The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-02-14
SCHOOL TAXATION BILL PASSES HOUSE Action Feature of Morning
 Session NEW SUFFRAGE BILL House Probably Will Be Asked to Vote on Measure on Final
 Day of Present
 Session s9kE
 TrterT-
By l.. S. BETTY

Montgomery, February 13.-(Special.) Passage of the local school taxation bill featured the session in the house this morning. The bill, which had a special place on the calendar, was called up by Representative John of Dallas. chair man of the committee on education and. following lengthy debate. interspersed with numerous efforts to amend the measure, it finally passed by vote of 7s to 6.
 Another feature of the morning ses- eion was the introduction by Mr. John of second equal suffrage amendment. which, at tho request of the Dallas rep resentative, was allowed to lie on the table for a second reading on Tues day. It is probable that the house will be asked to vote on the question on the final day of the present session
 There was considerable debate on the bill of Representative Weakley of Jeff ferson to prohibit the publication Of opinions of the court of appeals. which was passed just before adjournment for lunch by Q vote of 66 to 8.
 On the whole the morning session was devoid of any real interest, the local taxation bill. as indicated above, con
 Medley Amendment to Bill
 The principal discussion of the bill was precipitated as the result of an amendment offered by Representative Nicely of Lawrence. The original bill provides an amendment to the constitu- ton for the purpose of authorizing the various counties of tho state and the several school districts to levy and col 1ect a special tax, not exceeding 30 cents on each $100 worth of taxable property. for public school purposes.
 The Nicely amendment proposed mak- ing the district unit rather than the county, allowing the cities and towns and district to vote on the question be- fore submitting it to the entire county.
 Representative John was the first to oppose the amendment, stating that it would defeat the entire provisions of the bill, inasmuch as the districts would be slow to vote on the proposition. Rep resentatives Davis of Walker, Johnston of Madison and others opposed the amendment
 In support of the amendment, Rep resentatives Welch of Jefferson, Paps- ley of Dallas and Neely of Lawrence made brief speeches. The amendm ent was defeated.
 Another amendment was offered by Representative Morris of Dale provid- ing for reduction in the tax from 30 cents to 20 cents. This was also de- feated.
 An amendment providing that each county shall take advantage of the measure within two years was intro- duced by Representative Rogers of Sum- ter, which was also voted down.
 Retrenchment in Publications
 bill designed to bring about re- trenchment in the cost of publishing decisions of the court of appeals, intro- duced by Representative Davis of Walker, passed the house by vote of 66 to s. The measure prohibits the pub lication by the state of any further de-, clsions of the court of appeals the ad. vocates of the measure maintaining that this was needless expense inasmuoh as barely one-fffth e, the lawyers pur- chase court of appeals reports.
 Among those who opposed the pas- sage of the bill were Representatives John and Lapsley,s both of Dallas. who said that many of the appellate court decisions are as important as the opin- Ions of the supreme court. Repre- sentative Chamberlain of Mobile was another who opposed the passage of the bill.
 Champions of the bill were Repre- sentatives Weakley, Davis, Griffin and others.
 Equal Suffrage Amendment
 There was little suprise on the mart or the members of the house when Rep- resentative John introduced a resolu- ton providing for an ecdal suffrage