The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-03

earnishment Is going to get paid or Is going to levy on the negro's chickens or his cow-is it a fact that they are not going up there to pay the dollar ana d half before the first day of Feb r,iary, and enfranchise themselves! I, therefore, move the previous question on the section and the pending amend ment. and. MT. President, when the pre- vfous question is ordered, I shall move to table the substitute of the gentleman from Mobile.
 Mir. Sanford CPike)-Let me say to the gentleman from Dallas that there are some of us who want to get an amendment in there, and I appeal to him to withdraw his motion.
 MT. Reese-I am the last man on the floor to gag anybody. but I move to table the amendment of the gentleman from Mobile.
 Mir. Burns-I shall ask my colleague from Dallas to desist a few moments. and let the motion for the previous question come from the committee.
 The President pro tem-The question is upon the adoption of the motion of 2 the gentleman from Dallas to table the amendment offered by the gentleman from Mobile.
 OpOn d NUte DSluS ldhSI, tuC uiOllOi to table prevailed.
 Mir. Browne-I desire to offer an amendment to the amendment report ed by the Committee.
 The amendment was read as follows:
 Amend Committees substitute as follows: Strike out the words over the age of 21 years and under the age of 60 years, who would not now be ex- empt by law: provided, that those male 4.--r. reach the ege of 45 yeats on or be- fore the first day of January, 1908, shall not thereafter be required to pay a poll tax and insert in lieu thereof between the ages prescribed by law, and who would not now be exempted by law"
 Mir. Browne--The effect of that amendment would be simply to leave it to the Legislature. if in future it might become necessary to raise the limit from the existing age of forty five years to sixty years. We contend that 1t is not necessary, even to in sure the supremacy of the white peo- pie in the Black Belt, to raise the age to sixty. We may be right or we may be wrong. If we are wrong and under the plan reported by the Committee too many colored men register, the next Legislature could raise the limit from 46 to 60 years. .4..- .--y
 It does away with class legislation. It does away with allowing men who are 45 years of age on January 1st, 1903. the privilege of being exempt from paying the poll tax. It does away with that pernicious class legislation which is reported by the Committee allow ing certain persons over 45 years of age to be exempt and yet have the right to vote, and prescribing that A ~A- less they pay a poll tax, and at the same time it gives the Black Belt all the protection it reqslires. If the col pred people register under the property qualification and under the educational qualification. the next Legislature can then raise the limit to 50 years, if it be necessary, and take away from those persons the right to vote. without pay ing the poll tax. It simply changes it from over the age of Fl and under the age of 50, so that it will be be- tween. The ages prescribed by law are now over 21 and under 45. They will remain so until changed by the Legis- lature, and the Legislature can change it. if 1t be necessary. and it is unwise for this Convention to change it when it is, not known to be necessary. l am as certain as I could be of anything. that do not have positive knowledge or that that VIII nave tAc effect of making at least 20.e00 white vot- CTS in North Alabama vote against the ratification of this Constitution. When a man of my age goes upon the stump and tells those hill people that 1t is patriotic for you to come up and pay a dollar and half extra poll tax which, under the present law, you would not be required to pay for the next fifteen years, or while you are between the ages of 45 and 60 years they will ask me: MT. Browne, how old are you?" and when I tell them that am 46 years of age, they will ask me If it was patriotic to put it on us to pay this tax during these years, why in the name of heaven did you except yourself; why didn't you fix it so you would also have to pay?" I move the previous questions. Expressions oi dissenD.
 Mir. O'Neal-I want to discuss his amendment. Will the gentleman not withdraw his motion for a minute?
 MT. Waddell--I move we adjourn.
 The Convention thereupon adjourned until 3:30 o'clock.