The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-22
ISSUE IS CLOSELY 1 LINKED WITH BILL n RAISE REVENUE
Brewer Awaits Psychological Moment To Get Bills On
 Favorable Calendar
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Montgomery, Ala, July 21


 Abolition of the convict lease sys- tenn and revenue will be the major issues throughout the session of the legislature. This was indicated in almost every action of the legislature during the week On every hand the convict lease question came up. Rev enue came second to the convict lease.
 The two issues have become closely allied through the announcement of Lieutenant Governor Mcdowell from the chair that bills providing for the abolition of the convict lease system should be considered by the senate committee on finance and taxation.
 In spite of the fact that the two houses adopted a resolution which expressed the sense" of the legisla- ture that there should be no legisla tion regarding the convict system, Senator Walter Brewer of Jefferson introduced two bills in the senate during the week. One provides for September 30, 1925. The other pro" vides for the submission to the peo- pie ot constitutional amendment which would prohibit the leasing or hiring of state and county convicts. Resolution Ignored.
 No recognition has besn given during the week to the adoption of the resolution by those who favor the abandonment of convict leasing Members of the house and senate who voted against the resolution have announced that they will con tinue their fight. Senator Brewer expects to await the psychological mo- ment before making an effort to put his two bills on the favorable calen. dar, which would bring considera- tion by the senate.
 The disruption which came with the consideration of the revenue bill in the house may bring the psyche. logical moment. The house, without record vote, adopted the resolution opposing convict lease legislation. The administration had made the re- quest. Then came the revenue bill, which did not meet the approval of the majority. This disapproval was expressed Friday when amendment after amendment was adopted until those pho prepared the revenue bill could hardly recognize their product
 Those who favor the abolition of the convict lease system believe this will have tendency to increase sup port of the convict lease legislation Recognition Is given by them to the fact that the administration did have things lined up pretty well against the convict lease legislation when the lawmakers came to Montgomery. However, they recognize also that a split on the revenue bill may bring an independence of action on other meas ures and that when this independence of action comes consideration will be given by the law makers to the pc titions favoring abolition of the lease, which have been signed by 40 coun- ties and which will come from other counties during the next few days according to the statement of the Jtrb iph is ing the question to the legislature
 o o O
 Fight To Continue.
 Judge William E. Fort of Birning- ham, chairman of the citizens coin mittee, has announced that the fight will be continued until some action has been taken by the legis- lature. When Senator Brewers bills come before the senate committee on finance and taxation, the petitions signed by those who appeal for change in tho system will be present ed. Arguments will also be made on the importance of action by the state without delay
 The revenue bill, In It's emasculated form, probably will be passed by the house at the next session. which will be held Tuesday afternoon. The onlq thing which remains is a formal vote as a majority of the members par ticipated in the deliberations of the committee of the whole, which con sidered the bill and reported it fa- vorably with the amendments. The amendments will be adopted with one roll call Tuesday afternoon and the bill will be passed.
 Administration leaders believe the senate will restore to the bill some of the original sections which were stricken by the house. This will mean a disagreement between the two houses and the reference of the bill to committees of conferences The ecommittees of conference will he forced to work out some plan which can be approved by the house and the senate.
 Former Fight Recalled.
 It is recalled that this plan was used when the revenue bill of 1919 was pending. Many committees O.: conference were appointed and were unable to reach an agreement. The revenue bill became a law during the closing days of the session. The bill was presented after the work of fifth legislative day, which came later in September
 No one can foresee what will hap pen to this revenue bill since the convict lease issue has been injected, and since those who favor tHe abol- tion of the lease system have been told that the question is one of reVc- nue and should be considered as such
 Convict lease and revenue were linked by Lieutenant Governor Me DOWel and DrOba hlV will remain