The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-04
Movement Already Under Way Looking to Abolish
 ing Several Offices
OTHER MATTERS ARE
 BEING DISCUSSED
Some Men and Issues That Will Be Factors in the Next Race for Governor and
 Senator

To prevent the necessity of promiscu- ously increasing tax assessments, mem bers of the legislature are planning whole sale reductions in operating expenses,
 From statements of those lawmakers who have been recently in Birmingham efforts to wipe out certain positions to which salaries are attached will be made. and other efforts will be made to re- scind previously enacted bills providing for lavish appropriations.
 The court of appeals, the immigration commission, the bureau of cotton statis- tics, and the department of jail and mill inspection, will. according to the impress sion, have to light for their lives.
 Very little retrenchment in this regard. however. can be accomplished, it is be- lieyed One or more minor offices might be abolished, but 1t Is generally conceded that the individual strength of the judges, coupled with that of the governor and his personal following, will be too power ful for that force, whic his on the trail of the court of appeals to overcome. And in reference to the plans of the governor to reduce expenses by remodel ing the procedure of the courts, by which remodelng it is planned to dismiss sev- eral of those judges throughout the state who are said to be unnecessarily on the pay roll, 1t is predicted that very little headway will be made. A state official yesterday remarked: By cutting down | 0n0 ar nually will be saved"
 There is considerable gossip throughout the state at the present time concerning the extra session. Governor O'Neal believes at the present time that the law makers will be called together in Jan uGry. w. P. G. Harding, president of the First National bank of Birmingham, which institution has extended to the state the helping hand in financial sense, declared in a public meeting some days ago that he had reason to believe that there will be no extra session next year.
 On the other hand, Governor O'Neal may hold that legislation for regulating railroad rates in Alabama IS of sufficient importance to warrant the calling togeth- CT of the lawmakers, And another reason may be given in the general admission that the methods of court procedure in Alabama need remodeling. third reason may be advanced in the fact that munich palities throus .lout the state are crying out against the diminution Of their reve- nue as a result of the operation of sey- eral sections of the last revenue bill.
 The governor takes the position that the special session should be postponed just as long as possible, but he holds that It will be necessary from present in- dications to call the lawmakers together in January.
 In certain sections of the state there Is open advocacy of a constitutional conven- ton for the purpose of making new ar engagements fer the dispensa,ion of the moneys collected from taxation. In this way, it is claimed, the state mas an op- nortumity to get out of tho financial ''holo' and stay out.
 The point complained of is in the fact that 90 of every 65 cents collected as taxes against assessed property goes to the cause of education, and another 10 cents to the veterans of the Civil war. It is pointed out that Alabama, in time of financial idstregs, should not be compelled to give to education every year between s35o. 600 and $5oo.co0 in excess of the amount appropriated by special acts.
 A constitutional convention will cer- In, session of the legislature.
 In the ensuing gubernatorlal campaign there Is going to be a general cry for ..retrenchment. J. Lee Long of Butler. who will in all probability be a candi- date will answer that call by publishing Il platform declaring against large appro- priations for the cause of education and against large appropriations for all other causes. He vii. point out the fallacy or the state agreeing to pay money which 1t cannot possibly pay.
 And within the past several weeks a little boom, probably without the knowl- edge of the gentleman chiefly concerned, has been sprung in the interest of ex- Gov William D. Jelks. There is renewed agitation of the previous effort to induce Hugh Morrow to run. A "business' candi- date it seems, will have a chance, for 1t is known that when special acts are re- quested for the purpose of refunding the interest on the money borrowed by the present administration there will be hue and a cry in the land. The indications are that the next administration will hear the rattle of fewer sheckles than are rat ting now for the present.
 There is doubt still concerning the prob- ability of ex-Governor Conner entering the field It is generally admitted that If MT. Conner meets continually with his present success in keeping the anti-rairoad sen timent alive no other man can defeat him for governor But 1t is claimed that he, despite his strength, will not be able to deliver the governors chair to any man on whom he may place the insignia of his approval.
 Should ONeaPs special session leglslate in such a manner as to draw the "fanss of tine railsoads,' the indications are that the wind in the sails of Governor Conner will partially subside and that he will be compelled to fall back upon a new pro- hibition amendment for an awe-inspiring issue
 Interest is still rampant in the senatorial contest which is brewing. The candi- dates are John w. Abercrombie and R. P Hobson. the one just recently nomi- mated congressman from the Sixth district. A tentative candidate Is Congressman Henry D. Clayton. It is not known posi- lively that Senator Johnston will ask for another term, and 1t is matter of dis pute as to whether or not B. B. Conner will answer the cry of what Is termed his ambition" to tame the railroads through fha Congress of the nation