Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-14
THE CONVENTION. \   t Opened, as Usual, With a
 Wrangle AND THEN CAME THE RUSH . Canary Miller of Color Enters Protest,
 But Is Squelched Number of Amendments.

Columbia, S. C., Sept 13.-Tcday was a rather important one in the constitution al convention. The morning session opened with a wrangle as to whether the convention should go to the expense of having each ordinance and resolution printed as soon as presented and laid on the desks of the members or whether the manuscript copies should be handed into the committees without printing, allow ing the committees to report recommend ing substitutes in the shape of clauses for the constitution. It was claimed that this 1uld stifle all ordinances in the commi tee rooms and no one on the floor would ever know what was pro- posed. The members wanted to have the ideas of one another and consequently ordered the printing of everything. The convention spant several hours discuss Ing this feature of the rule. Then in the last fifteen minutes of the long session the wheels of the resolutions and ordi- nance mill flew around with the rapidity of lightning and some forty new propo- sltionS were presented, some of them be- ing of vital importance. It is now pretty thoroughly understood that biennial ses- .sions of the legislature will be provided for instead of annual sessions; that the terms of the state officers will be made four years instead of two as heretofore |. that smaller counties will be provided for
 When the proposition for the ratifica- ton of the constitution was reached the eolored member, Canary" Miller, made an effort to have it referred back to the people, presenting the following amend ment to be added to the rule:
 And the said constitution, after it shall have received the majority vote of the delegates present shall be sub mitted to the electors of the state of South Carolina for ratification. The vote on ratification shall be taken on the second Tuesday in January, A. D. 1896. The vote shall be taken at the several pre- cincts in each county of the state
 ''fhe form of the ballots to be voted shall be as follows: I favor the new con- sutuuon' or do not favor the new con stitution.' "
 Mr. Efird raised the point that this was not the proper place to present such a provision. The proper way to present 1t was in the shape of an ordinance later on.
 Miller said that this appeared to him to be the only proper place to bring this matter up. A handful of the people had no right to act for the whole people and declare that the document after they had completed doing it up was the constitu- ton of the whole people. The president Said "The chair will not entertain this in the shape of an amen datory resolution to the rule, but as regular resolution and refer it to the proper committee"
 The resolution took the latter course Mllers effort was a fruitlesS one. J. William Stokes introduced an ordi- nance to abolish the state supreme court and establish an appellate court, con sisting of the circuit judges.
 Senator Tillman introduced an ordi- nance providing for smaller counties of forty square miles each. The present area is about ninety-six square miles each. MT. Patton introduced a suffrage amendment providing for an educational qualification, property qualification of $500, and for the disqualification of no Confederate soldier or son of such.
 Several ordinances providing for four years term of all state officers were intro duced.
 MT. Hodges asked for 3 mill tax for educational purposes, giving the tax pay CT the right to say to what school it shall be devoted.
 MT. Farrow of Charleston presented a strong plan for the reorganization of the judiciary.
 Ex-Congressman George Johnston pre- scented a strong suffrage plank with al- formative property and educational quail ifications.
 MT. McCowan has introduced al ordi- nance which is against the wishes of Till man and Trby and the most ardent dis pensary advocates, providing that the state shall never issue any licenses to in- divduals or corporations to sell liquor but can provide for it's sale under state control.
 The legislative committee has decided to allow Charleston county only one sen ator. The committee is tied on the mat ter of biennial sessions of the general as- sembly and favors the four year term of office system.