The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-13
WILL COME UP
IN HOUSE TODAY
Received Favorable Report from
Judiciary Committee.
DEANS AMENDMENT KILLED
Claimed That Il Would Have Pre-
vented Election of Good Men.
JOHNSTON W. SIGN MEASURE
80
Opponents Of S sventiOn Have About
Civ ; 5p the Fight.
WALLER 81 LEAD ARGUMENT
In Advocacy of the Measure-Kyle
Morgan and Seymour of Sumter
Will Also Speak for
the Bill.

montgomery, DeccHpST l1.-NoPoSiai'JE
The bill calling on the people of Alabama
to vote for a convention to frame new
constitution, or to vote against 1t and at
the same time to express their choice for
delegates to this convention will pass the
lower house before adjournment to-
morrow.
The minority has practically given up the
fight and there many who will not ops
pose the bill further than TO formally cast .
negative vote. Those who will speaE
against the measure will do so to clear
their skirts with the people 9t home" TO
use the expression made by Senator Case
Saturday.
The argument may consume the better
part of the day. Speaker waller will make
the leading speech for the advocates Of tho
convention. Speeches will probably be
made by other friends of the bffls ysns~3x
| them Nessrs. Kyle and Seymour. Reprez
sentative Brsndenr Hubbard -and Cofer viii
be the leading orators for the oppose
tion. sss.-.s;
Deans' Amendment Killed
The bill was given a favorable report by
the house judiciary committee this morning
with the Deans amendment stricken out.
This provided that instead Of delegates
being elected from the state-at-large one
shall be chosen from each senatorial dig
trict.
1t is claimed by the Deans arrangement
that many good men who should aid in
framing the new constitution would be cut
out of the convention. An instance Is cited in
the case of United States Senators Morgan
and Pettus who are from the same county
BY Mr.. Deans amendment but one dele.
gate from that senatorial district could be
admitted.
1t Is hardly thought that the bill will
reach a conference. President Cunningham
and other friends of the measure are con-
fident that the bill with the charge made
by the house can pass the senate. If II
should me thrown into conference commit,
tee it is claimed that all matter of differ
ence will be quickly adjusted in time for
Governor Johnston to affix his signature to
the bill Wednasday.
The governor was asked this afternoon
If he would sign the bill Wednesday. IT
haven't seen it yet" said he. "But will
sign 1t just soon as can get to it."
Enemies Died Hard
The enemies of the constitutional conven-
tion died hard in the senate, the blow being
inflicted by one Of the prsttiest parliament
ary fights of the session.
As soon as the matters of routine were
disposed of. Senator Rsykin moved that the
vote by which the bill was passed Satur-
day be reconsidered. The psint Of order
was made by Senator Wiley that bill not
In the possession of the senate GOULD not
be reconsidered. BY indulgence of Prssi-
dent Cunningham an argument snsued.
Senator Boykin claimed that the bill
should not have been sent to the house
when 1t was known that a motion to re-
consider would be entered. Then he thought
1t was the vote to be reconsidered and not
the bill.
Some one made the point that a reading
of the bill might be requested.
Col. Wiley steadfastly maintained that
the bill could not be reconsidered when 1t
was not In possession of the body and the
president sustained him.
Senator Boykin then appealed from the
decision of the chair. On a ballot Presi-
dent Cunningham was sustained. Vote Is
yeas to nays.
The last gasp came when Senator Boykin
moved to recall the bill from the house.
There was. a motion to table the motion,
which carried by a vote of Is yeas to nays
and the constitutional convention bill be-
came law so far as the senate was con-
cerned.
The several amendments to the bill In
serted by the house judiciary committee SO
hedge it about that there will be no chance
for the constitutional convention to raise
the tax rate from the present standard. OF
course the cities Of Birmingham and Mobile
are not included. provisions being made for
them to levy higher rate of taxation for
the payment Of certain debts. The bill also
includes clause forbidding the removal OF
the capital from Montgomery to any other
city.
sEwELL HAGGARD.