The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-04
|lA|[L|ON ACRES OF SWAMP LANDS WILL
 BE RECLAIMED SOON
Right of Women to Register as State Voters Is Again Discussed-May Order
 Special Registration
By FRED H. GoRMLEY
 Montgomery Bureau The Ase-Heraid

{ Montgomery, July 3.-(Special.)-ln la decision which was unheralded and jEnsung at that time, the supreme court this week passed favorably on the va Eidity of the act of 1915 which provides <for the drainage of swamp and over flowed lands of Alabama and which when put into effect will mean the reclamation of thousands of acres or land which are yielding no return what ever now.
 J, M. More, now supervisor of mar kets in the state department or agri- culture, introduced the bill while a member of the legislature from Fayette county in 1915. The measure provides for the organization of drainage dis tricts and the issuance of drainage bonds with which to pay for the work of draining the water from the lands. While the act was used in a small way there seemed to be general doubt that it would stand the test of the courts, the contention being that the bonds would not be valid because the consti- tuition says that majority of the per sons within the district affected shall vote for a bond issue for improvements. As all districts proposed to be drained were in swamps, no person resided within the territory, therefore no vote could be taken.
 A test case was brought in Fayette county in an effort to show that the favorable action of a majority of the persons owning property in the pro- posed drainage district was sufficient to start the machinery created in the bill. The lower court decided against the bill, holding it to be invalid, but the supreme ceGrt reversed this decision and rendered one sustaining the validity of the measure and placing interpreta- tions on it which will clarify all doubt full points.
 Government estimates are that there are in Alabama about 1,500,0 900 acres or swamp and overflowed lands, great majoritysof which could be reclaimed and turned into farms if drained. Much of this land is in southwest Alabama though every county has it's share.
 CAN WOMEN REGISTER NOW!
 Revival of the discussion about the ratification of the woman suffrage amendment by another state, thus max ing women eligible to participate Tn < the November election, caused many persons during the week to inquire whether or not Alabama laws will per init the women to vote without further legislation. The preponderance o1 opinion is that no further legislation VIII De neCeSSdFy pIosiuSu eic ehiiiSAN ment is ratified during July or the early part of August.
 Rulings of state attorneys Of Ten nessee and other states would indicate that the state constitutions and laws are automatically amended by the fed eral amendment so as to erase the dis Termination between sexes. Many Ala bama attorneys have agreed that the women could pay their poll taxes as men have always done in the past This would leave only one doubtful point can the women register?
 The amended registration law ef' fective since 1919 prohibits the open ing of the registration books sixty days before an election and provides that the books shall be open only every