The age-herald., 1901-07-19
His Uterances Before ConVen- ti0n Were Greeted With
 Loud Applause
CORNWALL WANTS 4 COUNTY
Introduces an Ordinance to Cut of Part of Jefferson and Name 1t Houston County With Bes-
 semer as County Seat.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.
 Montgomery, July 1S.-(Special )-The constitutional convention today adopted Q resolution expressing thanks to Divine Providence for the rains of the past two days.
 MT. Cornwall of Jefferson, whose prop osition to have the size of new counties fixed at minimum of 400 square miles, was defeated the other day, introduced an ordinance this morning to carve a new county out of the southwest corner of Jefferson. to be known as Houston Coun- ty and with Bessemer as the county seat. It will have 435 square miles. The ordinance was referred to the committee on State and county boundaries
 The committee on taxation reported a new section providing for an inheritance tax of 2h per cent. on each $100 of prop erty where the property was inherited outside ot the immediate family. It also reported a section putting Sheffield and Tuscumbia in the 5000 population class of cities as to debt
 The convention got into a discussion this morning on the proposition not to allow negro to hold office, which came up as a proposed amendment by MT. Watts of Montgomery to section 17 of the article on executive. MT. Watts made 8 set speech on the subject. which was greeted with applause. Several other speeches on the subject were made but the convention decided to postpone action on the matter.
 The convention is now hard at work and made good progress today with the article on legislative department. Some of the changes adopted fin this article today was to provide for standing com mittee in each house, which shall pass on all bills introduced. Before a bill be- comes law 1t must now be signed by the presiding officer of each house after having been publicly read at length. This was adopted to prevent further Shelby County court affairs. Another new sec- ton which was adopted provides that hereafter the appropriations of the Leg islature shall not exceed the estimated current income, this estimate to be fur nished by the Governor and Auditor. In the debate Governor Jones remarked that the estimates would vary decidedly &C., cording to whether these offlcails were financial opt1mists or pessimists.
 At the hour of adjournment the con- vention was considering section 9 of the article which provided that the Gov ernor, the Auditor and Attorney General should prepare and submit to the Leg islature revenue bill for its action. This is a new idea in Alabama and was pre- pared by the committee with view of saving the time of the Legislature in preparing such a bill. The section evoked much opposition and 1t is likely to be defeated tomorrow.
 gs Convention Opens.
 The forty-eighth days session of the Constitutional Convention was called to order by President Knox at 9:30 o'clock Roll call showed 106 members present. MT. Williams of Marriage and MT. O'Neal of Lauderdale arose to correct errors in the stenographic report, and MT. Sentell of Crenshaw arose to a question of per sonal privilege to correct some statements made In debate yesterday. Judge Cole man of Greene also arose to correct a statement made yesterday relative to Greene County's representation.
 MT. Smith of the committee on rules reported favorably a resolution that each delegate may speak ten minutes and no longer on any motion to reconsider. The rules were suspended and this resolution adopted.
 The roll was then called for the intro- Auction of ordinances.
 MT. Cornwall of Jefferson introduced an ordinancs to create new county out of Jefferson, to be called Houston Coun- ty. The territory to be embraced in this county is composed of the southwest cor ner of Jefferson County. with Bessemer as the county seat.
 MT. Davis of Etowah introduced a reso- lution. that after July 20 the convention adjourn to meet at Bellview Hotel near Chattanooga
 MT. Howell of Cleburne introduced a resolution to give thanks to the divine power for the welcome showers of rain which have blessed the country. He moved suspension of the rules to put the resolution on it's passage. This was done and the resolution adopted.
 General Sanford of Montgomery intro- duced ordinance that when two or more corporations combine to conduct their business through joint agent that the holders of stock in each corporation shall be liable as co-partners for all fines imposed upon either.
 The committee on taxation reported a proyiso to section 10 of their article so that its provisions should not apply to the cities of Sheffield and Tuscaloosa. This puts them in the 6O00 population class of cities as to insurring bonded debt.
 They also reported a new section to provide that the Legislature may impose an inheritance tax of 2h per cent on every $100 of property which is inherited or con veyed by the donor or testator to any person other than parents. brothers and sisters and children
 Legislative Department.
 The convention then took up the pend- ing question, which was section 18 of the legislative article. This read as follows:
 Section 16 No Senator or Representa- tive shall. during the term for which he shall have been elected, be appointed to any office of profit under this State which N shall have been created or the emolu- N pents of which shall have been increased