The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-07
PORT AMENDMENT
 PASSES IN SENATE
 BY ONE MAJORITY
Vote for Port Aid Bill Is 22 to 5-POII Tax Measure Adopted by Vote of
 30 to 0
Ky FRED II. GORMLET Montgomery Bureau. The Age Herald 22I-2 First National Bank Building

Monteomery, october 6.-Friends of the port og Mobile barely mustered enough strength in the state senate on the third legislative day Thursday to adopt the administration measure which provides for the state lending US credit for development of the i port after the question has been ap- proved by the voters of Alabama. The 1 vote was officially recorded as 22 for and against. Constitutional amend ment bills require a three-fifths ma jority and the measure was success full with only one majority,
 Enemies of the port aid bill did not give any signal of their intention to cast opposition votes, and the re- suit surprised the. administration leaders. Senator John Craft of Mo bile annnuoced after the vote that several friends Of the port were tenn porarily absent when the roll was called. While the senate was voting in favor of the constitutional amend ment bill the house friends of the proposition were unwilling to bring similar bill up because of the ab- sence of several represents tives. No Debate Whatever
 Not one word was said for or against the port aid measure It was called in regular order on the senate calendar, and the roll was called Un- der provisions of the bill voters will decide at the next general election whether the state should lend it's credit to develop the port The port bill will now go to the house, where 1t will be referred to the proper com mittee.
 Strictly adhering to it's policy of harmony, the senate made some dis position of every bill on it's calendar. The senate officially heard for the first time of the existence of an agreement on the part of the majority members not 10 pass upon any legis- lation not shown in the call of the chief executive for the extraordinary session
 l The information came from Senator 1 John Rogers of Sumter county. when l Senate Bill IS. amending Section 6906 1 of the Code of Alabama. making it l unlawful 10 wilflillv burn the forests ! of woods was called for consldera- : ! ton The bill was not in the call. ! Senator Rogers informed the senate ! he felt compelled to vote against the measure because of his pledge Sen ator Watt Brown of St. Clair county, | admitting he also had slgned the { pledge. asked permission of fha sem aiors 10 "be excused from voting ! The fenators refused to grant his re- ! quest and Inc voted against the meas .i tR votes from ''yes' 10 "no.y The biIl was adopted, however. by a vote of 1 70 to 6
 Pass Poll Tax Bill
 shortly after Information came that the house had originated and passed bill in favor of an election on the soldiers poll tax exemption amendment. the senate took un its own measure and adopted it by vote Of 3o to 0, after minor amendment proposed by the attorney general had been favorabiy acted upon. IL Is very probable that the senate bill will be acted on by the house and the house Dill be presented to die on the ealen- dar The amendment correets minor defects. but the main bill Is like the one which Is familiar to all.
 The senate cleared it's calendar by
 
 several bills. Authors of local and other measures, not shown in the call for the legislature, asked for postponement of action. They hope the governor will send message to the legislature, explaining his atti. tude toward legal bills
 The senate convened at o'clock Thursday for its third legislative day There were 25 senators pres- ent on roll call
 As routine matter the Senate adopted a resolution of Senator John Craft of Mobile, inviting Senator J l Thomas Heflin to address the house and senate on waterways and good roads at time convenient to him.
 70. K." Acker Bill
 Senate bill No. 1, by Senator Acker of Calhoun county, received an of hcial 70. K" by the senate when at amendment was presented. This bill amends Section 7654 of the 1907 code relating to circuit judges furnishing information regarding convictions where sentences are five years or more to the executive department The amendment strikes out all refer ences to penalties against the judges and says failure to furnish the In forma ton Is prima facie evidence oi neglect of duty The information i: desired by the chief executive fol the files of the board of pardons.
 After rewriting it's essential pro visions, Senator w P. Acker of Cal noun county introduced another bill in the senate Thursday relating t' opinions by justices of the Alabama supreme court on Legislative meas ures. The original bill, advo cated by the administration in th' call for the special session. and als' in the message of the governor. pro yided that opinions could be required on constitutionality of bills pendlnt before the legislature. The bill wa objectionable to the Judiciary com mittee of the senate and 1t was ao yersed The bill, which was throwi into the Legislative hopper Thursday provides for the submission Of opln ions on the constitutionality of meas ures after they have been adopted by the legislature. and while the' are on the desk of the governor. m supreme court would merely act II an advisory capacity and opinion would not be binding.
 senator Watt Brown, chairman O the finance and taxation committe' of the senate. reported lThursda' that his committee had voted to re port the administration measur' providing for the depositing ah' safekeeping of all county funds II state or national banks adversely This bill would have required tn treasurer to deposit public moneys II some bank offering the highest rat of interest
 After writing q substitute the sen ate committe on judiciary reported fnyorably the administration measur' which provides machinery for suit against unincorporated associa tons