The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-30
LSS OF THE COMMITTEE OF
 THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Advantages the New Over the Old Shown by Contrast of the Two nsu mentSConVncng Argument in Favor of Ratification Knox,
 Coleman, Jones, CObb Weatherly, Hood, Smith, Epy and Reese Sign the Address

ants of the person owing such estate.
 Increasing the Power of the People.
 One prominent object of the new instru- ment Is to bring the government nearer eonded to Psem Of some ocsis fore chosen by the Legislature; the re- quirement Is made in case of vacancies. raai Sces S fSas ths m nsope M tSe ofice at the next election for any State officer; that counties, cities, towns and before issuing ni S91Ss must Ss and that a majority of the qualified elec- tors of county. voting at an election removal of county site. Lessening the Number and Frequency t4 s of Elections. .'t While providing for effective control by the people of their government, 1t has been one of the aims of the new instru- ment to save the people from the expense or frequency of elections. The Constitu- ton of the United States requires the holding of an election for Representatives consress eyery two years Under der our Ss separate elections every two years. for all the executive officers and members of the Lssslature sna Every fourth year these cry sixth year, every officer of the State. legislative, executive or judicial, is elect canvasses which precede them have be- come great burden to the people, large ly diverting them from their ordinary e@ssStisn anS instability in the government To relieve the people from this expense and vexation, the terms of Ine In.,sss ,sxecutivs officers and members of the years. and all State and Federal cleo tons ton. are to be held on the same day. In view or the contingency of it again be, Federal elections at different times, the Legislature Is authorized to change the
 sned me or t,st elections Is confidently be- & rul to the people. and conducive to the
 Declaration of Rights.
 The only marked changes under this of venue for a defendant in jail. or other legal place of confinement, may be heard. on his application, without the personal may. for reasons defined by law, dis 1 charge juries from the consideration of | any case. without the prisoners gaining therefrom of the clause forbidding any | property or educational qualification for suffrage or office.
 Legislative Department.
 The s,u changes in this Article are far; the land we hold all that we have The rights and interests of the people are most securely guarded. when the law, same for all men. Without this, there is no equality before the law" For years past this great rule of just and good gov Assembly. Local legislation and private legislation the exception. Rights and erai hand upon favored individuais and | localities, which could not be had by others under the general law. The time wholly to matters @ of e no @HSs concern HSe to the special favors thronged legislative halls and distracting the attention of member has come to be measured by can get upon the statute book. These be- ing of prime importance. members en- ! trusted with local measures frequently ton upon any general law of Importance. | The vast number of these special meas ures prevents all scrutiny of them, and causes shocking disregard of the safe passage of laws: and sometimes scandal. The legislator, instead of being the rep monarch to dispense its favors. A so- | called courtesy denies hearing to the people affected by these measures, If their Immediate tSHr representstiyes inSist on @ on I been almost wholly neglected. Such measures, when taken up, are enacted without time for due deliberation or con; | sideration, resulting in much crude and nasty legislation. The speed necessary, when such vast number of bills are passed in limited session. not infre- | quently has prevented proper entries on | the journals. and thus overthrown im- | portant general laws. as in the case of at least one general reXsnue bill These Ss | tasteful to many whom the people would | have been glad to have called into their service. Local and private legislation has thus grown into an intolerable abuse, | greatly detracting from the morale of the l law-mahng department, and to some ex- tent withdrawing confidence from 1t. The suppression of this evil. if nothing else | had been accomplished, would justify the cost of the Convention.
 Under the new Constitution, this evil | Is plucked up by the roots; for the power of the legislator over such matters has been absolutely annihilated. Instead, pro applicable alike to all, whereby local and private interests may be secured and pro- tected, with such rights and privileges as are requisite. Individuals or localities interested In such matters. can obtain relief at home. without submitting them- selves to the caprice of members of the Legislature. or mourning loss of time and money, by coming to and remaining at the seat of government
 The constant change or repeal of lawa and the substitution of new laws in their
 
 pursuits and business to the old law, Is | always a drawback to confidence and contentment The Legislature, having | been freed from the necessity of dealing | with innumerable local and private inter 1 ests. which demand more frequent ses- | sions than general subjects. a change has 1 been made from biennial session to ses- | sionS once every four years. This change | was induced by the consider ations that the laws having a longer time to stand | would be better understood, and. there | fore. better executed, and men could pro | ceed with more confidence The change | will also result in the saving to the tax | payers of fifty thousand dollars every biennial sessions now omitted. It is con 1 hdently believed experience will fully | vindicate the policy of longer intervals than at present between the sittings of can come to the State since if the emer- gency arises, the Governor can call spe- cial sessions; while provision has been made for the Legislature to assemble of it's own motion. if necessary, to exercise | the power of impeachment.
 Many new provisions have been made to
 prevent tmposttions upon members, or
 fraudulent practices in the passage of
 influences. and for laying before each . regular session of the Legislature reve-
 uue bills with such provisions as the eX- , perienee of the Executive Department may suggest for their action.
 No liability, of any person, or corpora , ton, owned by the State or any county . or other municipality thereof, shall be re- e leased, or in any way diminished, by the ! Legislature, except upon full payment
 thereof; nor shall such liability be chang. ! ed or transferred, except upon the pay l ment of it's face value; but the Legisla ' ture may by general law, provide for tn, compromise of doubtful claims After suit commenced, the Legislature shal i | bax m n a haf f.ut .A