The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-15
Outline of Amendments to the
 Present Article.
Convention Refuses to Increase the Salary of the Governor Despite the Earnest Speeches of
 Jones and Oates.

The special train returned at 1:30 yesterday afternoon from Opelika, where many members of the Constitu- tional Convention had gone to attend Governor Samofrd's funeral.
 The Convention assembled at 2:30 o'clock and spent the rest of the after noon iE hard work. as the detailed proceedings will show.
 The first important feature of the proceedings was the report of the Com mittee on Taxation. It recommends among many material amendments that the general tax limit be reduced from three-quarters of l per cent. to sixty eight one-hundredths of 1 per cent. which is 6S cents on the $100 for State purposes.
 In view of the fact that the Demo- cratic Party pledged itself in the plat form not to disturb the tax limit and that the act providing for the call did the same thing, the people are put on notice that not only the Democrats in the Convention are determined to keep the Party pledges. but the Convention itself will keep the pledge.
 Mir. Browne of Talladega, submit ted the report of the Committee, and the changes in the article on taxation are as follows:
 Section l has been so amended as to exclude from taxation debts for the rent or hire of real or personal prop erty for the current year of rental or hire, in the hands of the landlord or hirer, when the real or personal Srop- erty is assessed for taxation at its full value. W ,...,,. ...s, ,. Section has been amended so as to authorize the Go oHernor to negotiate temporary loans, not to exceed $500 900. whereas under the Constitution of 1875, such loans are limited to $lO0,0OO, and so as to provide for refunding the bonded indebtedness of the state.
 Section 4 Is amended by limiting the amount of State tax to 65-100 of 1 per centum, instead of 5-4 of per centum. Section is amended so as to provide for the construction and maintenance of public roads by special taxation. as is now provided for public buildings and bridges, but all of such special tax is limited to one-fourth of one per centum, whereas the special tax for such buildings and bridges is now without Constitutional limitation. This section is further so amended as to pro- vide that counties may levy and col lect such special taxes as may be au- thorized by law for public schools, pro- Vided that the extent of such tax. the time it is to be continued. and the pur- pose thereof shall be first submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the county who are property tax payers, and voted for by majority in num- bers. and in taxable value of property, voting at such election; provided, also. that no such tax shall increase to the total amount of taxation for all State and county purposes, except public buildings, roads and bridges, to great ex rate than $1.25 on every $100 of tax able property. This public school fund is provided to be equitably appropriat- ed and paid to the several public schools in the county by the Commis- sioners Court or Boards of Revenue thereof
 Section has been amended by strik- ing out the words 'or enterprises"
 Section has been amended so as to provide for the levy and collection by cities and towns of a special school tax under similar restrictions to those with
 
 counties. providing the rate for all State, county and city purposes shall not exceed $1.75 on the $100 of taxable property. This fund is to be appro- priated equitably among and paid to the public schools of the ,rity or town by the corporate authorities thereof.
 Section has beer entirely omitted An additional section (as Section 9) is recommended. limiting the indebted ness of counties to 5 per centum of the taxable value of the property thereof, hut providing it shall not apply to indebtedness in excess of such 5 per centum which has been already created or authorized by law to be created.
 A second additional section (as Sec tion 1W is recommended limiting the 0ndebte iness of cities and towns to ner centum of the taxable value of the property, but allowing an additional 2 per centum indebtedness for water works. gas and electric light plants, and sanitary sewerage. It is further provided that such limitation shall not apply to indebtedness in excess of such 5 per centum already created or au- thoriZed by law to be created.
 The important discussion of the day was upon Che further consideration of the report of the Committee on Exec utive Department. Several sections were disposed of.
 The first issue made was upon that part If Section of the report which prohibits the Governor from running for any office during the term for which he is elected and for one year the&- after. Governor Jones for the Com mittee made a strong appeal for th9 restriction. MT. deGraffenreid led the opposition, supporting an amendment leaving out that restriction. After con siderable parliamentary play. the a- Dndment prevailed by the narrow ate of 59 to 56.
 & Section of the report was adopted without any division.
 section developed another hard fought battle The majority report