The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-20

fore had in Alabama of free thought, of free speech. and free political acton. and when we get that, who of you are so wise as to predict that the day is not distant when some other political party than the Democratic may have some control of the affairs of our State? I am not saying it is to be deprecated by any means. for~ff that time comes. 1t will be an evidence that we have got another or other political parties In Alabama which are respec- table besides the Democratic. Now, MT. President. let me see if can make good the assertion that advanced a moment ago and which leads me to make the proposition that do before the House to strike out the whole of this Section q. If you strike out from that Section duty that is imposed upon the Governor and the Auditor and and the power which .s given to these officials, then you will leave them to the Constitution soTething which Is work of superorgation merely. You put in something which the. Legisla- ture already possesses and therefore utterly unnecessary. Hence, MT. Presi- dent the whole argument turns upon the proposition of excluding from this pro vision or leaving within it the power which is conferred here upomdhe Goy- ernor or upon the Auditor to make an estimate for tho Legislaturesand tfiat is the reason am opposed to the amendment cf my good friend from Greene. Otherwise, 1t would be all right except for the reason that have given of putting something unneces- sary in the Consultation, but as. long as you leave there the pow CT in the Governor-----and in tho Auditor to make these es- inmates for the Legislature. you give to them a dangerous prerogative. Now, there Is no sort of question in my depreciation of the gentleman from Greene of this provision Leave 1t as 1t comes from the Committee, and you make 1t absolutely impossible for the Legislature of the State of Alabama to appropriate money that is already in t!.e State Treasury for general pur- poses. The surplus that comes from year to year from general appropria- tions and which goes Into the Treas ury as a part of the State revenue, cannot be touched under this provision as it comes from the Committee for general purposes and there can be in my mind at least no doubt of that fact. The gentleman from Greene In that re- gard is eminently correct, but I repeat the viciousness lies in the fact that he does not go far enough and strike down this dangerous power that is to be given to the Governor and the Audi tor. say it it dangerous and I em- phasized it. I do not know how to be understood. but I make use of that term that I expect the devil is to be to pay in ou. institutions whether we drop it or not. I do not mean that you tear down the Capitol and the pillars of the republic and all that sore of thing. We are going to live and flourish and be people and self governing people, notwithstanding the grievous mistakes of this Constitution al Convention, but we are sensible peo- pie. Now look at 1t in 8 sensible and common-sense way. Suppose the time comes when you have in the Executive Chair a Republican Governor. Sup pose the time comes when you have a Republican Auditor and a Democratic General Asse mbly. Then what Is your condition. Under this provision as 1t Is now framed, during any regular ses- sion of the Legislature the aggregate appropria tions made shall not exceed in amount the incomes from the reve- nues of the State for the current fiscal year-that is not alias estimated by the Governor and Auditor. This Re publican Governor and his Republican Auditor are about to step down and out. A Demecartic Governor and a Demo- cratic Auditor are about to succeed him. You have a Democratic General Assembly, or vice versa, then what? This Governor and this Auditor will make 1t absolutely impossible If they arc vicious enough to use their power Co. kA ARR nt.e, xG he CAaf 10 of Alabama to be conducted. They make the estimate and propose these estimates to the General Assembly. The General Assembly cannot change them although 1t knows as matter of fact they are viciously, improperly and wrongfully made. Not single dollar that we appropriated out of the State Treasury for general purposes except to the amount estimated for by these two hostile officers and therefore they absolutely tie the hands of the Legis- lature so this body that comes from the people and represents the interests of the people, the body that Is nearer in touch with the people than any oth- CT, cannot make an appropriation for the ordinary general expenses of the State of Alabama. That is the condi- ton that you are placed in. Now, Mir.
 
 ment, but want to saS my proposl- ton is to strike out the whole of it., partly for the reason I have given, but mainly for the fact that we can and ought to trust the General Assembly of the State of Alabama in managing the affairs of the State. Why, sir, the very foundation of our government is trust in the people, confidence in the people, the integrity and wisdom of tho people, and you say that from time to time there will be brought here mem- bers of the Legislature who are not to be trusted, who sell out. who can be influenced by this state of affairs and that, or by this influence and that, you make a direct attack upon the wisdom and the intelligence and the honesty of the people themselves. For these reasons. Mir. President, I believe the whole Section ought to be stricken out of this report.
 Mir. Kirkland-I call for the previous question
 Mir. Harrison requested MT. Kirkland to yield. The gentleman declined.
 IMr. Coleman CGreene)-It is my sub stitute. I believe that I have the right to close the argument. It was recon sidered and I offered the amendment, and they cannot cut me off.
 The President--The previous question Is asked on the original Section and the amendment.
 Mir. Coleman-That authorizes me to close the argument?
 The Presldent-That authorizes the Chairman of the Committee.
 MT. Oates-In this matter the Chair