The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-21
CONSTITUTION OF CAROLINA.
THE CONVENTION NOW IN SESSION
NEARLY FIVE WEEKS.

NEARLY FIVE WEEKS.
Only Six of the sixteen Articles Pro-
posed Completed so Far-The hulk
of the Heavy Work Stil Ahead 0f
the COnventfOn-The Articles On
Suffrage, Education and County
Government the Most Prominent
Ones Before the BODY and sure to
Give Rise to Prolonged Debate.
Columbia, S. C. Oct 2.-The consttu-
tional convention has completed its fifth
weeks work. less two days and so far ex-
actly one and one-hfth of an article. to be
mathematically correct. has been complet-
ed each week. While considerable of the
heavy work was done the past week. the
rule now adopted allowing amendments on
the third reading opens up many poss-
bilities, and again it must be said that
the mass Of the heavy work is still ahead
of the convention, for the great fights and
lively and long debates are to come on the
suffrage article and the articles on educa-
tion and county government. The most
prominent issues before the convention
are to be found in those articles. the suff
rage problem standing far in the lead of
all others. Then again there is the home
stead section of the article on the legisa-
tive department yet to be completed.
Only six out of the sixteen articles pro-
posed have been entirely completed as yet
and referred to the committee on style and
revision. Here are the articles:
l. on executive department.
2. lmpeachments.
g. on municipal corporations and police
regulations.
a. on amendment and revision of the
constitution
8. on miscellaneous matters.
g. on penal and charitable institutions.
All the sections of the article on the leg
islative department have been passed to
their third reading save that relating TO
the homestead which was discussed
whole day, and then laid over so this ar
ticle is almost complete.
All the sections OF the article on finance
and taxation have likewise been passed to
a third reading, save five.
The same thing applies TO the article
on the declaration of rights, four of It's
sections being unacted on as yet.
If these articles were all entirely COM
pleted and had gone to the committee
on style and revision, the convention
would be half through with It's work from
a numerical standpoint, but the heaviest
debate by far is yet TO come, and the
convention has refused to pass a reso-
luton limiting speeches to ten minutes,
save in the debates on the suffrage ana
education. The possibilities as to the du-
ration of the session are therefore obvi-
Gus.
This week the work will be Of an i'm
portant character. The suffrage matter
Is to be taken up tomorrow, and there
Is no telling how long the debate will
continue. The special order for to-mor-
row Is the several reports presented by
the committee on county government.
This once diyed into may delay tne
suffrage matter until the end Of the week,
for IL was made a special order for to-
morrow and from day to day until dis
| posed Of
The article on corporations is a special
order for Thursday and the article on ed
ucation is also special order, so these
vitally important articles are certain to
claim the attention of the convention
from tomorrow on until they are com
Considerable has been accomplished
since the recess. and there have been
some interesting debates. Exactly what
has been completed looking toward the
/ building of the constitution is enumerated
| above.
Other matters brought up during the
| past week were resolutions of respect to
/ the late DIR. j. O. Byrd, which were adopt
/ ed; resolution to provide for the dis
| bursement Of the conventions expense
| appropriation, which was adopted; a res.
/ olution to provide for printing of copies
/ of the constitution when ratified, which
/ stands over, etc.
| The convention considered and killed
/ the following resolutions: BY Mr. Hodges,
/ relating to judgments; by Mr.. McMahan,
! relating to the department of roads and
/ forestry; by Mr.. McMahan, relating to
| the concurrence of the whole jury in a
verdict; by Mr. wharton, to limit speeches
! to ten minutes except in the suffrage de-
/ bate. The convention also tabled the pc
| tition Of the Womans Christian Temper
/ ance Union in regard to the age of con-
! sent
! Some notable constitutional changes have
/ been made in the constitution this week
| The most prominent change was perhaps
I in the passage Of the clause providing for
/ a graduated tax on all incomes and a
/ graduated license on all occupations and
| business.
A notable proposed change Is to be found
| in Mr.. Belingers anti-lynch law sec
/ tion, the necessity for which was shown
/ in lynching case the very night of It's
/ introduction.
The action of the convention in voting
4 down Senator Tillman's resolution look
! ing to holding a constitutional convention
| every twenty years and his scheme 20
1 tax each dog in the state 81, disposed
| of two matters that meant a great deal
The action of the convention In fixing
| it so that counties and townships cannot
| issue bonds to aid in building railroads
! is another very important change.
| Nothing has been said on the floor Of
| the convention since II reconyened about
| Mr.. Ellerbee's resolution looking to doing
away with a session of the general as
sembly this year