The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-28
Railroads, Reform and Rev.
enue to Engage Attention
at Extra Session
STATE SADLY IN NEED
OF MORE REVENUE
Believed Extra Session Will Be Called
Just After Christmas-Reform
One of Biggest Questions to
Come Before Lawmakers

Montgomery, July 27.-(Specjal)-W
the legislature assembled in extra session
toward the end of this year or early in
next year the three RS will constitute the
basis for practically all the legislation to
be enacted. Railroads, reform and rev.
enue will largely engage the attention OF
that these three subjects will form the
nucleus around which all other legisla-
ton will center.
Each of the three subjects is probably
big enought to consume the rntiring at
tention Of the members of the two houses
during the entire time for which the ses-
sion will be called. Since the adjourn
ment of the last regular session of the
legislature, in the spring of 1911, these
subjects have been the most discussed.
and. it is certain that they have engaged
a greater amount of attention on the
part OF officials and legislators than any
other questions.
Taking the three questions in rotation,
and probably in the order of their prom
4
engage less consideration on the part of
the legislature than either of the other
two questions, although railroads have
been more generally discussed, criticized
and maligned than the other two subjects
combined
Insofar as legislative enactments are
the state has nearly
reached the limit of its power. All that
remains now is for the United States
supreme court to either confirm or re-
iect the action of the legislature of
1907 in regard to the railroad legisla-
ton. By the action of the state In
appealing to the highest court In the
land, the question of further legislation
on the subject of railroads must neces-
sarily await the decision of that trib-
unal
Should the supreme court of the Unit
ed states sustain the decision of Fed
eral Judbe Thomas @. Jones in regard
to the conflscatory nature of the Ala
bama railroad rate enactments, the
state may have some recourse by means
OF other legislation, though of diff
ferent nature. Should the supreme
court sustain the state of Alabama
there will be no need for further enact
ments covering the subject of railroad
rates. The legislature will, therefore
probably give little serious considera-
ton to any bills looking to further
railroad legislation until after the
question has been decided by the SUI
preme court.
Questions of Reform
One of the biggest questions that will
come before the Legislature will be that of
reform. This is considered one of Gov
ernor O'Neirs pet hobbies. though he
has advocated 1t so strenuously that 1t Is
M rd a1 ht
serious thinking people, but as one of the
livest and most pertinent questions of
the day.
Reform of the judiciary, including a re-
vision of all form of criminal procedure,
as well as civil methods; reform in the
trial of cases and in the execution of sem
tence, and a reform In the entire legal
system of the state are some of the ques-
tons advocated by Governor O'Neal. The
governor believes that the states present
system is Anticipated, that many changes
are needed, and he has advocated these
changes so ardently that he has won
many strong adherents to his standard by
the strength of his conviction and by the
of his appeal.
Question of Revenue
But judicial reform Is not the only re-
form advocated by Governor ONeal A
Irish governor. and when the legisla-
ture convenes it is certain that he will
use. his efforts to put through such leg
islation as will secure a more whole
some respect for law and order in the
state than now obtains. The executive
of Alabama thinks that life is too cheap
In the state, that feuds and sectional
broils. frequently resulting in the loss
of life, too often go unpublished, and
1.ax l.,Ae-
mand that respect and generation which
other civilized communities.
He will seek reforms along these lines.
The most important question which the
legislature will have to consider will be
that Of revenue. Legislators, officials
and men in every walk of life in Alabama
regard this as one of the most peril
nent subjects of the day, and 1t is prob
able that there will be hundreds of sug
gestions made during the session look
Ing to an increase In the states reve-
nues.
That the state is in a bad way finan-
eially. and that there is barely enough
money in the treasury to meet all de-
mands, is admitted by everyone with any
knowledge of the subject, and probably
the people of the state, as whole, are
better acquainted with this subject than
any other.
prove the financial condition of the state
is a matter purely of conjecture. Every
one has his pet theories on the subject.
and there are not many who egree. Here
are some of them:
An equalized system of taxation; as
sessment on the basis of 100 per cent
rather than on a basis OF co per cent;
the feeding of county prisoners by the
county rather than by the state; the cut
=.
abolition of useless departments and state
offices.
But these are just some of the sugges-
tons looking to an increase In the state S
revenues that have been made. Scores
of others have been made. and 1t is proba-
BILE that efforts will be made to put many
of them into effect. What success will
attend these efforts can only be written
after the session has met, but that the
question of increased revenue will be the
livest and most stupendous before the
lawmakers there is absolutely no doubt
and il is expected that the greater part
of the session will be consumed in the
deliberation of measures that will seek to
improve the financial condition and well
fare of the state.
Probable Meeting of Legislature
Since the announcement of Governor
" Neal several WtthS ago tHdt ne ue-
sired to put off calling the Legislature
togther until after the next state cleo
ton, in November. it has been pretty
generally accepted that the state solons
would meet either about the middle OF
November, for six weeks, session be-
fore Christmas. or Immediately after
the first of the year. The opinion
seems to prevail that the latter time
will be chosen. as 1t is not believed