The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-31
NOTHING DONE AS HALF WAY MARK IN SESSION ? A SSE ]
Many Legislators, Held Up By Wreck, Absent Monday
 When Roll Is Called
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD

 bamd members who spent the week end at their homes. Only little more than quorum appeared In the senate and house when the session was called to order
 Hugh D. Merrill, speaker of the house. was among the absentees, being on the fast passenger train which was held mp at Calera by the wreck. Every member of the Jeff ferson delegation was absent from his seat Alfred NJ. Tunstall, vet eran legislator of Hale, called the house to order and received new bills which were presented by mem bers and accepted reports Cf com mittees.
 Following this preliminary busi- ness, MT. Tunstall announced that a in the city and he believed it better to postpone all business of a gen eral nature until another day. On the passage of one bill only 66 mem- bers answered the roll, two more than a quorum.
 This bill provides for the annexa- titn of about 1000 acres of land now county. It was called up by Repre- sentative Tyler Goodwin of Mont gomery, who said the delegation of Montgomery and Elmore counties were in agreement. No opposition was shown to the bill. MT. Goodwin said the purpose was to give those owning property in that territory a road. The road will soon cease to be a part of the Birmingham Montgomery highway as result of the accept ance of the Reeses ferry site for the construction of bridge. When Lieutenant Governor Mo Dowell sounded the gavel Tn the sen af hal He announced that many senators were delayed by the train wreck and he believed it better to postpone business until the following day.
 Beth houses were in session less than Is minutes.
 EXCHANGE BILL FAVORED
 Favorable report was made to the house Monday on Senator Overton's bill giving newspaper editors and publishers the right to exchange ad- Vertisins for railroad transportation. The bill has already been passed by the senate and will appear on the house calendar for passage Tuesday.
 J. Lee Long, chairman of the com mSttee tn commerce and common carriers, which made the favorable report, announced that he believed the bill should become a law. It does not permit newspaper editors and publishers to receive railroad passes but does permit them to exchange advertising at their regular rate for transportation which could be pur- chased for the amount which would be collected fer the advertising, were the collection made in cash.
 This bill was introduced during the first days of the adjourned ses- sion following the defeat of the bill in the spring permitting the eX- change of advertising for railroad passes.
 NO ACTION ON DRoWER BILL
 Because of the absence of Senator Brewer of Jefferson, his motiCn to take from the senate adverse bal endar the bill providing for 3the annexation of the steel mills and fur naces of the Tennessee Coal Iron and Railroad company was not called for consideration. The motion was passed without prejudice and may be called up by Senator Brewer later. The bill was given an adverse re- port last week following a protest of citizens of Ensley and Wylam. Seeks Pension Fund.
 Representative E. J. Grove of Mo bile introduced in the house today bill creating policemen's and fire mems pension fund for the city Of Mobile. Under the bill per cent of all fines and l per cent of salaries paid policemen and firemen would be placed in a special fund, from which pensions would be paid to policemen and firemen who are retired by the city. The city commission of Mobile would have authority to levy spe- cial fee of as much as three dollars against each case brought in the recorders court which would be placed in the pension fund. In addi- ton, the commission would be per mitted to place as much as one per cent of license collections in the fund.
 SEEKS TAX EXEMPTIONS
 Exemption from taxation of all cot ton mills In Alabama Is the substance of bill introduced in the senate Monday by Senator John Overton, Randolph. Another bill by the same author which eXempts cotton mills and shlpbuilding companies from taxation in the state was to be in troduced but was held back by the author.
 The bill introduced exempts all cotton mills from state, county and municipal taxes although the grounds upon which the company's plant may be located are not exempted. The second bill is to encourage new com panies entering the state. Mills with capitalization of more than $50,000 will be exempt from taxation if the bill becomes a law.
 HIGHWAY BILL POSTPONED
 senator Foster postponed the state highway bill, which was scheduled for special order of business. and general superintendent of education bill off the adverse calendar.
 These measures face the solons at their session Tuesday, and indica- tions are that 1t will be one of the liveliest sessions ever seen in the senate chamber.
 All bills on the calendar for a third reading were postponed.
 In addition to Seator OVerton's cot ton exemption bill four others were introduced Monday. They are:
 By Jones. Conecuh-Providing for guardians of insane persons of minors to make adequate care of indigent parents.
 By Pelham-Providing for the es- tablishment of fish cultural station at the Speigner prison.
 By Inzer-Enabling persons shut off from main highway by natural reasons, even though other parts of their property may touch a highway, to have a connection made to the highway.
 By Senator Jones. Barbour-Pro- viding for the abolition of the Bar bour county court.
 SEEKS HIGHWAY HEARING
 The senate adopted a resolution by Senator Craft requesting that the state highway commission be given hearing by the United States bureau of public roads so that Ala bama can receive federal aid on 1ls miles of highway, which has been stricken from the per cent road map by direction of the federal bureau of public roads.
 SOLLIE FIGHTS CODE
 Representative Mike Sollie of Dale, one of the leaders of the bloc