The age-herald., 1901-06-03

of affection"
 ton who are opposed to the creation of the coffee of lieutenant governor, or rather to the restriction of his duties as set out in the ordinance considered by the com mittee on executive department They argue that the lieutenant governor per- l form the duties now required of the gov l ernors private secretary. It does not seem that this Idea is sufficiently strong to carry in convention.
 Hard Worked Committee. Up to date it seems that the committee on executive department is to be one Of the hardest worked of the convention. Many of the delegates are presenting pet schemes for some sort of change in the executive department and the convention is to be congratulated that the committee has at its head an experienced man of masterly mind and safe judgment-Former Governor Thomas G. Jones.
 The judiciary is another committee coming in for full measure of work. It seems that half of the delegates have presented some ordinance for some change
 
 Among the more important of these was the ordinance of MT. Graham of Tal- ladega providing for the election of cir cult solicitors by the people, fixing the term of office at four years and making them ineligible to a second term. This ordinance has caused a bit of stir among the solicitors in the State, and several of them have been here during the week to look after their interests.
 It Is needless to add just here that the solicitors are opposed to the plan submit ten by MT. Graham and they have offered some very good reasons for their objec- tions. The present plan of selecting the solicitors by the General Assembly was put in the original constitution of the State, adopted in 1s19. and each of the five succeeding conventions has re-adopted it.
 General Oates has several schemes for revising the judicial system of the State, the more important of which is to abolish the Chancery Courts. This suggestion will probably muster stronger following that the plan to change the manner of selecting solicitors, but it seems doubt full if it can muster sufficient strength to get favorable report. The five Chan cellors and sixty-six registrars of the State are using their influence against the measure. Indeed 1t seems that the entire judiciary of the State has com bined for the purpose of preventing any material change in the present system.
 Probate udges.
 The probate judges have feared that their powers as ex-officio judges of the county courts would be removed and there has been a lobby here representing their interests
 MT. Watts of Montg tgomery wants the number of Supreme Court judges reduced to three, and another delegate desires to have the salary of the justices of the Supreme Court increased to $5o00 per year.
 It does not seem probable that the ju- dicial system of the State will be serious ly tampered with.
 The convention is ranking with ses- sion of the General Assembly in it's in productive state. To date more than 200 ordinances have been presented, and there are almost as many resolutions. Many of these refer to the suffrage. and not a few delegates have presented almost iden- tical plans The suffrage committee has taken up it's work, and is holding daily sessions at 9 o'clock.
 There has so far been little radical anti corporation sentiment in the convention. and consequently the lobby is not crowd ed with the corporation lobbyists as is the case during the usual sessions of the General Assembly. There have been some ordinances looking to the selection of the railroad commissioners by the neopIe and fncrea sing their poWers and others preventing office holders from using railroad passes. There is pro- vision Tn the present constitution against the use of passes. but no penalty Is at- tached. and 1t Is therefore not enforced. These are popular ideas with the con servative delegates, and it may be that in future members of the General Assem- ly and other officials will have to pay out the cash when they make trips to and from the capital.