The Montgomery Advertiser from Montgomery, Alabama • 7

INAUGURATION '99 Montgomery Advertiser Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999 TTT TTh i Tl I MAN OF DESTINY enseal Miteiracia! jrryor: mamage ran 'f lit 4 j. 6 i r- i i Time for change: The Attorney General said it's time to nget 'dead wood' off Alabama's law books By Mike Cason Montgomery Advertiser Attorney General Bill iyryor said Monday it's time )to remove some of the "dead wood" from Alabama's law books. Pryor took the oath of of-fice for his first full term on Monday, then gave a speech calling for an end to the i-state's constitutional ban on interracial marriages. Court rulings over the years have left the ban unenforceable.

Pryor then recommended taking another step, a constitutional amendment forbidding race-based discrimination. "It's an embarrassment and it has no place in a modern constitution," Pryor said of the ban on interracial marriage. "We ought to get rid of all the dead wood." Pryor said the state constitution needs an amendment similar to the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. "What I wanted to propose 1 Bill Pryor is sworn in by Chief Justice Perry O.

Hooper. Pryor said the state constitution needs an amendment similar to the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. en give warm welcome to new first lady Court Chief Justice Perry Hooper administered the oath for Pryor to begin his first full term. Pryor said the equal protection clause was not aimed at eliminating any specific race-based hiring quotas.

Earlier this year, state Rep. Alvin Holmes, D-Montgom-ery, proposed a repeal of the interracial marriage ban, but it failed. Sen. Lowell Barron, D-Fyffe, the new president pro tern of the state Senate, said of the constitutional changes, "I don't want to see us get bogged down on issues other than education and our other priorities." i i 3 I 1 Governor could hold higher office The Rev. Tom Wise, a priest at Mother Mary and St.

Patrick churches in Phenix City, is an inauguration veteran who thinks Don Siegelman may be destined for an even higher honor. "I've been to one Kennedy, one Carter and two Clinton inaugurations," Wise said. "This one is even more hopeful. "I'm looking forward to attending a Siegelman inauguration in our nation's capital one day." ALABAMA POLITICS New Alabamians enjoy first visit This was the first visit to the state capital for Jian and Tie Huang and their 10-year-old daughter, Xinle Huang, all of Birmingham. Tie Huang and her daughter posed for a photo with the new governor.

"We moved to Birmingham four-and-a-half years ago from China," Jian Huang said in slightly-halting English. "This is our first experience with Alabama politics. It has been just great. It's very interesting. "Also, Tie gets extra credit at her school for attending so we made sure to get a photo." HOT FOOD Smoke wagon does brisk business Gus Smoke Wagon set up for business early Monday on the corner of Dexter Avenue and Decatur Street.

Bonnie Costellos of Birmingham was serving up smoked barbecue, smoked turkey legs, Philly cheese sandwiches and polish sausages. "It's been very brisk," Costellos said. "We were here early and working hard." Business got more brisk after Gov. Siegelman's speech. The crowd lined up about five deep.

Costellos sold out of everything but barbecue and smoked turkey legs. TANGIBLE CHANGE Blind man feels the excitement Montgomery musician Israel Tolbert enjoys the pageantry of Alabama inaugurations even though he couldn't see the parade or the new governor raise his hand to take the oath of office. Blind since he was three-years-old, Tolbert, 58, said Siegelman's inauguration was the third he has attended. "I have an intelligent mind and I understand what is happening. I am visually impaired, but I can understand the change that is taking place in Alabama.

I am all for it," Tolbert said. He was escorted by a friend, John McGowan, the former mayor of Union Springs. "This is such a beautiful day and everybody is excited," McGowan said. Staff reports is we have an amendment that would say equal protection of the law shall not intentionally be denied by any state, county or city entity to any person on account of race, color, religion, national origin or sex," Pryor said. Pryor said most other states had such a clause in their consititutions.

Gov. Fob James chose Pryor to complete the term of former attorney general Jeff Sessions when Sessions was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996. Pryor narrowly defeated Democrat Terry Butts in November to win a full term in office. On Monday, State Supreme 4 1- -At' Yf 1- Mark Miller Staff as lieutentant governor, pense of taxpayers.

Pryor, who criticized former Gov. Fob James for commuting the death sentence of condemned killer Judith Ann Neelley last week, said he will strive to cut the appeal time for those on death row. He said Alabamians are frustrated by the slow pace of the criminal justice system one he described as "the most complicated process of death penalty appeals in the nation." Pryor said one of his top priorities will be to fight white-collar crime "so that no person, despite his wealth or power, is above the law." Bishop, a former state senator, said Alabama's farmers are suffering and need to be helped as much as possible during the next four years. 1 '1 1 i i' it i i Mark Miller Staff "That's chocolate inside," she said smiling at a child who was showing her the inaugural "medallion" he got at the door. She posed for photographs and signed autographs for well-wishers at the event, but did not speak to reporters.

Alex Newton, 10, a fourth-grader at Gulf Shores Elementary, had a message she wanted to deliver. "I just wanted to tell you I liked your husband's speech," she said. Alabama's new first lady has a degree in social work and works as a therapist. She has volunteered extensively for Montgomery's Booker T. Washington Magnet High School and has said she could envision eventually taking up a children's-related cause at her husband's request.

