The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-30

ao,e them by the construction or opers- ton of public utiiitfss. Cuss sne oco scMs '.rs stS poPolsiSst snt fS. G5 H5 Tst e to use sgs1 snd n',f,9e piaces for water CT gas works. EEisphcne E and telegraph hne:, s,t slsctrfc fight or powsr Pssts P5ssro.Ss ss s. ee other public ptiiity except railroads other than street rsiiroads; for a longer period than thirty wars Ranks and Banking.
 Ranks shall be established under gen- .res hankinE laws, and may .issue biiis to circulate as money, equal m e9ount sc the face value of bonds of ths state 9r the United States convertible into pS speSeie regulations specified with the state Tress- urer These banks must cease operaAoNe within twenty years and close Ss epsinnsss. islature is required to provide for the ex- Animation by public oflicer of bank ing institutions and trust comganes or individuals n the Senalss nf renert by them under oath. at.least twice ayeaI. of their resources and liabilities.
 Impeachments. s%s- -,
 The provisions of the existing Conet- tuition have been changed t9 o1yiats the "habituai drunkenness" so as to cover intemperance in the use of liquors CT nar- cotics, md to measure the onense ln view DC oortance tan ef' its. duties. sheri6s have been added to the officers who may De. i'm, peached before fhe Supreme. Court and and tect tee prisoners from mob violence, Is made an iinpeachabie offense. Provision has been made when the Legislature Is not q Hoss ssssSn se far sns
 Rpeashsehf% she oses of % aoyeppsor asoy p and for con: vening the Senate to try astic1lsss art 1so,,.e or If the Governor or Liailtcnant-G Governor be impeached. the Chief Justice. or In event Of hts a6ssEce or S,sapnsSSstisSn nH aSs sp preme Court, presides. . .-
 Representation =.
 The basis of represe tation remains the same as under the existing Constituuoa. but to permit fairer representatlon amons the counties, the House 0l hsrs Ee pfssSsti anS the
 Exemptions.
 No change has been made in this Ar ''e'e' Militia. t'1
 No chances of importance have been ..... Private Corporations,
 The material changes in this respect are that private corporations can no longer be chartered by special act. The Les1sia- ture is required to provide Tor the pay- and when levied on foreign corporations 1t must be in proportion to the amount of the capital stock employed here, save as to ious corporations The rights of cttiZens whose property has been taken under tn" power of eminent domain are secured fur. tfer than in the present Oonstitution' y explicitly requiring In eases Of appeal tfe payment of the judgment in money in.o court, and the giving of bond in double the amount of the damages with sureues'
 Railroads and Canals.
 The power to regulate freight and pas senger trafic, the building Of ,depots; pre- venting unjust discriminatiop and abuses and requiring reasonable charges of rates of freight and passengers Is conferred m more explicit language than in the exist
 Railroads and transportation companies are forbidden to give free passes or to sell tickets at less discount other than as sold to the public generally to members or the Legislature, or to any ofncer exercis. ing Judicial functions under the laws Of this State, and stringent provision is made companies are forbidden to pay 2 rebate directly or indirectly, or to aid in any act misleading the public as to the req! rates, and the Legislature Is required tp enforce the prohibition by suitable penal ties. '"N
 Protecting the Public, Credit,
 Specific authority is given the Governor to refund the State debt, and 1t Is declar- ed in substance that the appropriations the State from using any moneys in the treasury. if necessary. to protect the pub lie faith. With these provisions. renew stitutlon there is no doubt of the speedy refunding of the State debt at . much lower rate of interest, which will save many thousand dollars per anpum to the taxpayers and many times the cost of the Convention. -t- '-t' ..
 < Amending the Constitution. In this respect, the new instrument is vastly superior to the old. Three-ffths of all the members of each house. instead of twO-thirds, may propose amendments. The people, instead of waiting until the next general election for representatives, may vote upon amendments at the next general election after the session at which atnend fnents are proposed, or at a special election. fixed by the Legislature not less than ninety days after the final adjourn ment of that session. A majority of the votes cast upon the amendment will de- termine the result, instead of requiring, | as under the existing Constitution. that this majority requisite to adopt be alSo a majority of those voting at the general election. s' The excitement attending general elec- l tions for officials usnally prevents fair consideration of amendments, and most | frequently causes the failure of even the l wisest measures, for lack of interest in them at the time they are voted on. In
 
 | not be unduly delayed In moulding their | organic law to their wishes nor be com | pelled to consider amendments amidst the heat and partisanship of political campaigns :.--t
 Review of the Changes. .>- Frank study of the new instrument will | convince you that 1t is pervaded by an earnest purpose to subserVe the highest and best interests of the State. State | taxes have been lowered. The power of | counties, cities and towns to contract debts has been curbed, and the citizen ie better protected against unjust assess ment for paving, streets and sewers. The | public schools have been fostered. and | larger and more certain appropriations 1 provided. The people have been relieved | necessary elections and saved from the | veXation and uncertainty Of too frequent changes in the law or the ap- | favoritism of local and private Legislation has been stricken down, leaving the law making power free to devo,e its energies entirely to matteFs of general concern. General laws secure local and private in- terests. and save the citigen from the necessity of leaving home, and the cost delay and modification of supplicating the Legislature for special or local inter osts.. The goyernmeut has been brought within more direct control of the people. Vacancies in executive and judicial offices can be filled only temporarily by the ap- pointing power " while herstefGte the the term. Circuit Solicitors are to be | chosen by the people The voters in counl | ties, cities and towns are themselves tn determine the mourning of permanent 'Ip- shall be removed. Supervision is extsad3 @ | cd over individuals and corporations enr gagged in the bu' mess of banking. The judicial system has been so ulolded as to power given to abolish or onsoltdate