Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-30
INTERESTING AND EXCITING
Was the Mornings Proceedings
in the House.
FILIBUSTERING INDUCED IN
Over the Consideration of the Barnes Rail-
road Commission Bill.
THE JftlNS CONSTITUTION BILL,
Which mes Up on Monday, Reproduced
in = Entirety Convict Bill Before
Sc Senate Montgomery City
Is Court Judgeship.
FILIBUSTERING INDUL LGED IN
THE JrEuns CONSTITUTION BILL,


- tgomery, Ala, Jan. 2s.-(Special
ST - Correspondence.)- .)-Todays morning
81 -fonf experienced one of the widest
parliamentary contests ever experienced
upon the floor of the Alabama house of
representatives. A volley of motions and
points of (dis)order were fired at Speaker
Clements that would have knocked "The
Scottish Chieftan' from his rocky emf
nence and buried him forever in a pig
my's grave. But the veteran presiding
officer was as stern as a marble statue,
and as wide awake as Boneparte.
Nothing but the widest excitement pre-
vailed in the lower house TO-. three hours.
All of the turmoil grew out of a railroad
bill, and the notorious outlaw by that
name never in all of his criminal career
created such vehement whirlwind of
unrest. 1t was the. first ilibustering ex-
pedition that the legislature has en-
barked upon this session, and they took
themselves into such jungles of parlia-
mentary confusion that an African Ben
gal tiger would delight to retreat to for
safety on his native heath.
The measure causing so much indignity
was a bill introduced by Hon. Reed
Barnes. the British bulldog from Lee. In
substance the lengthy measure is as fol-
lows:
ITO provide for the regulation of rail-
road companies and persons in this state;
and to provide for the location and build
ing of passenger and freight depots and
to regulate rates of storage to be
charged to prevent unjust discrimina-
tions in the rates charged for transpor-
tation or passengers and freights, and to
prohibit railroad companies, corporations
and lessees in this state from charging
other than just and reasonable rates and
to prescribe mode of procedure and
rules of evidence in relation thereto; and
to appoint commissioners and to prescribe
their powers and duties in relation to the
same"
The advocacy of the bill was led by
Hons. Barnes, Bauldin, Brandon, Brown,
(of Talladega), Cameron and Sheldon.
The opposition was led by Meador, Wal
Ter (of Hale), Greene, Wiley and Kyle.
1t would require the technicalities of
Philadelphia lawyer to relate the course
of the parliamentary discussion. 1t suf-
ficeth to say that Hon. A. Y. Glover, of
Greene, finally brought the assent bly, out
of confusion by getting motion through
to make the bill a special order for to-
morrow at 1920 a. m., when the house
shall go into committee of the whole
and take the measure up sereatim. There
is a heavy lobby here on this bill, and
insinuations of filibustering and corpora
ton influence were discussed on the moor
this morning.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
The next issue of great Importance be-
fore the house is the constitutional con-
vention BILL by the sturdy and popular
Young democrat of Wilcox, Hon. s. c.
jenkins. Mr. Jenkins has devoted almost
his entire time to this measure and his
bill has been made special order for
next Monday at IL o'clock. The Dill is
of such vital Importance to the people
low:
THE JENKINS CONSTITUTION BILL.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the general
assembly of Alabama, That an election
shall be held in each county of this state
on Tuesday after the first Monday in
August, 1897, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the constitution of this
state, and revising and amending the
same in the particulars wherein said
constitution appears to require amend
ment; provided, however, that such con-
vention shall only be held in case that
1t appears that a majority of all the
electors of this state, 21 years of age, and
upwards, who may vote at said election.
approve of such convention by voting
therefor, in the manner hereinafter pro-
vided.
Sec. 2. Be it. further enacted, That at
the election directed by the first section
of this act, every qualified elector, who
approves of the holding of such conven-
ton, shall declare the same by depositing
his ballot at the voting place where he
may be entitled to vote, by marking with
a cross mark before the words "For Con-
vention" written or printed, or partly
written or partly printed thereon; and
every qualified elector of this state vot-
ing at said election. who disapproves of
the holding of such a convention shall
deposit his ballot marked with a cross
mark before the words mo Convention"
written or printed, or partly written or
partly printed thereon. Upon the same
ballot on which each qualified elector of
this state may vote for or against such
convention, as the case may be. he may
also vote for such number OF delegates
to said convention as the county in
which such elector is entitled to vote,
may be entitled to elect to said conven-
tion under the provisions of this act
Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That the
delegates to said convention shall be cit
izens of this state, and shall have the
qualifications required for senator's of
this state under the constitution and laws
thereof, and each county shall have the
same representation in said convention
that 1t now has in the house of repre-
sentatives of the general assembly.
Sec A.. Be it further enacted, That 1t
shall be the duty of the Governor of this
state, at least sixty days prior to the
election herein provided for to issue to
the sheriffs of the several counties of
this state writs of election requiring the
said sheriffs, respectively, forthwith to
take all necessary steps for holding the
election herein directed in their respective
counties, in the mode and manner pro-
vided by law; and said election shall be
held in the same manner and by the Off
GERS as provided by law for general cleo
tions in this state. The returns of said
election shall be made to the secretary
of state, In the same manner and with
in the same time as returns are directeo
to be made for the election of members
of the general assembly. and shall be
opened and counted in the presence OF
the Governor, secretary of state and at
torney-general, within fifteen days after
such { lection.
Sec s. Be 1t further enacted. That it
shall be the duty of the secretary of state,
Immediately after the returns of said
oIocfiora shan have hean anenad and