The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-22
Mr.. CUNNINGHAM
ON COMMISSIONERS
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81, OO0-ncluding what the examiner says
they steal. Now that is reformation. This
commissioners court did not have capacity
to discharge this work, and the present
general assembly is providing road COM
mission at cost of Sc, 500, and there is an
other bill In the house-has not yet reached
the senate-for a jury commission, also TO be
appointed by the governor. If the thing
keeps q coming, Mr.. President, l sincerely
hope that we will still have left us in JEFF
ferson county the privilege of breathing air,
drinking water winding our watches, dying
In peace and paying taxes.
Mr.. President, If this bill is adopted,
and the honest, conscientious convictions
that have weigh as nothing in the hearts
and minds of these senator's, let it be said
here and hereafter, that the senator from
Jefferson did not desert his people for cause
of policy. of prejudice, of sentiment or OF
selfishness or of the dictation of any man
or for the purpose of creating a political
ring.
Sir, when the politics of Alabama go to
the extent that l can only hold office
through power then let me go without Of
fee. The senate of Alabama this morning
deprived me of the opportunity to arrange
my remarks, and l have made them dis
connectedly, for which I apologize to the
senate. I shall act the gentleman in this
relations.
shall try to keep cool and to go slow,
and to be calm, but when am denied upon
this floor, Mr.. President, the right to speak
for my pople-I mean authority to speak,
and to be accounted something and to get
something-when 1 am overrun and defeat
ed in an honest, conscientious effort to
secure for my people what other senators
are accorded on this floor; when 1 stand
here to contend that the man who pays the
taxes should elect the appraiser; when l
stand here to contend that local self-gov-
eminent is unit of democratic faith and
government; when 1 stand here to con-
tend for the honor of the people of Jeffer-
son county; when l stand here for fairness
and for justice for these commissioners to
their wives and to their children when |
stand her and go down in defeat, contend
ing that these men should be confronted
with the testimony offered against them,
and given opportunity to answer; when I
stand to go down for justice, let me go, but
wrap me In the banner of democracy, and
over my defeat raise the flag of my coun-
try, and let it be known that did not fear
to do my duty, notwithstanding the circum-
stances.
On the amendment providing for election
of members of board In May, 1899, Mr.. Cum
bingham said:
have not heard any argument here to-
day upon the floor of the senate other than
that the single purpose upon the part of
the senator's who support this bill is to rid
Jefferson county and the state of Alabama
of an inefficient and corrupt board of coun-
ty commissioners. and while the motion
TO Indefinitely postpone would not be with
drawn until the senator from Walker
(SowelD could read from the code of the
state and of Jefferson county, to show the
authority upon which these men acted thus
to show that the senate of Alabama was
willing to gag and throttle the minority on
this floor in presenting their case, with
out hearing the evidence, convinces me-
Mr.. President that argument would be
futile, that nothing that could say or that
anybody else could say. would change The
minds of the senators upon tiiis question
L therefore take 1t for granted, Mr.. Presi-
dent, that this bill will pass the senate.
now desire to know if there are other mo-
tives upon the part of senators than to get
rid of a so-called corrupt and inefficient
commissioners court.
II that is the purpose and the whole pur-
pose, and If you say that this is an incom-
petent court. and you do try the case and
as l said without bearing all the evidence,
then you cannot vote against the amend
ment. IF you vote down this amendment
Mr.. President. 1t is notice to the people of
Alabama e and to the people of Jefferson
county, that there is another purpose in this
bill than that of Kidding Jefferson county
and the state of Alabama of this commits
sioners court I cannot interpret the mo-
tives of senators nor do care to do So
nor is it my intention to do So but I de-
sire the senate of Alabama to go on record
upon this question. Mr.. President. to de-
feat this amendment to my mind reveals
cat in meal tub, 1t reveals niger in
the wood-pile, somewhere.
1t would appear to me that the defeat of
this amendment would mean that there are
two purposes to the enactment of this
-. -lf..t.
court; and. second, a board to be appoint
ed by the governor instead of elected by
the people; 1t Is notice to the people of
Jefferson county that you will not trust
them in such matters II you defeat this
measure; 1t is notice to the people of JEFF
ferson county that you must have some
higher power to exercise itself over their
local affairs; 1t Is notice to the people of
Jefferson county that you cannot trust
them in the assessment and appraisement
of their taxes; it is notice to the people
of Jefferson county that you, representing
the sovereign counties of the state, exer-
else a right to control them in the expendi-
ture Of their own money; that they dare
not contribute money to the relief of pow
erty and distress in the Mercy Home and
Billman hospital; that they dare not ap-
propriate money to a great commercial Or
ganization, whose hope is to bring capital
and labor to the county. These, believe,
commissioners that Is not expressly au-
thorized in the special statues for Jefferson
county. and of the state.
Let me say here that what the senator
from Montgomery (Wiley) said would make
the impression that this code was written
by the people of Jefferson county. Certain
ly the senate understands that the code is
q codification OF the special laws for JEFF
ferson county, and which the senator from
Walker lSowelD has shown that the COM
missioners' court have right to do. By
motion to indefinitely postpone tests the
merits of this question directly as to the
commissioners court.
1 desire as a representative of the peo-
ole of Jefferson county to authorize them
to elect their successors of the court that
you have voted, or will by legislative ac-
ton deprive of an office to which the peo-
pie have elected them. l simply ask the
right of free men; simply ask the privi-
eye of an American citizen. l am asking
for nothing that would not give any SEN
ator upon this floor. Are We to be disfran-
chised? Are we to be governed wholly by
officers, except the constitutional officers