The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-07-19
NEW COUNTY PROPOSED
Governor Jones Objected to
 Lobbyists on Floor.
Taxation Committee Reported Favor ably an Ordinance Taxing In- heritances-Gadsde Extends
 Convention an Invitation

The Constitutional Convention work ed hard yesterday and completed number of sections of the Article on Legislative Department There was lively discussion at the morning session of an amendment by MT. Watts of Montgomery, to prohibit negroes rom holding office in Alabama. The amend ment was finally tabled with the un- derstanding that it Is to be taken up again.
 MT. Cornwell of Jefferson. came for- ward yesterday with his pet scheme for a new county to be known as Houston County. of which Bessemer' MT. Cornwelrs home town. is to be the county seat. The ordinance was ap- propriately referred.
 The Committee on Taxation reported fayorably an ordinance providing TOT q 9 1-2 per cent tax on inheritahces and it was ordered printed.
 An invitation was received yesterday bv the Convention from Gadsden. for the body to hold its sessions at that nIace. It was referred to Committee and will probably not reach the Con- vention again.
 President Knox made very import ant ruling yesterday morning 10 the effect that when a matter IS oeieateo bv the Convention it cannot again pc considered. It was upon an amend ment to the Article on Legislative De- par.met which had been defeated when inc Executive Department Article was
 
 This ruling Is of far-reaching import ance and it is believed that the Pres ident will adverse 1t.
 The Convention met at s:S0 o'clock . veaterS}ay morning with 1B6 delegates present and was opened with prayer by Rev. MT. McDaniel. Arising to a point of personal privl- leee Mir. Sentell replied to statements made Wednesday by General SanIoro of Montgomery. The delegate rom Crenshaw. said he mad said in debate that as a member of the last legisla- ture he had seen bills passed with not more than two dozen members present This he said, had reference to the passage of local bills at night.
 On cali of the roll for the introduc- ton of ordinances Mir. Cornwell Of Jefferson. sent up an ordinance pro- yidinK for 9 new county to pc taKen from the southeastern part Of Jerer- son County, and to be known as Hous- ton County, in commemoration Of the name of George s. Houston. sessemer Is to be its county seat.
 MT. Davis of Etowah, presented an invitation from Gadsden for the Con- vention to adjourn to meet In that city and Mir. Howell of Cleburne, who Is minister of the gospel. .'ent up a reso- lution returning thanks to the AL mighty for a much needed rain.
 General Sanford of Montgomery. in- troduced an ordinance relating to com- bination of corporations. The Committee on Taxation reported favorably ordinances including the cit les of Tuscumbia and Sheffield in the cla ssification of cities of over 5000 population affected by the Taxation Article. The ordinances were ordered to be printed.
 The Taxation Committee also report ed favorably an ordi0ance providing for a tax of 2 1-2 per cent on inherit ances.
 Governor Jones arose and said that he had been informed that during the debate Wednesday on the free railroad mass question lobbyists had been upon the floor of the Convention. He there fore asked that the Doorkeeper be iu- structed to enforce the rules of the body. It was so ordered.
 The Convention then took up Section 16 of the Article on Legislative De- partment which was under considera- ton when the body adjourned Wednes- day afternoon. This section provides that no member of the legislature shall be appointed to any office of profit which shall have been created or the emoIunnents of which have been in creased during his term as legisla- tor.
 After some parliamentary sparring the section was adopted as reported.
 No Negro oficeholders.
 Section r was read. It provides that ,,o person who shall have been con- yicted of embeSzlenent or other infa- nous crime, shall be eligible to election to the Legislature or to other office of profit.
 Mir. Watts of Montgomery. sent UT an amendment that no negro shall hold office in Alabama. He addressed the Convention at length and showed that the amendment was within the Fed eral Constitution. He declared that il would meet the approval of all white men in Alabama and would strengthen the new Constitution.
 MT. Sollie of Dale spoke in support of the Watts amendment, and Judge Coleman of Greene said the Suffrage Committee agreed with MT. Watts. His Committee lad reached the conclusion that as the ignorant class was to be eliminated from politics there was nc use to incorporate the office-holding provision in its report.
 On motion of Judge Coleman, the Watts amendment was laid on the ta- ble to be taken up hereafter.
 Section r was then adopted.
 Sections IS and 19 were adopted with out division. They relate to the man. ner of passage of bills.
 section 20 was read by the Clerk IT provides for the reading of bills and record of the vote upon their Se
 General Harrison of Lee submitted an amendment that It should require a majority of the members of either