Alabama ardently desires the repeal of that bill, is admitted.
 And as the depleted condition of the treasury is considered to be the most crying need for d new session of the legislature, and as that condition cah be best remedied at the present time by repeating the revenue bill it is eonsid- cred probable, in view of circum- stances, that the governor will not convene the lawmakers prior to Janu- ary and certainly not prior to Decem- Der.
 Circumstances indicate that in all other matters save the revenue bill the governor would experience little trouble.
 Thre will be no prohibition legisa- ton to irritate and arouse the partially dormant factionists. The sentiment in Alabama seems to be strongly en- trenched against the action of the Louisville and Nashville railroad in in- creasing its rates from ? E cents to cents per mile. There is scarcely doubt but that the lawmakers would without hesitation enact into law bill embodying the recommendations of the commission appointed to prepare in- formation tending to facilitate the op- eration of the courts of the state.
 But 1t is apparent that with the revenue bill as 1t exists today there is satisfaction in certain quarters. The very men who framed that bill and secured It's passage will probably com pose the bulwark which will resist its repeal. There is only slim chance that the municipal governments will exert a more potent influence than pub lie utility corporations and other in terests.
 The situation Is patent. Section 36F of the revenue Bill, providing that ail license taxation demanded by munich palities shall apply on the 2 per cent franchise tax, protects practically ev- cry public utility corporation--gas heat, electricity, insurance, street rail- way, telegraph and other companies of the same category Other sections of the bill protect other branches of bus mess
 Therefore the fight will be between the municipalities which have suffered a loss in revenue and the corporations which profit as a result of the oper- ation of the bill. It is indicated on account of the fact that the men who secured the passage of the bill will resist it's repeal that the corporations stand better chance of ultimate vic- tory
 In this connection it is interesting to note that telephones alone have no pro- tecting clause in the bill. The reason for the apparent oversight is unknown
 Should an extraordinary session of the legislature be called 1t is safe to predict that Governor O'Neals chief reason. to be stated by him, will be the need of legislation protecting the merchants and shippers from what will be termed burdensome railroad rates
 While the treasury is depleted, 1t IS apparent that very little can be accom- rlished towards rectihcation or an an- nument of the revenue bill. And, in this connection, it Is true that arrangements S have been made whereby the state will be enabled to secure its finances for the remainder of the year. at any rate, with out the necessity of meeting demands for exorbitant interest
 But for extravagant appropriations for the cause of education and for the pro- lection of the surviving soldiers of the Civil war, it is pointed out by students of state finances, that Alabama could take care of itself.
 Out of surplus but S35o 900 was ap- propriated for education by the legis- lature of Governor Conner. The last leg islature, in the face of deficit, appro- priated more than half a million dol- lars.
 It would cause little surprise were some men during the next session to introduce a bill repeating a number of those passed in the regular session, each of which carry provisions for immense appropria- tions.
 In this way members of the legisla- ture in Birmingham see the only avenue prior to the next regular session of the lawmakers.
 ATnNEn VAJnTAArA