The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-14
Way Paved For Investiga- .tiOn With View of Aboli- tiOn and Curtailment of Expenses .,8
COMMITTEES TO BE
 APPOINTED BEFORE
 BILLS ARE OFFERED
Attitude of House Evidences Fact That Prohibition and Retrenchment Bills Will Have Right of Way
By l.. .. BETTY

By l.. 2. BETTY
 Montgomery, January 13-(SpeciaI. ] 1nvestfGat1On of various departmSutn of sfnte with a view to abolition, re- trenchment and curtniIment os .x- penses was the feature of several reso- 1ufions introduced in the house st to- day's session. No bills were introduced, tho house having voted against the fur fher introduction of bills until after the appointment of the various stnnd- ing committees,
 The most sweeping of the resolutions presented to the house was introduced by Representative Sanders of Pike county. This resolution aims at a complete in- vestigation of the financial affairs of the state, an investigation of several state departments with view to their aboli- tion and an investigation of the normal school system and the several county high schools, with a view to their con solidation or abolition.
 The resolution provides for the appoint ment of committees and subcommttees to ascertain what department offices might be abolished that are not conduc- tive to the general welfare and without injury to the proper administration of the states affairs designating the im- migration department, the insurance de- partment, motor vehicle department seme of the offices of the convict de- partment appellate court, state game and fish commissioner bureau of cotton sta tistics and others.
 Retrenchment Planned
 Tie members of the house made it evil dent that with the exception of prohi- bition, retrenchment shall take prece- dence over all other legislation. They have also indicated that they will pass no bills calling for additional expendi- tures from the state treasury until the states financial condition is known The auditor has been called upon to furnish the house, with all possible haste, infor- nation relating to all the departments of state. including the number Of employees salaries paid them and other expenses. A resolution calling upon the auditor for these facts was introduced bY Represen- tative Chamberlain of Mobile.
 Representative Green of Dallas. pre- sented to the house resolution calling for a complete investigat ton of the state convict and penal system, the resolution being nearly as sweeping in effect as the Sanders resolution looking to the abolition of various state offices
 The Green resolution provides for the appointment of joint committees of the house and senate to visit the state prs- ons and convict camps and for complete investigation of prison conditions in the state.
 Sanders Resolution
 full text of the Sanders resolution is as follows:
 Whereas, the stringency of the times renders it necessary that the financial affairs of the state be adjusted to fit the conditions that obtain, and.
 Whereas, this information must be di- rected along intelligent and conserva- tive lines. insuring a minimum of dis organization and maximum amount of economy and efficiency in all the depart ments of state and,
 Whereas, legislatures. as usually or ganized, are without systematic, cohesive and intelligent energy that can be di- rected along any we'll defined programme for legislation; with the result, that. out of the mass of individual propositions nothing can be evolved that will conserve the forces of government with the least expenditure of money and means
 Therefore, be it resolved That in addition to the usual committees a central reference committee be appointed by the speaker, which central committee shall have charge of all bills carrying an ap- propriation from the state treasurer. Be 1t further
 Resolved That this committee is charged, among other things. with the following duties, to-wit:
 First, to investigate all the depart ments Of the state and ascertain what clerks, assistants. stenographers etc., if any, could be dispensed with and what in- cidental fees are being charged in the various departments that might be elimi- mated without injury to proper adminis- tration of the states affairs.
 "Seccnd to ascertain what department offices might be abolished, that are not conductive to the general welfare, and without injury to the proper administra- tion of the states affairs-for instance: 1: The immigration department, insurance department. motor vehicle department. some of the offices of the convict depart ment appellate court. state and game and fish commissioner and bureau of cotton statistics, etc.
 Third, to investigate the normal school system of the state with view to con- solidating the six white schools into two schools and the three negro schools into one school. Also the Northeast Alabama Agricultural school, the Dale County High school and the other high schools with a view to abolishing them and diverting the cost of their maintenance into the general fund, in order to insure a more equal distribution of the opportunities of education and raising the standard of all the rural schools. Be it
 Resolved, That the central committee shall be authorized to appoint subcommit- tees and delegate certain portions of their investigation to such subcommittees, as necessity may arise or expediency may require: that the subcommittee shall make preliminary reports of their findings and recommendat ations from time to time, after having served motive that such reports would be made at least 24 hours in ad- vance of such reports. Be it further
 Resolved, That such reports be made a special order for discussion for one whole day, after which the subject matter must be recommitted to the committee in charge, until final report Is made. which final report must be special order for cess by this body. Be 1t further
 Resolved. That, pending the final re- port of the central committee. which shall be made the basis for appropriations from the state treasury, no bill carrying an appropriation from the state treasury be put upon passage except as emergency might arise for the necessary discharge of the affairs of state"
 House Detail
 Speaker Carmichael called the house to order at 10 o'clock. The house voted unanimously against the introduction of