The age-herald., 1901-07-12
Chairman Issues CaII for Meet ing of the Caucus Next
 Monday Night
BEGINNING TO ECONOM|zE
The Convention Will See What Reduc- ton in Expenses Can Be Made. Local Legislation Clause Re.
 considered and Readopted.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.
 Montgomery, July 11.-(Special.)- )-The morning session of the convention was largely consumed by an effort to recon slider the section of the report of the committee on local legislation which pro- vided that no local law should be enacted on any subject which was covered by general law. This section was adopted yesterday afternoon, and some of the members seemed to see in 1t a hidden menace to the dispensary system and the Mobile and Eufaula school systems. The section was finally reconsidered after a heated debate between MT. O'Neal, chair man of the committee, and MT. Smith of Mobile, and was readopted at the after noon session. MT. DeGraffenried of Hale gave notice he would move it's reconsid- eration again tomorrow
 Tom Long introduced resolution to provide that the Legislature should not have power to call another constitutional convention.
 The committee on impeachments made its report today. It practically adopts the provisions of the present constitution on this subject, the chief changes made being that the expression "habitual drunkenness" as a ground of impeach- ment is changed so as to read that in- temperance in an official to such an ex- tent as to unfit him for the duties of his office will be sufficient grounds. Provis- ion is made also for the impeachment of officials of all incorporated towns and cities. A minority of the committee made a separate report.
 Chairman Robert J. Lowe of the State Democratic Executive Committee gave notice just before the morning session adjourned of a Democratic caucus to be fald Monday night to consider the advis- x tss,sv of considering the report of the suffrage committee in caucus.
 The mind of the convention seems bent on economy It today authorized the president to appoint committee of five to make report as to what reduction of pages, officers and clerks would be advisable.
 Besides the consideration of sub-divis- ion 26, which occupied large part of the days work, the convention adopted sec- tion of the report of the committee on local legislation, which provided that the operation of a general law should not be suspended for the benefit of any individu- al or private corporation.
 Section 5 was being considered when the convention adjourned. This author 1zed the Legislature by general laws to confer upon courts of County Commis- sioners the power of local legislation touching things not provided for by gen. eral law.
 Convention Opens.
 The forty-second days session of the Constitutional Convention was called to order at 9:30 o'clock by President Knox A prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Dix. Roll call showed 11S members present. The committee on journal reported it was correct.
 MT. Malone of Henry moved to re- consider the adoption of the subdivision which provided that no special or local law should be enacted in any case where there was a general law covering the subject matter He thought there was ''nigger in the woodpile" in this section. That it would prohibit local dis pensaries and put a general dispensary law, if any, on the State. He hoped Ala bama would not be put in the same fix as South Carolina.
 MT. Pitts of Dallas said there were thirty-f1ve prohibitions on the Legisla- ture as to local laws without adding this general section. He was opposed to the section and wanted its adoption reconsid- cred He believed the convention was conservative and thought 1t had adopted this section hurriedly yesterday after noon.
 MT. ONeal, chairman of the commit tee said that the committee had stu diousy avoided any mention of the lquor question in their report In spite of this however, and their assurances, certain delegates were in a state of nerv- ous apprehension looking for masked battery in every section aimed against the liquor trade He referred to certain delegates wishing to avoid the general operation of laws in the State so that Mobile could have an independent and different school system, and spoke of a "holy'' alliance for this purpose. He H. frustrated the difference between the pres ent section and the section in the old Constitution, which said that no local law should be passed if the same matter can be provided for by a general law. The new section merely said that the local law could not be enacted If there was a general law on the subject.
 MT. Fitts of Tuscaloosa said that If anybody on the floor had shown nervous prostration it was the gentleman from Lauderdale (Mr O'NeaD who had ap- peared almost frenzied in his manner.
 
 cates of the dispensary should not
 guard to prevent any Legislature
 might be unfriendly to It. The
 ought to be left open for the reve-
 from the liquor business to be ap-
 to the schools. Mobile and Eu-
 's system was a twin to the dispen-
 and ought to be favored. There should be abundant room for local laws to put 1t in force in any locality which wanted it.
 MT. Smith Replies.
 MT. Smith of Mobile said MT. O'Neals attack upon his city and what he had said was matter of surprise to him. He had not opposed the section for local req sons but because he thought it unwise. He denied that he was masking in any is- sue, as MT. O'Neal had intimated. He frankly opposed the section and had giv- en his reasons for doing so. There was no 'holy' alliance between the friends