The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-09-04
MUST VITAL BILL r AGED BY SENATE IS PORT MEASURE
Seaport Committee Agrees To Report Legislation At
 Tuesday Session
STATE APITAL BUREAU ]
 THE AGE-HERALD
Montgomery. Ala. Sept. 3

' ninth week of the adjournment part of the quadrennial session, a week which probably will witness the com sideration of some of the most im- portant bills which have been sub- mitted to the lawmakers this year.
 Port Legislation Will be the most important on the senate. The senate committee on seaports left Mont gomery Friday with the understand ing that a meeting will be held prior to the assembly of the senate Tuesday afternoon and that a report will Abe made on the bill ac this session. No decision has been made regarding amendments, but the members agreed that the bill would be reported in some form at the session in order that final action may be taken before the end of the week.
 Tn addition to the port bill, which already has been passed by the house by a large majority. the senate will take action on the oil amending the primary election law and on the bili regulating the assignment of wages. A fight has been indicated on the pri- mary election bill, which provides for the abolition of the second choice bal lots and requires each candidate for an office to receive clear majority, making arrangements for a second primary if no candidate receives a majority in the first primary.
 O O O
 Opponents Are Active.
 Friends of several persons in public life, notably senator J. Thomas lief lin, are activity opposing the bill, contending that it is an effort to de- 1t-5 their candidates. Senator Heflin did not receive majority in the pri mary ill which he was nominated for senator as the successor of Senator John H. Bankhead, but obtained large lead over his other 6ppoLents
 ha .f Inf i'm hill is that d heavy addition expense will be placed on the state as it will be required to pay the cost of the sec ond primary when candidates fail to receive clear majorities in tse first.
 The state democratic convention last September adopted a resolution suggesting the abandonment of sec ond choice voting and the selection of candidates in double primary. How ever, this declaration was not writ ten into the party platform.
 The assignment Of wage bill was introduced as a companion of the bill prohibiting short loan men from charging greater rate of interest than three and one-half per cent a month on loans of three hundred dol lars and less. It prohibits person from assigning his wages except for the necessaries of life, which are named as food, clothing, medical at tention and insurance, and requires the approval of the assignment of wages by employers before it becomes binding on the employers.
 Amendment Special order.
 The four mill tax constitutional amendment will be the most import ant issue of the house. It has been made a special order for the forty first legislative day, which probably Niil be Wednesday. The bill was ad vanced on the calendar by resolution. foIIowing the message of Governor Brandon in which he declared that the hope for development of the state educatiopally during the next four years lies in the levying of this tax by the voters.
 Proponents and opponents of the bill admit that a hard fight is com ing. Opponents seem to be more san guine of success than proponents.
 The opposition, before leaving Montgomery Friday, claimed nor. than d majority of the votes in the house. If their claim be correct, the bill will be defeated, as the constftu- tion requires sixty-four affirmative votes for the submission of an amend ment.
 Governor Brandon has made a per sonal appeal to his supporters in the legislature to submit the amendment, contending that the educational sys- tenn should be given a fixed revenue each year and should not be required to make quadrennial appeals to the lawmakers for aid.
 The governor also let it be known that he will decline to approve any increase in appropriations for any purpose unless the constitutions amendment be ratified. stating that the condition of the state treasury will not permit increases.
 O. o o Farm Code Pending.
 a roda will hQ p- ond in interest in the house. It was given a favorable reportswith amend ments by the committee on agricul- ture last week after being considered for several weeks. As amended. tho code will provide for state boaru of agriculture, composed of five dirt farmers, the commissioner of agri- culture and the director of the ex- pertinent station, which will take over the duties now performed hy the board of agriculture, the board or horticulture and state live stock sanitary boards.
 It is admitted that the bill will be attacked on the floor of the house. Friends of horticulture in southwest Alabama will urge an amendment TO- taining the board of horticulture. They made their fight before the com mittee but lost.
 Highway legislation also probably will receive attention in the house during the week. Two bills are. now pending. Ono would provide Tor highway commission of three per- sons, who would give their entire time to the work. The other would stablish commission of eleven, one from each congressional district. and chairman. The chairman would receive a salary and would be re- quired to devote his entire time to the work.
 Strangely Handled.
 Highway legislation has been strangely handled in the house. Sem ator Fosters bill providing for commission of three went to- the house and the committed on public roads and highways adopted a sub stitute offered by Representative Culver of Etowah, which provides for the commission of eleven. This bill, with the substitute, is now on the house calendar.
 Representative c. W. Ashcraft of Lauderdale introduced bill provid- 'ing for a commission of five. When the public roads and highways com nittee reported the Culver substitute for the Foster bill, the Foster bin then was reported to the house as a substitute for the Asncrast bill Therefore. the house must take up both bills and determine whether it prefers a commission of three or a commission of eleven. When consid- ering the port legislation, the house rejected a proposal for commission of eleven and adopted an amendment establishing a commission of five
 The bill regulating primary elec- tions, abolishing second choice and requiring the nomination of candi- dates in run-off primaries when clear majorities are not received in house calendar. This bill was in- troduced in fha hetlse and senate af