The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-10
AN IMPORTANT ORDNANCE
Mir. Bedd0w Seeks to Abolish
 Leasing of C0nvlctS.
Some Debate on Local Dispensaries in Alabama-Union Printers are Seeking Recognition by
 the Convention. <.s

Local legislation engaged the atten- ton of the Constitutional Convention, yesterday and the question of restrict ing the power of the General Assembly in the matter of legislation for locali- ties was under consideration at the morning and afternoon session. Eigh- teen subdivisions of Section l of the Article were disposed of before the body adjourned.
 The sessions yesterday were listless and devoid of unusual interest. There were few persons in the gallery and no lengthy or eloquent speeches were made.
 Tn Committee on Printing met yes- terday evening to consider the several petitions concerning the printing of Convention papers by union printers. The Committee adjourned until g o'clock this morning when it will give a hearing to a delegation of Birming- ham printers.
 One hundred and sixteen delegates answered to the call of the roll when kne convention EucL ot S.ov V CtOSh yCo- terday morning.
 After some preIiminaries, corrections. of the journal, etc.. MT. Beddow of Jefferson sent forward an ordinance. which he said had been prepared by himself and MT. Sanford of Pike, after listening to the forcible argument Mon day on the subject of whipping con- victs. The ordinance provides that no conyicts shall be leased after January 1, 1904. and makes it the duty of the legislature to arrange for them q, to work fo; the State.. ,. . & MT. Boone of Mobile. presented a petition from the united labor organi- cations of Mobile urging the Conyen-. ton to have the lahel of the Typo graphical Union placed on it's printed matter. - +@ 9. -=''ssf
 Governor Jones for MT. Lomax of Montgomery. presented petition from the Printers Protective Fraternity of Montgomery, asking the Convention not to use the label of the printers union.
 The order of business was consider ation of the Article on Local Legisla- tion and a supplemental report from the Committee on Legislative Depart ment. Both reports seek to minimize local legislation by the General Assem- bly.
  of the Committee on Local Legislation, made an elaborate argument in sup port of the Article reported by, his Committee and Section 1, which is sub- divided into numerous subjects upon which the legislature cannot legislate was taken up.
 The subdivisions of subjects upon which the General Assembly shall not legislate were then read and passed without division. as follows:
 First-Granting a divorce.
 Second-Releiving minors of disabil ities of homage.
 Third-Changing the names Of corpo- rations or individuals.
 Fourth-Adoption or legitimatizing a child.
 Fifth-Incorporating cities.
 Sixth-Granting charters.
 Seventh-Establishing rules of de- scent or distribution.
 Misunderstanding the time in which actions may begin.
 Subdivision 9 brought out some dis cussion. It prohibits the General As sembly from legislating to exempt towns or cities from the operation of any general law.
 Dr. Cunningham of Jefferson, offered an amendment to except the sale of Iiquor. He said he feared it might in-
 
 Messrs. deGraffenreid of Hale, and Malone of Henry. supported the amend ment. ...- ......
 MT. Wilson of Clarke, sent up an amendment to strike out the entire subdivision.
 Mr. Dent of Barbour, supported the amendment to strike out.
 General Sanford of Montgomery, sup ported the Committee report. He said l. ha diGnnGgi0f erated into an argument over local option. The Convention had as we'll strike out the other sections.
 Mir. Smith of Mobile, argued for the amendment to strike out.
 Mir Watts of Montgomery, a mem- Der of the Committee, spoke forcibly in support of the subdivision. He said the purpose of the Committee was to re- duce the amount of local legislation. Governor Jones moved to lay the subdivision and the amendment on the table. The Convention refused to ta- hle the subdivision and it was then adopted.
 subdivision 10, prohibiting the legis- lature from local legislation on sub tects providing for the sale of property was adopted without division.
 Section Il which prohibits local legis lation changing county seats, caused some debate.
 Mir Pillans of Mobile. sent up an amendment to strike out the subdivis- ion and the amendment was tabled.
 Judge Cobb of Macon, moved to defer action until the report of the Commit fee on State and County Boundaries is uD for consideration.
 At shis point the Convention took a recess until 3:3O o'clock.