ALABAMA. 



rate estate; but the written consent of her 

 husband is necessary to allow her to contract 

 in writing, or to alienate her property. Hus- 

 band and wife may contract with each other, 

 and the wife with the consent of the husband 

 may carry on business as if sole. Further, 

 the husband is not liable for the debts or en- 

 gagements of the wife, contracted or entered 

 into after marriage, or for her torts, in the 

 commission of which he does not participate ; 

 but the wife is liable for such debts or engage- 

 ments entered into with the consent of the 

 husband in writing, or for her torts, and is 

 suable therefor as if she were sole. 



The former Legislature having provided for 

 the appointment of a commission to codify the 

 State laws, the results of its labors were re- 

 ported at this session and adopted, and provis- 

 ion was made for publication of the new code. 



Provision was made also for the establish- 

 ment and endowment of Alabama University 

 for colored people, and Montgomery was 

 chosen by the trustees as the site of the new 

 institution. The sum of $25,000 was also ap- 

 propriated for a separate institution for the 

 colored insane. A similar sum was voted for 

 a separate asylum for the blind. 



For the relief of maimed and disabled Con- 

 federate soldiers, $30,000 was appropriated. 



The State was redivided into four chancery 

 divisions (instead of three as before), and the 

 time and place for the sessions of the several 

 chancery courts were fixed. 



Another important act was the reduction of 

 the tax-rate from 60 cents on the $100 to 55 

 cents, to take effect Oct. 1, 1888, and a fur- 

 ther reduction to 50 cents for Oct. 1, 1889. 

 It was estimated that the rapid increase in 

 values in the State would offset this reduction, 

 so that the revenue would not be diminished. 

 Other acts were : 



To provide for the sale of the swamp and over- 

 flowed lands of this State, and for the sale of the in- 

 demnity land scrip issued to this State in lieu of such 

 lands disposed of W the United States. 



To prosecute and secure to the State the benefits 

 resulting from all claims of the State of Alabama 

 against the United States for or on account of swamp 

 and overflowed lands, other public land in Alabama 

 sold or otherwise disposed ot ay the Federal Govern- 

 ment, and all other claims the State has under exist- 

 ing laws or may have under laws hereafter enacted. 



To prohibit the employment of minors to sell liquors 

 in this State. 



To incorporate Lafayette College. 



To authorize the Mayor and Aldermen of Birming- 

 ham to issue bonds for the funding of the floating 

 debt of the city. 



To exempt cotton and other agricultural products 

 in the hands of the producer from taxation. 



To authorize street railroads to purchase and con- 

 demn property for the purpose of constructing and 

 maintaining and operating street railroads _ in the 

 same manner as now provided by law for taking pri- 

 vate property for railroads and other public uses. 



To provide for holding a teachers' institute for a 

 period of not less than one week in each congres- 

 sional district. 



To enable women to hold the office of notary 

 public. 



Bequiring all insurance companies, whether char- 



tered by the State or admitted from othdfc States, * 

 have an actual cash capital fully paid ugofnotles 

 than $100,000, and to require such companies to make 

 annual statements to the Auditor. 



To require locomotive-engineers to be examined 

 and licensed by a board to be appointed by the Gov- 

 ernor. 



To prevent the compelling of women and children, 

 or the permitting of children under fourteen years of 

 age, to labor in a mechanical or manufacturing busi- 

 ness more than eight hours on any day. 



For prevention and suppression of infectious or 

 contagious diseases of horses and other animals. 



To incorporate the Alabama State Agricultural 

 Society. 



The session was noteworthy for the amount 

 of work accomplished 563 bills and resolu- 

 tions being passed, or 115 more than at the 

 preceding session. The members were nearly 

 all Democrats. 



Finances. The following table shows the 

 condition of the State treasury at the begin- 

 ning of the year : 



Balance in treasury on Oct. 1, 1886 $340,811 63 



Receipts from Oct. 1, 1S86, to Dec. 81, 18S6, In- 

 clusive 120,887 C7 



$461,699 85 



Disbursements from Oct. 1, 1886, to Dec. 81, 

 1886 818,336 57 



Balance in treasury at close of business on Dec. 

 81, 1886 $148,303 28 



Amount in treasury on Dec. 81, 1884 $98,862 65 



Amount in treasury on Dec. 81, 1885 128,574 90 



Of the bonded debt which amounts to 

 $9,193,900, the greater part is already funded 

 at 4 per cent, interest, but $954,000 of bonds 

 bearing 6 per cent, interest still remained at 

 the beginning of the year. The Legislature 

 authorized the funding of these at 3J per cent., 

 a lower rate than the State had before ven- 

 tured to offer. 



Prohibition. The sale of liquor becomes more 

 restricted with every session of the Legisla- 

 ture. Prohibition is granted, and has been 

 obtained, in the greater part of the State, on 

 petition of the inhabitants of each locality. 

 The Legislature this year added in the same 

 way Butler County and Montgomery, outside 

 the" police jurisdiction of the city, to the pro- 

 hibitory column. It adopted also a local-op- 

 tion law applying to a large part of the State, 

 by which " no license " is likely to be still 

 further extended. At the same time, the li- 

 cense-tax is increasing yearly. In 1884 it was 

 $50 for retail dealers ; the Legislature of that 

 year increased it to $100; this year it was 

 fixed at from $125 to $250, according to the 

 population of the locality. 



Confederate Monument. Strong pressure was 

 brought upon the Legislature to aid in the 

 erection of a monument to the Confederate 

 soldiers of the State, which had already been 

 begun at Montgomery. A bill appropriating 

 $5,000 for this purpose passed the lower 

 house, but failed in the Senate on a close vote. 

 Private subscriptions have since forwarded 

 the work. Before the close of the year the 

 shaft had been carried up to the height of 

 eighty feet, and only the figures at the top 



