The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-07

means that the Legislature in the fu- ture. however much it might desire to change it. will not have the power to do 1t. Now what right have the thir- teen various localities in the State of Alabama to have appropriated .espe- cially to them thirteen schools that must be kept up by the State at large, and so long ss this Constitution we are now making shall exist. It is not right, 1t Is net fair to the people at la,ge. The money that would go to keep up these thirteen schools would go into the general fund of the State and be distributed out among the schools that are accessible to all chill dren throughout the State of Alabama. For that reason I cannot support this measure. although if the proposition was to reduce the tax tax within itself. I would gladly do 1t. The Convention has just voted down the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ma rion. which carries with 1t the propo- sition fairly and scuarely within itself. Therefore this Convention has twice put itself on record that it Is not will ing to relieve the farmers of the State of Alabama from the payment of that excessive tax. And t is no answer to lHdI pTUpOSlblul tO CouiC hSkC eAN c@' we will reduce it provided you will let us put upon the State at large thir- teen agricultural schools that will ex- is. SO long as this Constitution exist. I ask the gentlemen who advocate 1t. is 1t right to have thirteen schools in thirteen Congressional districts in the State of Alabama. when us matter of fact nobody living beyond a radius of three or three and d half miles is accessible to that school. Certainly no man can show the justice of the estab- lishment and perpetuation of any such a school, and now Mfr. President, as the matter now stands, l hope that this Convention will vote down the whole proposition.
 The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pike (Mr. Samford).
 Mir. Coleman (Greene)-I rise to a question of personal privilege. The dei- egate from Limestone withdrew the previous question that I might make some remarks upon this question. and the Chair recognized the gentleman from Walker. He withdrew ha motion to lay upon the table in my favor and the Chair recognizes another gentle man ,and think
 The President pro tem.-The Chair will state to the gentleman from Greene that the Chair did not know the gentleman from Limestone with drew his motion in favor of the gentle man from Greene but was under the impression that he withdrew 1t in fa- vor of the gentleman from Walker. and the Chair di6 not see the gentleman from Greene on the floor at all. The gentleman from Pike will proceed.
 Mir. Sanford (Pike)-1t rejoices me to be able to say that have never known a single instance in the history of Ala bama or in any civilized State where a school that was once established at the expense of the State has ever been discontinued. It is a credit to the State of Alabama that notwithstanding the fact that the agricultural schools may not have been of benefit in the way of agriculture. still they have heen benefit to education. and for that reason the General Assembly of this State have so far decided to keep them in operation. I have made sev- eral efforts in this Convention to se- cure relief for the farmers of this State from the iniquitous tag tax upon fer tilizer. have brought that question before this Convention in several diff ferent ways, and I desire to state here in the presence and hearing of every member of this Convention, that not withstanding the fact by inuendoes ] have been charged with having some ulterior motive in regard to this mat ter that do not buy fertilizer. own no stock in any fertilizer factory and I am not employed to represent them. I am here in my humble way. and in my feeble way attempting as best can to represent the constituency that sent me here.
 That this is a tax upon class for the benefit of the whole State cannot be denied. That the fertilizer tax is tax upon a commodity that is used by a class of citizens that cultivate our poorest land, Is a fact that cannot be denied. That it is wrong in principle no man has ever attempted to deny. and the only opposition that has sprung from delegates in this Convention. when It. was discussed on prior occa- sions. was that 1t was a matter for the Legislature of the State. That Is a statement that has been so often re- peated since that time that l fail to see how delegates can get up courage enough to raise that old saw. We have passed one legislative enactment after another until we are presenting to the people of Alabama. not a Constitution within the limits of the authority Of Constitutional Convention, but we are upon the eve of submitting to the peo- pie of Alabama a very code ot laws instead. Gentlemen of the Convention. one of the principal functions. and the only function of a Constitution should be that Of limitations. and ask mem bers of this Convention how you may limit the Legislature upon taxes, licenses or anything else unless you place 1t in the Constitution of the State. am informed by my friend from Walker that the Superintendent of Az" riculture of this State will be willing to A reduction at the next General As sembly of this tax. and l ask him In answer if he makes the Superintendent of Agriculture of the State of Alaba- ma the guardian of the people or the keeper of the consciences of the mem- bers of this Convention. If 1t is right to do 1t we ought to do 1t. If 1t Is a proper limitation to be placed in the Constitution we ought to do 1t. If. however. such tax ought not to be levied upon a class of our people, then we ought to limit the Legislature in this matter. If the farmers of this country are to continue to bear the heaviest burden of the government then We should adopt the substitute offered by the gentleman from Calhoun. which provides for tax of one dollar per ton instead of fifty cents. Gentle men the State has no right to levy this tax. It takes the right by the rule of might, and when through it's tax col lectors. and through it's other agencies fl rI1ps tho OauOt hand into the nook