The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-18
CONVENTION
 NEARING END The Article on Militia
 Was Adopted. CORPORATIONS ARTICLE Legislature Instructed to Re- duce Fertilizer Tax. Body May Take Recess of Ten Days to Give Harmony Committee
 Time to Perfect Its

Tn. delegates to the Constitutional Convention are nearing the end or their iabors. The Article on Militia was completed yesterday and eight sections of the Article on Corporations were adopted before the Convention adjourn ed until Monday at 12 o'clock. For the first Saturday in many weeks the Coh- vention held an afternoon session. Ihe delegates had high hopes that the Ar ticle on Corporations would be com pleted yesterday afternoon. but amend ments shattered these hopes.
 The railroad pass section ana the Railroad Commission Section of the Article on Corporations are yet 10 DC considered, but 1t is believed that the Article will be completed Tuesday or "Wednesday. Then it is believed the hodv will take a recess of ten days to give the Committee on Harmony Niiie to finish it's work.
 The chief subject of discussion yes terday was the Section of the Article on Militia which provided tnat oniy white men were eligible for enlistment in the State militia. The Section was finally amended so as to leave the mat ter to the Legislature. and as amenoeo Proceedings of Convention.
 The Convention met at 9 o'clock yes terday morning with 106 delegates pres ent.
 Captain White, Chairman of the Com n,ittee on Harmony of the Constitution, reported that the work of his Commit tee was being delayed by the contract ing printer and the Convention passed a resolution inStructing the Commlptee on Printing to cancel the contract with the printer and give it to another print ing concern.
 The Committee on Amending the Con- stitution reported favorably resolu- tion declaring it to be the sense or the Convention that the Legislature shoulo reduce the fertilizer tag tax to the ac- tual cost of inspection of fertilizers. This resolution precipitated consider able discussion, but 1t was finally adopt ed by a vote of 7S to 27.
 MT. Murphree of Pike, introduced ar ordinance directing the Legislature 10 give preference to appropriations for Confederate soldiers and their widows. The Convention took up the resolu- ton of MT. Beddow of Jefferson, which had been reported without recommen- dation. It provides TOT placing the label of the Typographical Union on all printing of the Convention.
 The resolution was discussed by Messrs. Beddow, Banks of Russell, and Judge Coleman. It was defeated by a decisive vote.
 The order of business was the Arti- cle on Militia and the Chairman Of the Committee. MT. Wilson of Clarke. ex- plained its provisions. He said the only two changes in the Article was provision for a naval militia and ex- clusion of negroes from enlistment Tn the State militia.
 The first section, which excludes ne kroes from enlistment. was read and Governor Jones offered an amendment to strike out the word white. He said it was a violation of the Federal Constitution. He said there was but one negro company in Alabama and 1t was not obnoxious The adoption Of the section would cause Alabama to lose part of the Federal appropriation for the National Guard.
 MT. Sanders of Limestone. supported the majority report. He said the peo- pie of Alabama did not care snap about losing the appropriation.
 Governor Oates spoke in support Of the Jones amendment and MT. Burns of Dallas. spoke in favor of permitting the legislature to regulate the matter.
 MT. Spra ggins of Madison, spoke for the Committee report and Judge Cole man sent up an amen1m ant authoriz- ing the legislature to provide by law for enlistment in the militia.
 MT ,Ashcraft of Lauderdale and Mir. O'Neal of Lauderdale spoke for the Coleman amendment.
 Governor Jones made splendid speech in closing the debate and &C., cented the Coleman amendment which was adopted
 The amended Section 1 was then adopted.
 The other eight sections of the article on militia were adopted without divi- sion and on motion of MT. Wilson of Clarke the article was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.
 The article on corporations was then taken up and the chairman of the com mittee General Harrison of Lee. ex- plained it's provisions.
 Section 1. which prescribes the mar ner bv which the Legislature may ere ate c1rporatians caused considerate de- bate, hut was finally adopted practical ly as reported by the committee.
 Section provides that all grants ar special privileges under which bona fide organization shall not have taken place within one year after the fatfi- ration of the new Constitution shall te void It was pending when the Con vention at 1 o'clock took recess until