The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-04
RECESS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN FRIDAY
 UNTIL NEXT JULY
GentIemen's Agreement Now Reached to Adjourn--Long Recess Will Give Commit
 tees More Time
STATE CAPITAL. BUREAU r. THE AGE-HERALD ,
 Montgomery, Ala, Feb. J

Montgomery, Ala, Feb.
 With one administration measure g law and another scheduled to be delivered to Governor Brandon for his approval Tuesday, members of the legislature left Montgomery Friday night and Saturday with the determination to complete the work of the short session next week and take a recess until the middle of the summer. Twelve legislative days of the 50 allotted by the con- stitution to the session of 1923 have been completed and the re- cess will be taken at the end of the fifteenth unless unforeseen difficult ties occur.
 A gentlemen's agreement was reached whereby the recess will be- gin at the end of the fifteenth day. The legislature will hold its thir- teenth session Tuesday, beginning at 10 o'clock. With three days al- lotted to next week, it is probable that the short session will be con- cluded Friday or Saturday. If a large number of bills are passed by either house Tuesday and there is need for considerable discussion in committees, the fourteenth session will not be held until Thursday. This will mean recess from Thurs day until Saturday, as one day gen. orally is allowed the clerical de- partments of the two houses be- tween the last two sessions in order that they may be certain that all work is done and all records are completed.
 Adjourn Until July.
 If few bills are passed at the ses- sion Tuesday another sess.on may be held Wednesday and with the recess rom Wednesday until Friday the short session may be concluded Fri day.
 Although Governor Brandon, in his message to the legislature al the be- elhning Of his term, recommended that the lawmakers return to Mont gomery in April for the long session, there Is every indication that the ses- the session postponed until July, probably July 10. Many memoirs Of the two houses are farmers and they do not feel that they can return to the capitol in April and remain for more than two monhts. They want the session postponed until July, when their crops have been culti- vated and they are relieved of pe- responsibilities and duties at home.
 It Is not probable that the recess committees can complete their worn by April. The code committee must read the proposed code written by Judge James J. Mayfield. It is re- garded as one of the most important pieces of work assigned to a portion of the legislature in 15 years, as the code will take the place of the code adopted in 1907 and of the laws which have been passed by the legis- lature since that time. This code will be the law of Alabama for not less than ten years and probably longer and when adopted will be ef- fective. whether correct or incorrect. It Is the duty of the code committee to establish. to its own satisfaction. the correctness of every section. When 1t is understood that the code of 1907 contains three large volumes and that every section must be com pared with the same section of 1907 and amendments which may have been made in 1909, 1911, 1915. 1919. 1920, 1921 and 1923 the importance of the committee is understood.
 Many Recess Committees.
 In addition to the code committee, the legislature will have recess com mittees on education. agriculture and budget which will make general in- vestigation regarding the needs of education, agriculture and finances. These committees propose to make a thorough study of their subjects and at least one committee, that on agri- cultures, will visit other states Cat no expense to the public treasury ana investigate, their way of handling the problems which confront Alabama.
 With these difficult duties before the recess committees, the legisla- ture probably will not return to the capitol to do the real work of the 1923 session until July. All impor- tant measures except those classcd as emergency will be carried over dhtil the adjourned session. For in- stance. no one has given considera- toin to a revenue bill at the short session. This always attracts the greatest attention and gives the law makers their greatest difficulties. Every legislature enacts new reve- new law. but it delays 1t until the last moment. During the closing days of a regular session there is rush to put the revenue bill on the desk of the governor five. days before the time for final adjournment. The constitution requires that such a bill shall be delivered at that time ana after the lawmakers have fought throughout the session on the bill IL reaches the governors desk on the afternoon of the last day allotted by the constitution.
 Convict Leasing Extended.
 Although the legislature came to Montgomery January and has been in session since that time, only one administration measure has become law. It is the bill extending the operation of the convict lease system until March 31, 1927. Governor Brandon signed the bill during the week and when it was delivered to S. H. Elan, secretary of state, 1t be- came the law of Alabama.
 Under this bill Governor Brandon has authority to discontinue the leas- ing of convicts at any time if con- vinced that the, financial condition of the state will permit the use of the labor of convicts in other ways.
 One other bill will become law as soon as it is sighed by the presiding officers of the two houses and is ap- proved by the governor. It creates c