The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-11-29

SENATOR JENKINS
IMPORTANT BILL
Question Of Constitutional Convention
Comes Before the Senate.
HOPES FOR ITS PASSAGE
But is Already Evident the Vote Hill
be Close.
THE MOBILE SCHOOL MATTER
Mr.. Graves Motion to Reconsider Was
Lost, After Much Debate, BY
Vote of So to IS Other
Measures.
HOPES FOR ITS PASSAGE
THE MOBILE SCHOOL MATTER

Montgomery November 2S.-(Special)-
Senator jenkins today introduced in the
senate a bill providing for vote in the
state at the election in August 1899 to de-
termine whether the state shall hold
constitutional convention.
Senator jenkins was a member of the
house two years ago, and was the father
of the constitutional convention bill which
passed that body, but failed in the senate.
AT this time the senator hopes to be sue
cessful in passing the bill through the sem
ate He has poled that body and claims
the chances in his favor, though the vote
will be close. Should the bill first pass the
senate 1t will be sure of "a majority vote in
the house, unless the present sentiment is
changed. The jenkins bill provides for the
holding of the convention in September,
1SS. and for the election of the members
of the convention at the election in Au-
gust, when voting on the question of con-
vention or no convention.
The opposition against a convention
comes very largely from the white coun-
ties of the state, many of the members
from these counties having pledged them
selves to their constituents to oppose the
measure. The members from the black
counties are making strong arguments in
the conventions favor and gaining ground
There are many members who oppose
convention fearing an increase in the tax
rate. To offset this opposition resolution
will likely be passed in connection with the
bill, memorialzing the convention against
increasing the rate of taxation. Such
resolution would not, of course, be binding
on members of the convention, but 1t would
doubtless have great weight with them.
The Mobile school Matter
The house had a very lively session of
about one hour today. 1t was occasioned
by the Mobile school matter.
Mr.. Graves motion to reconsider the vote
by which Mr. Seymour's bill ITO better
provide for the support of the state govern
ment by the several counties of the state"
was referred to the educational committee
on Saturday. The Age-Heraid's readers
are familiar with the fact that the retail
liquor licenses of Mobile are given to the
school fund of Mobile county. When Mr..
Seymour's bill was introduced, the speaker,
Judging it by its title, referred 1t to the
judiciary committee, which committee re-
ported 1t back with the recommendation
that 1t be committed to the education COM
mittee. Mr.. Seymour wanted the bill to go
to the ways and means committee, and
made hard fight to this end Friday. but
lost. Tie fight to reconsider was led by
Messrs. Golfer and Seymour today, whne
Messrs Robinson, Lavretta, Delchamps,
Kyle and Mitchell strongly protested
against reconsideration. Mobile had gained
friends since Friday, as the motion to re-
consider was lost by vote of SO to So.
Split Delegat on
The Montgomery delegation was split up
today on a local matter. Mr.. Graves moved
the recommittal to the judiciary committee
the bill creating the Office of register for
the city court of equity of Montgomery.
Mr. Bbb opposed the motion In very
strong speech Mr. Graves followed in ad-
vocay of his motion and argued at length
in favor of recommittal, and Mr.. Screws
also favored recommittal, but did SO out
of courtesy to the delegation, declining to
express an opinion on the merits of the bill.
Mr. Hood followed with an explanation of
the purpose of the bill and its effect, and
declared it not only unconstitutional in this
that 1t provides for the election of a clerk
of an inferior court, when the constitution
expressly provides for his appointment by
the judge; and he also argued that it was
violation of the spirit of the constitution,
which declares that an officers salary shall
neither be increased or decreased during
his term of office. He also added
$50 far as l am concerned, however, Mr..
Speaker, am perfectly willing for the bill