The age-herald., 1901-07-08


 This leaves it twelve more days, suppos- ing it is to finish it's work in the fifty day limit prescribed by the Legislature. It is quite apparent, however, that the work can never be finished in that time, and it is generally thought that the con vention will do well to get through it's work by the 1st of August. Many of the delegates think it will be the 18th of Au- gust before they wend their way home blasts of Montgomery.
 The Legislature appropriated $500 for the expenses of the conventions When this is spent the delegates will not work without pay for the convention has the power to appropriate another $50000 if necessary to pay their expenses The convention is the supreme power of the State. They can truth fully say I've are the people," As a matter of law, they have the power to make any constitution they please and force 1t upon the people. though as matter of fact, they will not do this, but will submit it to them for their approval
 Criticism of the convention on account of its slow work is not altogether just. Work of this kind Is necessarily slow and the convention is large body of 155 delegates all of whom represent the peo- pie of different parts of the State and have right to be heard. The convention could work much faster if there were only 100 delegates, instead of 155. The present convention is often unfavorably com pared to the convention of 1875 as to time. That convention. however, knew just what 1t wanted to do, and did it. This convention Is in an entirely different frame of mind. Aside from the suffrage matter they have no set plans, and are carefully and deliberately considering the many schemes and amendments proposed by the different delegates. The fact that the convention has no cut and dried schemes to carry through Is shown by it's frequently changing its mind on questions by voting one way in the morning and reconsidering the matter and voting a dif- ferent way in the afternoon An iilustra- ton or this was its vote to adjourn out of respect for the Fourth of July. At the morning session on Wednesday a resolu- ton was introduced to adjourn on Thurs day, the 4th. pr. Cunningham offered an amendment, that if they adjourned they should not draw any pay for that Gay. Under parliamentary law an amend ment is always voted on first The con Vent1on decided by large majority that If they adjourned they would not be en. titled to any per diem. They then in vot- Ing on the main question decided by an equally large majority that they would not adjourn at all. Finally at the aftcr- noon session they decided by another large majority that they would adjourn with pay.
 Governor Oates. in a speech the other daya, commented on the fact that the convention was the most independent body of men he had ever seen. That there were no leaders and that every man thought for himself This is largely true and accounts for the time consumed bv the convention in discussing matters. Of course, If the real leaders of the conyen- ton were agreed upon any particular plan and were determined to carry it through 1t could be done in much less time.
 The Presidents Speech.
 President Knox has naturally a great influence with the delegates. He has only appeared on the floor so far to advocate two measures, both of which were carried through One of these was the question of increasing the Governors salary to $5000. The convention had voted this measure down, but President Knox se- cured reconsideration and succeeded in getting through a resolution directing the next Legislature to increase the Cover nor's salary to this amount. The other measure which he advocated was the Weakey amendment as to the debt limit of cities. MT. Browne's committee on taxation had reported a section which limited the indebtedness of all cities to per cent of their assessed valuation, with an additional 3 per cent for sewers, water works and street improvements. Mir Weakley who Is chairman of the committee on municipal corporations and an authority on municipal matters, had prepared a section in his report which limited the debt of cities of over 5000 in habitants to per cent of their assessed valuation for general purposes, but placed no limit as to the debt incurred for sewers, schools, water plants and street improve ments, and also excepted temporary loans. He offered this as an amendment to the Brown plan. President Knox ad- vocated the Syeakley amendment and it was passed, though at one time 1t looked as if the convention was welded to the Brown plan.
 On this subject effective speeches were made by Mir Weatherly and MT. Lowe of Jefferson, who advocated the Waekley amendment and illustrated to what an extent Birmingham would be injured and crippled by placing debt limit on her as to these matters. Some of the delegates who maQe tIle SPVSSi'N'
 street improvements admitted that they came from little towns where there wasn a sidewalk and no likelihood that there ever would be.
 Work of Convention.
 The convention has so far completed one article-that on executive. It mas adonted all of the article on taxation ex- cent sections five and seven, which regu- late the taxing power of cities and coun- ties. These sections have been laid upon the table to be considered as to the speclai school tax feature in connection with similar sections to be reported by the committee on education. The convention is now considering the declaration of rights and will finish this on Monday If if keeps to the regular order Of business if will consider next the reports Of the on banks and banking, munich pal corporations and legislative depart ment before 1t takes up the suffrage re- port Several resolutions have been in troduced to make the suffrage report special order, but so far the convention has refused to do this. The committee on suffrage at a meeting held last night de- cided not to ask that it be made special order, but to let 1t rock along for the present It will probably take a week to consider this report and some able speeches will be made on the subject.
 The only two important committees which have not yet reported are the com mittees on judiciary and education. The former will not recommend any material changes in the present judiciary system. The latter is preparing among other features in it's report plan for local school taxation as a substitute for the Browne plan. This report was almost ready when the convention gave them a ''solar plexus' blow by reducing the tax limit from 75 cents to 65 cents This up-