The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30

of that left What becornes of the di1< ference? <.
 MT. Fftts-The farmer is lIk4
 profligate in using It. but if you aive
 him just. enough and no excess he VIII
 struggle to live within his means. | MT. Lowe-So far from the Le2isI4<< ture squandering all the money in tzt | treasury that they could, is it no<t &
 fact that. consistently as appears bx the report the tax rate was reduced from seven and a half to four, while the tax limit was at seven and q half3 MT. Fitts-The gentleman does nof quote me correctly. I did not say tho Legislature squanders all the money in the treasury. stated that gefl- tleman had said in argument that there was a fixed law that there was noth~ ing the Legislature better delighted iu
 than to reduce the tax rate. set tp against that another fixed law which the experience of mankind certainly will show is equally as fixed. that thex6 is nothing the Legislature so deIights in as to appropriate a surplus If one there be.
 Mir Lowe-To which Legislature ift Alabama does the gentleman refer a1 appropriating extravagantly from the treasury7
 MT. Fitts-I have not said any of them. Mir. Lowe-wiIl the gentleman desix~ nate which?
 Mir. Fitts-No, sir.
 Mir. Lowe--WiH the gentleman not say the last Legislature came more clearly. within that definition or desiG5
 nation than any other in the history of Alabama?
 Mir. Fitts-I could.
 Mir. Banks-'wiIl the gentleman per& init me a question?
 Mir. Fitts-Certainly.
 Mir. Banks--Do you think a reduction of five cents in the price of cotton would affect the tax value of farmInE land in Alabama?
 Mir. Fitts-To a slight extent.
 Now I have concluded what had ip mind to say. It was simply to call at tention to the fact that I did not ex~ pect this reduction would be found 70 be possible, but when the report ofA strong committee, practically unaufs nous, calls attention to the fact that 1t is possible, think it brings about q corresponding duty to stand to ana perform the pledge given to the people and what they expected us to do If we found it possible They were willing ' to leave that to our judgment. and X think. after hearing the committee, we I have found 1t possible. With our fee& < guided by the lamp of experience, with better times on hand, with vast pros< perity before us, with Alabama marcifsf ing forward and onward and upwarag with It's courage pure, with It's hope high, with it's valuations of property i'm creasing, and with continuing prospef< lty on all sides, think we can safely set the limit as fixed by the committees and I hope this House will vote to dN so.
 MT. weakIey Q.auderdale)--It is with a great deal of diffidence that underw take to address this Convention after listening to the farmer from Tusca% loosa.
 MT. Fitts-well, am one.
 MT. Weakley--I desire not to detatn this Convention with an attempt ar oratory, but do desire to say that iM fixing the limit upon the rate or state taxation at S5 cents, that this Conven~ ton, in my opinion. is doing verNs dangerous thing. In listening to tnisN debate, I am reminded of 8 story once read in the school book, where ee certain English nobleman gave notice of the fact that he desired to employ q coachnan, and upon q certain day tne annIicants for this position appeafeuF hefore Tim, and he asked each one the question: If you were my coachmap. and in my travels 1t was necessary to drive along a dangerous preciplces nov close could you drive to nhe eose M ss 0ne man said. could drive within sl% inches. another man said that he coul9 drive within ten feet; still another sal9 that he would drive away as lar ap nossibIe The last man was empioysn. if seems to me, gentlemen, tn1s en chairman of the Committee on tinr is trying to drive the State or Ala
 -A~ fnnh n A ard for one will refuse to be drNeh bv him. The gentleman from Tusca- ioosa MT. Fitts) has held the nasn and honorable position of Attorhex~ General of the State, and in his rep.s Sentative capacity had much to go WltA engineering the state or AiADan.@ . through a period of business oepressaoe a,ase and he tells you how they cut I1,s. sils sses. according to the cloth. he teNs Su~ that inc best evidence of the desirapli~ itv os d state bond is a limitation upon tLe rate of State taxation, ana I sAyN to ,ou gentlemen, and claim 70 hAVs haS somc experience in such matterh myself. that there Is only one lnln& that detracts from the value or S.aes' :. or municipal bond and that ls'a m itation upon the power of the peopie +o nav thai bond. This morning when inc roll of Committees was called loE9 renorta. 1t was announced that tne Committee on Suffrage was ready toa renort and immediately there was q hush over this hall. It appears that some of the members think that the 1uestion of franchise in this state ts inc most important in 1t. but l say. gentlemen. disguise 1t as you wiil' tnaL the most important matter before Lhla Convention is the matter of taxatlohs Do whatever we may with the sunrase and other questions, the question ot the ratifcation of the Consultation when we are to make is going to be decided upon how we deal with the matter or taxation, and the States finances. The greatest thing that this Convention nss to deal with Is the State debt, So'VVV'-f 900 or more falling due in 1906.
 MT. Rogers (Sumter)-Will the gen. tIeman permit me to ask him guess ton?
 MT. Weakley-Certainly.
 Mir. Rogers-You said sometning about the tax rate having a great oeal to do-do you think they would retuse to ratify the Constitution if we reduce the tax rate to six and hau mllls9
 Mr. Weakley-I say in answer to tnah proposition. that no Constitution de~ serves the support of the people or Alabama which will endanger the credit of the State, and say that any Constitution which cOmpels me as citizen of this State to become party to repudiation and default of the State