The age-herald., 1901-07-11
Are Restricting the Pow of the Legislature in Several Respects
sy,laAGE REPORT ON TABLE
An Effort Made to Fix Day for Its
 Consideration Failed--Sheffieid Presents Petition Against E Limiting Her Debt.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.
 Montgomery. July 1O.-(Special.)-Th convention spent the day considering the report of the committee on local legisla- tion and a supplimental report of the committee on legislative department, both of which prescribed numerous subjects on which the legislature could not pass local laws. This is all new matter in the con- stitutlon and of much importance, Some how it is very dry subject and no de- bates of much interest were elicited.
 An effort was made during the morning to fix next Tuesday for consideration of the suffrage report, but the convention refused to do this. and it will lie on the table to be considered in, it's regular or der "The table" metaphorically speak ing is kind of graveyard where all sorts of dead sections and amendments lie at rest. The suffrage report will not have much rest, however. It will be brought to life some fine day and in its turn will put life Into the convention, whose proceedings of late have been rath- CT tame and quiet
 A petition was presented today from Sheffield asking to be excepted from the provisions of the article on taxation which limited the debt of cities
 Among some of the subjects on which the legislature was prohibited today from passing local laws were amending char ters, creating or impairing liens, estab- fishing separate school or stock districts, creating or increasing fees of public off, cers.
 No special, private local law shall be enacted in any case which is provided for in a general law, and the courts and not the legislature is made the judge as to whether the matter of such law is prov1d- ed for by a general law or not
 The legislature was also prohibited from exempting property from sale or persons from jury duty by special laws.
 The proceedings today were at times exceedingly confused and noisy. At one time President Knox in tone of fine sarcasm, reminded the delegates that the convention was still in session.
 Convention Opens.
 The forty-frst days session of the Constitutional Convention was called to order by President Knox at 9:30 o'clock. A prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Dix.
 Roll call showed 122 members present.
 MT. Williams of Elmore moved a re- consideration of the vote whereby sub division IA of section one was defeated. This division reads as follows:
 IA. Granting exclusive or special privi- lege immunity or franchise whatever.
 MT. O'Neal, chairman of the commit tee explained that by striking out this section the Legislature could grant a special privilege to any corporation. He suggested an amendment which would meet this objection.
 MT Boone of Mobile said the Supreme Court in the Birmingham street railway cases decided that the Legislature could not grant an exclusive franchise. and that under the bill of rights recently en- acted there was a clause providing that no special or exclusive franchise should be granted without the privilege of re- tracting it. He thought this was far enough for the Constitution to go we could not tell what development there might be In the State in the next fifty years.
 Mir Rogers of Sumter spoke against re- consideration. He began his remarks by saying fellow citizens which caused some laughter, this being the first time that the convention had been so ad- dressed.
 The convention then by vote of 47 to 59 decided not to reconsider the sec ton.
 The roll was then called for the intro- duction of ordinances.
 MT. Graham of Taladega introduced resolution to fix the sessions from S:30 to 10 D. m. He also asked permission for the committee on education to hold session at once and the members were therefore excused from attendance on the convention.
 The committee on rules reported favor- ably Mir. Whites resolution to provide for committee of five to see that ordi- nances are properly engrossed.
 The committee also reported favora- ply Mir Smiths resolution to have 300 copies printed of every article as adopted. The rules were suspended and the reso- lution adopted.
 he Suffrage Article.
 The committee also reported without recommendation MT. Fletcher's resolution to make the consideration of the suffrage article a special order of business after the pending report.
 Judge Coleman, chairman of this com mttee then asked that consideration of the suffrage report be made special or der of business for next Tuesday at Il o'clock.
 Mir Pettus of Limestone moved to table Judge Coleman's motion. This was done by vote of 65 to 45.
 MT. Beddow of Jefferson arose to cor rect an errow in the stenographic report Judge Coleman of Greene moved that the consideration of the suffrage article be taken up after those reports which now have been made special orders of business.
 MT. Watts moved to amend by taking 1t up after all other reports.
 MT. Sanders of Limestone was opposed to making 1t special order of business He said that after the consideration of this report it would be impossible to ob- tain quorum for other business. He moved to table the motions. This was done by vote of 59 to 49.
 MT. Fletcher of Madison, chairman of the committee on banks and banking asked when his report would be consid- cred. The chair replied in it's regular or der unless displaced by special business. MT. Burns of Dallas offered resolu-