The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-10-31
Provide for Senator, Correct
Financial Troubles and
Abolish Fee System
FEW OFFICES MIGHT
WE'LL BE ABOLISHED
Says Office of Commissioner of I'M
migration Is costly Joke"-Leg-
islature Competent to Handle
Any Questions Arising

Walker Percy. one of the Jefferson
county members of the legislature, has,
in response to an inquiry of the Annis-
views touching an extra session, which
will be of interest throughout the state
at this time. Mr.. Percy believes that
the legislature should be called to pro-
vide for an election of a successor to
the late Senator Johnston, and he points
out also many other matters that need
legislation. Mr. Percy says:
October 2S, 1918.
1.-THE Admission Star and Hot Blast, An
niston, Ala.
Dear Sirs: 1 am in receipt of your let
reply on the post card enclosed as
to whether or not | favor special ses-
sion of the legislature to provide for
the election of a successor to Senator
Johnston, and as to whether | would
be willing to confine my efforts to this
one subject, with the possible excep-
tion of legislation authorizing the gov
ernor to borrow money. Replying to this
inquiry, l would say:
There are in my opinion q number
only be disposed of by the legislature,
and which are, taken together, sufficient
ly important and sufficiently urgent to
justify the expense of an extra session.
do not believe the vacancy in the United
States Senate occasioned by the death of
Senator Johnston Can be lawfully filled
either by appointment or. election until
provision shall have been made therefor
by an act of the legislature. 1t is man
ifaStlV dpStra hla CT q 70
be represented in the United States Sen
ate between now and March 4, 1915, by
two senators instead of by one, and it
is possible that the importance of pro-
viding for filling the senatorial vacancy
would alone justify the calling of an ex-
ira session of the Legislature. In the
event, however, that an extra session
should be convened, l am strongly of
opinion that there are other matters of
pressing Importance that should oe dis
posed of.
States insufficient Revenue
1.-The revenues of the state have for a
number of years been insufficient to meet
its current disbursements. The state con-
stitution provides that the governor may
be authorized by the legislature to borrow
$500, Goo The legislature has, however,
never seen fit to authorize the governor
to borrow more tnan 100000. Our taxes
tbuic III III ltlt ldli ana Nlnltlp bN
the state treasury is depleted, and for
number of years, during the admin
istrations of both Governor Conner and
Governor O'Neal, it has been absolutely
necessary for the governor to borrow
sums largely in excess of his legal au-
thority. These loans have been procured
by getting the lenders to lend against
state warrants, and the interest, as a
rule, has been paid out of the governor s
contingent fund. / understand that the
contingent fund is practically exhausted
and that any persons lending money to
the state today must depend upon the
good faith of the next Legislature for the
payment of interest on these loans. In
asmuch as these loans are necessary to
prevent the state flom defaultng on its
just obligations, the entire matter should
be dealt with on business basis.
IF there should be special session
called, legislation should certainly be en-
acted to put the county officers of JEFF
ferson county on salaries and to end the
iniquities of the fee system as they pre-
vail in this county, in accordance with
the constitutional amendment recently
adopted.