Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-02-12

Montgomery, Ala, Feb. lit is almost
universally conceded that the house of
representatives did it's best days work
today. BY a vote of 40 to A it passed
the bill which provided for the holding CT
an election next August to determine
whether the people of Alabama would
call convention to reform the organic
law of the state.
Up to last Monday the passage of the
bill through the house was remote pos
sfbility. The chance for its passage was
esteemed to be about one in hundred.
However, some generals, who never sur
render, got behind the project and the
vote in the house today tells how well
they have succeeded.
The bill was called up very soon after
roll call this morning by its author, Mr..
Jenkins, of Wilcox, and after one or two
little colloquys over it's consideration,
Mr.. Davis, of Marion, moved to lay the
bill upon the table. The vote on this re-
suited ayes, 81; noes, So. The considers
ton was then proceeded with.
Amendments to the bill were introduced
and adopted as follows: One changing
the date for assembling the convention
from the first Monday in September to
the first Monday in October, and one pro-
viding for the election of eleven dele
gates from the state at large in addi-
tion to the 100 delegates from the several
counties. discussion of the bill then
followed.
WANTS A NEW CONSTITUTION.
Mr.. Merrill of Barbour, reminded the
house that the passage of the bill did
not determine that a convention should
be held, but simply provided that the peo-
pie of Alabama should be given an OPP.
portunity to say by their votes whether
the convention should be held. He be-
lieved, he said, that our constitution was
out of date and should be remodeled
However, he was willing to leave it all
to the people and he thought it was SIM
pie justice to submit it to them.
LLOYD OPPOSES IT.
MT. LlOyQ dChllOWlSu6cQ thdt tiiC VII
stitutionaI convention was very live is
sue in the state, and should be given full
consideration. He believed that to force
an election, to be held next fall would be
terests and the equal welfare of the
state. He had not found, he said, any
defect or shortcoming in the present con-
stitution serious enough to demand: a
that it would be a great cost to the state,
that Kentucky had spent $1,000 in call
ing her constitutional convention and the
convention had cost the state s160,000. 1t
seven months. He estimated that the
proposed convention and the election
preceding it would cost Alabama some
$4,000. He said heFhad lived for forty
years under the present constitution, and
had not found that it limited his energies,
abilities, prosperity or happiness. He ac-
knowledged thai there were defects in the
constitution of 1876. but he would rather
cleavey to- them than fly to ills he knew
not of. He feared as democrat, the
proposed changes in the organic law
The government of the state was now Sc
rene. he thought, in the hands of the
Caucassians.. He'believed constitutions
al convention might imperil this sitna-
tion. He thought he saw disposition
to enlarge the taxing power and earnest
ly deprecated suchsassentiment.
Mr.. Lloyd made a most eloquent speech
and was applauded as he took his seat.
sKYIhl's ABIE, ADVOCACY.
Mr. Kyle, of Morgan, one Of the strong
est speakers on the floor replied to Mr..
Lloyd's argument He agreed with Mr..
Lloyd that the wealth of Alabama did
not consist of the product of its fields
and mines and forest. SO much as In its
manhood and womanhood. and to this
manhood and womanhod was he willing
to submit this matter of the constitution
al convention. He insisted that the peo-
pie demanded a convention, that prac-
tically the whole press of the state ad-
voeated the proposition. that the COM
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