The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-18
SUFFRAGE IN MISSISSIPPI
The Convention in Favor OF the Com
mittee Report


mittee Report
JACKSON. MISS, Sept. 1.-THE suffrage
question may be regarded as settled as far
as Mississippi is concerned. Voting was
begun section by section to-day upon the
report of the committee on elective fran
chise. The voting developed the
fact that the convention stands
almost two to one in favor
OF the committee report, and its adoption
by an emphatic majority is no longer a
question of doubt.
The Chrisman amendment, providing for
an educational OF property qualification,
was rejected by a vote of n to 30.
The proposition TO empower the legisla-
ture TO confer restricted suffrage upon
woman received similar quletus.
AMENDMENTS BowLED OVER.
Amendments were bowled over as fast as
they were offered, and all OF the following
Tour sections or the report were adopted by
overwhelming maj rities:
SECTION I. All decisions by the people should
be by ballot
SEC. 2. Every male inhabtant of this state,
excepti lotto and insane persons and Indians
not taxed, who is a citizen of the United
states, years old and upwards,
VINO has resided IN this state two
years and one year in the election district
IN which be offers to vote, and who is fully reg
istered as provided in section of this article.
ana who has never been convicted of bribery,
goods under false pretsnses, sh Ill be entitled to
vote after six months residence in an election
district II otherwise qualified
THE REGISTRATION.
SEC. 3. The legislature shall provide by law
TOT the registration of all persons entitled to
vote at any election, and all persons offering to
register shall take the following ath of afirma-
ton: Il do solemnly swear Cor affifm) that |
am q years old and that will have resided in
tins state two years and in the election district
OF the county Que year next - preceding the
ensuing election Cor if a minister of the gospel,
two years residence in the state and six months
IN said election district, and am now in good
faith resident in the same, and that | am not
disqualified from voting by reason of having
been convicted of any crime named in the con-
stitution of this state dsqualifyng me to be an
elector; that | will truly answer all questions
propounded to me concerning my antecedeDts
as far as they relate to my right
TO vote, aud also as to my residence before
my citizenship in this district; that will faith
fully support the constitution of the United
States and of the state of Mississippi. and will
Dear true faith and allegiance to the same"
THE POLL TAX.
SEC. 4. uniform poll tax of SO is hereby
imposed on every male inhabitant in the state
between 81 and 60 years. ex ,ept persons who are
deaf and dumb or blind Payment of the whole
poll tax imposed is declared to be qualification
to vote.
When section 5 was reached the conven-
tlon struck a snag. Amendment after
amendment was made, aud a long debate
followed. The section reads as follows:
On and after the first day of January, A D.
1896, the following qualifications are added to
the foregoing: Every qualified electOr shall be
able to read any section of the constitu-
ton OF this state or he shall be
able to understand the same when read to him,
or give reasonable Interpretation thereof
A new registration shall be made before the
next ensuing election after these qualifications
are established.
The convention adjourned at o'clock
without action on the amendment