The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-19

come Governor. If both the 49vernor and Lieutenant Governor are removed from office. die. or resign. prior to the next general election, thereafters for members of the General Assembly. the Governor and Liehtenant Governor shall be elected at such election for the unexpired term. In case of the in- peachment of the Governor. his sb-
 sence from the State. unsoundness Of
 mind. or other disability, the power
 and authority of the office shall de-
 volve. in the order herein named, upon
 the Lieutenant Governor, President pro
 tenn of the Senate, Speaker of the
 General. State Auditor, Secretary of
 State and State Treasurer; if any of
 these officers be under any of the dis
 abilities herein specified, the off1ce of
 Governor shall be adIninistered In the
 order named by these officers free from
 such disability until the Governor Is
 acquitted, returns to the State. or fs
 restored to his mind. or relieved from
 other disability. If the Governor 2h&lI
 days. the Secretary of State shall nvti-
 fy the Lieutenant Governor, who shall
 enter upon the duties of Governor. iE both the Governor and Lieutenant Gov-
 ernor shall be absent from the State
 over twenty days, the Secretary Of
 State shall notify the President pro
 tenn of the Senate. who shall enter up-
 on the duties of the Governor. and go
 on, in case of such absence, he shau
 notify each of the other officers named
 in their order. who shall discharge the
 duties of Governor, until the Governor
 or other officers entitled to administer the office in succession to the Governor,
 returns. If the Governor-eiect fails or
 refuses from any cause to qualify, the Lieutenant Governor-elect shall qualify, and exercise the duties of the Cover nor's office until the Governor-eHct qualities; and in event both the Cover nor-elect and Lieutenant Governor elect. from any cause. fail to qualify. the President pro tenn of the Senate. the Speaker of the House of Repreeen- tatives. the Attorney General. State Auditor. Secretary of State, and State Treasurer shall in like manner. in the order named. administer the g0vern- ment until the Governor or Lieutenant Governor-eiect qualities.
 In the reading 1t was disclosed that the word Governor" was omitted af- ter the word :.Lieutenant" in one place and 1t was inserted by consent and ap- pears in the copy as above printed.
 MT. Jones-I have an amendment and when the clerk reads 1t, I wish to ex- plain it to the House.
 The dfuen0fHGnt N6B IGAQ A8 A8AauW8s Amend Section 15 in the third line by striking out the word thereafter and substituting in lieu thereof the. words after their election"
 Mir. Jones (Montgomeryl-Thfs Is inc serted to make better grammar. In the dictation we used the word sshere- after instead of after their election.
 A vote being taken the amendmert was carried.
 MT. Williams tBarbour)-I have an
 MT. Jones-I had not yielded the floor. want to explain the section.
 The President--Has the gentleman any amendment to propose?
 Mir. Jones (Montgomery)--I want to explain simply.
 The Presidsnt--Does the gentleman from Barbour withdraw his amsnd- ment?
 MT. Williams CBarbour) -Temporari- iy. s4
 Mir. Jones (Montgomery)--I win state to the Convention that the Committee this with very great care. We did not attempt to shorten this section because we have had an ex- ample very lately of the results of too. much brevity In dealing with things that may be obscure. So the Commit. tee took up first. the removal. death or resignation of the Governor and said who should succeed him. Then they provide if both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor are removed from office, die or resign prior to the next general election after their election Tor members of the General Assembly the Governor and Lieutenant Governor shall be elected for the unexplred term. Then the Committee provided as in the old Constitution for the cases of disa- bilIty, unsoundness of mind, and ab- sence from the State and added the three other officers named in addition to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House. Then they take up the question of absence and who shall administer the otiice in that event. Then they provide in so many words for the contingency of the Gov failing or refusing to qual- fly and for a failure or refusal Of the Governor to qualify and we hope we have made the Article so plain that it will meet the approval of the Now I yield the floor to the delegate from Barbour who with drew his amendment to allow me to make my explanation.
 Mir Williams (Barbour)--I offer an 
 The amendment was read as follows:
 Amend Section IS by inserting after the words 'unexpired term in the fifh line. the following sentence: And in the event of a vacancy in the onice caused by the removal from ofhces death or resignation of the Governor or Lieutenant Governor, pending such vacancy. and until their successors shall be elected and qualified, the qf- lice of Governor shall be held and ad- ministered by either the President pro lem of the Senate. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Attorney General. Auditor, Secretary of State and Treasurer. and in the order herein nPmed. - - ,ose of that Is to prevent an inter- -exnum. I think if the gentleman will cad their Section that they will see lnder their Section there Is a possi- 1ility of an interregnum. "Ip casa or he Governors removal from office, ieath. or resignation, the Lieutenant- Governor shall become Governor" Now hat Is straight. 'If both the Governor md the rIAieutenant-Governo are re- moved from offlce. die, or resign. prior o the next general election, thereafter, Or members of the General Assembly. he Governor and Lieutenant-Gov jhall be elected at such general cleo ion for the unexpired term" If they Ire both out there is the vacancy. This section simply looks to an election for heir Successors, but that may be welve or eighteen months off. Now here are three situations in which the ,ther officers of the State are called lpon to take the Executive chalr, and leither one of those situations Is the ,na thnf Ia named Tn fhe first mart Of