The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-08-12
SOLONS TO TAKE. UP REVENUE AND PORT BILLS NEXT
(Continued From Preceding Pase.)

EO" I-EeCGu1nR faKesJ which retained In office the old state harbor commission. This protest was not against the personal; those who made it insisted that since the great must fall upon the administration headed by Governor Brandon 1t should be made responsible for the personnel of the commission which will be the directors of the develop ment.
 To Create Docks Board.
 An agreement was reached where by the harbor commission will be abolished and In its stead there will be created a state docks commi ssion, composed of II members, one from the state-at-large and one from each congressional district.
 The only other protest against the bill hinged around the thought that adequate provisions were not naIde for the safeguarding of state funds and that loop holes might be left through which the money could be invested unwisely. The substitute bill creating the state docks conn mission also carries provisions which will require the approval of the gov ernor of practically every act of the commission, including the purchase or requirement of property, the plans for the construction, the payment of salaries. The only discretion left to the docks commission will be in the payment of the weekly wages to those engaged in the construction work, provided the weekly pay roll does not run beyond $5,00O. Even this will have the approval of the gov ha affiX hia signature to the plans for the de- velopment before any contract may be let.
 An inquiry developed the fact that about 30 members of the house of representatives are opposed to the passage of an act which will provide for the development at Mobile. This leaves 76 members who will vote for the bill. However, 1t cannot be said that those who favor the development are yet in full agreement regarding the wording of the bill. Many mem- bers have insisted throughout the session that they must be assured that all safeguards possible have been placed before they will vote for the bill.
 It was in meeting the desires of these members that friends of the port development insisted upon re- writing of the measure and the in clusion of provisions which will re- ouire the governors approval at all stages.
 Senator Bonner has obtained enough votes of the temperance com mittee to place the bill on the cal er7rar of the senate. He believes he has enough votes in the senate to mass it. However, there were re- ports that there has been deflec- ton from the forces favoring the bill and that 1t will not receive as many votes as it received at the spring session when it was deteateu bv a vote of eighteen to seventeen. No one can know what position the senate will take until the roll is called on the passage of the bill.
 O O O
 Fight On Loan Sharks.
 Another important fight VIII De made for and against the bills linn ting inc monthly rate of interest on loans of $500 and less to Sh per cent and prohibiting the assignment of wages earned and to be earned during a thirty day period to the purchase of groceries, medicine ana insurance and the payent or house rent and medical attention.
 The interest rate bill was drawn by the Russell Sage foundation, which has presented it to several states, while the assignment of wage bill was drawn in Alabama and IS receiving the support of railroads and other large employers of labor.
 The charge was made during the week that some money lenders were collecting as much as 10 to zo per cent a month on small loans made to laboring people and that a large of persons are forced to de- vote a great portion of their wages to the payment of interest on these loans.
 Money lenders contend that are unable to operate on an interest rate of 3 1a per cent because they are