She made few appearances on the campaign trail, so many Ala-bamians are just beginning to recognize her. "Is that her? The blonde. No, the brunette," two women discussed as she entered the tent. Several hundred children came through the archway of rainbow balloons into the white tent of the lawn of the state Department of Archives and History. The noise reached high decibel levels at first.

"We came all the way from Selma for this," said Lisa James. "The parade and the swearing-in ceremony was a bit over their heads, but they're really enjoying this." ALABAMA SUPREME COURT Three state Supreme Court justices were sworn in Monday. They include: a Gorman Houston Jr. Douglas Inge Johnstone Jean Williams Brown Other justices serving on the court include: Perry Hooper chief justice. Ralph D.

Cook Mark Kennedy Champ Lyons Alva Hugh Maddox Harold See She recently drew criticism from some in Republican circles for refusing to step down from her seat before Monday in order to give outgoing Gov. Fob James an opportunity to appoint her replacement instead of Gov. Don Siegelman. The swearing-in of Brown and Houston gives the Republican Party a 5-4 majority on the Alabama Supreme Court. Lloyd Gallman Staff New first lady Lori Allen Siegelman, right, greets a group of children at the Young Alabamian's Reception.

Sie-gelman posed for photographs and signed autographs for well-wishers at the event. 1 "1 '1T 1 Steve Windom takes the oath ace who was battling the flu bug. Wallace and fellow PSC member Jan Cook, who took the oath of office, already were sworn in after their elections last year, so Monday's event was more ceremonial than mandatory. Windom, the first Republican lieutenant governor since Reconstruction, said, "Many companies are afraid to locate in Alabama and many of our own companies, including mom and pop are fearful of expanding because of the lawsuit abuse problem in Alabama and in our courts." Alabama trial lawyers contend that businesses should expect to pay a penalty if they are guilty of negligence or other shortcomings at the ex FREE 70 OFF i Kids first: The reception included moonwalks, clowns, magicians and free juice and chips By Kim Chandler Montgomery Advertiser Marcus Thomas, 5, of Brew-baker Primary School was running around wearing a big grin and a balloon hat of yellow, orange and green that nearly doubled his height. "This is wonderful for the state to do.

He's had the best time," said Marcus' mother Lynn Thomas, who was balancing American flags, a jacket and balloon animals in her arms. First lady Lori Allen Siegelman, 47, greeted children and their parents at the Young Alabamian's Reception, a signal of the new administration's commitment to children. Siegelman's husband, Don Eugene, was sworn in as Alabama's new governor early Monday afternoon. "It's been hard to keep him out of that moonwalk," Lynn Thomas said of her son. Then, "Marcus, sweetie, don't give me anything else to hold.

I don't have any more hands." It was the first lady who suggested the reception, which included moonwalks, clowns, magicians and free juice and chips on the lawn of the Department of Archives and History. Aides said the event was "very important" to her. Wearing a long skirt, she often knelt to talk to children at their eye level. Houston Sharon G. Yates was sworn to her second term on the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.

Johnstone, a former Mobile County circuit and district judge, said justices are faced with protecting against lawsuit abuse and making sure that "people are not abused." He said justices must follow the "straight and narrow" rule of law. Houston, who was sworn in to his fourth term on the court, said this would be his last term. He pledged to work hard to restore individuals' responsibility in the court. Brown comes to the Supreme Court after serving two years on the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. nelpnArthrtHr thrnuoh epntl? Johnstone Brown 2nd female justice on state Supreme Court Officers layout agendas By Alvin Benn Montgomery Advertiser Alabama's constitutional officers had a tough act to follow after Jimmy Buffett's solo serenade Monday, but they rose to the occasion.

Lt. Gov. Steve Windom pledged Monday to work toward tort reform that he said help small-business and big-business owners locate and expand in Alabama. Attorney General Bill Pryor vowed to tackle white-' collar crime and ballot box abuse. Secretary of State Jim Ben-'nett, state Treasurer Lucy Baxley, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bishop and state Auditor Susan Parker also got chances to address issues they felt represented challenges in the four years ahead of them.

The only prominent missing from the ceremony was Public Service Commissioner George Wall- By Malcomb Daniels Montgomery Advertiser Jean Brown made her mark on history Monday when she was sworn in as an associate justice on the Alabama Supreme Court. Brown, a former criminal appeals court judge, became only the second woman to serve on the state's highest court. The first was former Justice Janie Shores, who did not seek reelection. "I am deeply honored to be the second woman ever elected to the (Alabama) Su-p Court," Brown said Brown after taking her oath. Brown, Mobile's Douglas Johnstone and Alabama Associate Justice Gorman Houston were all sworn in to six-year terms.

Brown, a Republican, and Johnstone, a Democrat, are first-time justices on the Alabama Supreme Court. mt hi ii, I i 4 DO YOU SUFFER FROM ARTHRITIS? It may be hard to believe, but more than 36 million Americans suffer from arthritis. The mcst common symptoms an? stiffness and pain which usually settle in the neck, lower back, spine, hip, knees THE BUND SHOP David Bundy Staff Nathan Taylor, 9, of Eclectic awaits the start of the parade. 'a, Off 20 Forest Hills Drive evcn ln "nger joints. The spine is prone to osteoarthritis, even from the everyday strains that occur from repetitive motion, sports, overexertion, falls and auto injuries.

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