The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-04
SUFFRAGE ORDINANCES
Three Presented by White.
 Jenkins and Browne.
Many Members Have Been Granted Leaves of Absence-Hroposition for Commissioners to Legis-
 late for Counties.

After resting two days the delegates to the Constitutional Convention as- sembled yesterday at 12 o'clock and were in session one hour, when they adjourned until 10 o'clock this morn ing. During the session nine ordi- nances were introduced. There was no debate and the session was of little in- terest. Of the nine ordinances pre- sented three were propositions to re- form the suffrage and elections of Ala bama. They were presented respect lively by Messrs. Jenkins of Wilcox, White of Jefferson and Browne of TaIladega.
 There were but 106 members present at yesterdays session and so many leaves of absence were asked for that President Knox expressed the hope that some of the delegates would re- main in Montgomery. Later in the day when MT. Bulger of Tallapoosa, re- ouested leave of absence for one week for his colleague, MT. Sorrell, Cover nor Oates interposed an objection. He said that he thought when a leave was desired for so long a time that the Convention had a right to have some good reason for such absence. The leave had been granted before Governor Oates objected and President Knox ruled that his objection came toa late.
 MT. Carmichael of Colbert who has served a term aB Clerk of the House of Representatives, acted as Reading Clerk yesterday in the absence of Col onel Brandon. who fills that position.
 MT. Sanders Corrects Ordinance.
 Before the Convention proceeded to businesr Mir. Sanders of Limestone, asked that his ordinance relating to suffrage, heretofore introduced. be amended so as to strike out the clause that an eleetor should be required to express his belief in a Supreme Being. He said that the qualification had been inserted by mistake. and was intended to apply only to persons who had to take an oath when they held office. The correction was made.
 Under a suspension of the rules res olutions were adopted extending the privilege of the floor of the Convention to Governor Sa:nford, Congressman William Richardson of Huntsville. and Hon. Hannis Taylor of Mobile. Judge Richardson and Mfr. Taylor are visit ing the city and Governor Sanford is expected home from Tuscaloosa today.
 The first ordinance presented yester- day was submitted by MT. Pettus of Limestone, who was given the call of President Knox although later in the day resolution was introduced and referred to the Rules Committee pro- viding that after It's adoption members could not give their calls to others. The ordinance by MT. Pettus estab- fishes Courts of County Commission CTS in the counties of the State and empowers the General Assembly to confer upon these courts the right to legislate for their respective counties when in the Judgment of the General Assembly such power is deemed expe- dient.
 A resolution by MT. Heflin of Ram dolph, provides that the Committee on Executive Department is instructed to draft an ordinance to the new Consti- tuition providing that the salary of the Governor of Alabama shall never be less than 5000, and that it shall not be changed during his term of ofice
 Circuit Court Stenographer.
 Having secured the call of MT. Bare field of Monroe, Mir. Sollie of Dale in~ troduced an ordinance which provides that the Governor shall be empowered to appoint an official stenographer for each Judicial Circuit in Alabama whose term shall be the same as the Judge of the circuit. The duties, compensation and removal from office of this official aBe to be fixed and provided for by the General Assembly.
 The suffrage ordinance introduced bv MT. Jenkins of Wilcox is drafted some what after the Mississippi Constitu- tion. The elector shall be able to read any section of the constitution; or he shall be foreign born person residing here who, cannot read the English language; or he shall pay taxes on at least $500 of property; or he shall have served or be legitimate descendant of a person wo has served in wars since TS45 The General Assembly, is empow- | cred to designate such persons by name who can or cannot vote under the pro- visions of the ordinance.
 MT. Whites Suffrage Ordinance.
 Mir. White of Jefferson says his ordt- nance relating to suffrage is based on | patriotism of the people. It provides | that a qualified eleotor if he be under | 45 years of age shall have contributed | 8 to the common school fund | of the township or precinct in which | he resides. If he be over 45 years of l age he shall have paid $1 .50 to this | fund. The money is to be paid to the | Probate Judge of the county in which i the elector votes and is to be turned | over to the hSustees of the schools of | that immediate l0calky. This | money ts to be paid on or | before January 1st of the year in which the elector is to vote and if he | fails to pay the amount 1t accumulates and he must pay all of the accumulated funds before he can vote in any sub seduent election. Ia other words hc | may qualify in any succeeding year by paying on or before the first day of January of the year in which he offers to vote the sum of 8 or &1. 50 acording to his age, for each ear beginning with the year 1902.
 This qualification, however. is not .ap- plicable to any person who shall have served in the land or naval forces of the United States in any war or in the land or naval forces of