The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-12

der the section as to whether the first election for Governor Ghall come four years from now, leaving the present incumbent in until that. election. The object of the amendment is to have the election come in August, 1902. and every four years thereafter.
 Mir. Pillans-May ask the gentle man question?
 Mir. J0nes-Certainly.
 Mir. Pfllans-Would 1t not be better to say "at the State election in 1902. to conform to a change In the time oi holding elections, if any such is made to have the elections in the Fall.
 MT. Jones-I think that may be, but will offer this suggestion so that we may get along. understand when the report of the Legislative Committed comes up. We will have a test as to whether we shall have elections every four years for members of the Gen. eral Assembly instead of two years, ani then the Committee on Harmonics can take up the two reports and fix them to suit the final vote of the House on this question,
 Mir. Oates-In addition to what ths delegate from Mobile suggests. would say to the chairman of the committee
  tion has been before the Legislative Department, and that committee hal acted on 1t. not finally, but by ma. jority vote. and have agreed to abolish the August election. and have the cleo ton in November, so as to avoid st many elections, and I would suggest tc the gentleman from Montgomery, the chairman of this committee. to accept tho suggestion of the delegate from Mobile. as that will allow us to gel along without any conflict.
 MT. Jones (Montgomery)-I thini there is force in the suggestion, and we will accept the amendment and strike out the words lon the first Mon- day in August. 1902"
 Mr. Fitts-and insert in lieu thereof, "at the general State election in ths year 1902. and thereafter, etc."
 The President-The gentleman from Montgomery. for the Committee on the Executive Department, moves tc amend the section by adding after the words. shall be elected" the following words, 'at the State election in 1sos and thereafter"
 A reading of tho section as thus amended was called for. and 1t was read as follows:
 Section 3. The Governor. Lieutenant. Governor, Secretary of State. Stat' Treasurer, State Auditor. Attorney General. Superintendent of Education and Commissioner of Agriculture ana Industries, shall be elected at the Statt election In 1902 and thereafter every four years by the qualified electors o this State. at the same time and place! appointed for the election of member of the General Assembly.
 A vote being taken, the amendment was adopted.
 MT. Browne-In order to have thii section conform to Section l, I now wove to strike out the word State be. fore the word Treasurer" in the first line and the word State" before the word Auditor"
 The amendment was agreed to.
 MT. Oates--I desire to offer an amend. ment to this section and briefly tt state my reasons therefor.
 I move to strike out of this section the words "Attorney-G General" and or that to test the sense of the Conven- tion for what may properly be substi' tuted.
 My motion Is based upon the idea that the Governor of the State ought to ap. point the Attorney General. It is moi a political office, and while in the main good lawyers have usually been select ed. as 1t now stands any lawyer whc may be a shrewd politician, more Of politician than of a lawyer, who suc- ceeds in getting nominated on the ticke. will be elected Attorney-Gene The Attorney General ought always tc be an able lawyer. He is the adviser oi the administration with whom hs serves, and 1t seems to me it woult be a wiser and better provision to al low the Governor at the time he is in augurated, or soon after he goes into office, to nominate the Attorney-Gen eral, to be confirmed or rejected by the Senate, as officers usually are appoint ed, with the advice and consent Of the Senate"
 Some of the other States have this provision, and in one where had oc- casion to inquire into it's workings. the State of Pennsylvania. they are thought to be admirable. It is not. think, very important that this officer should be elected by the people, and believe 1t will be the means of more uniformity-in fact, I believe 1t will be the rule, without exception. that able officers will be appointed. Naturally when the Governor has the appoint ment to make, he will select one of the best lawyers in the State that he car get to accept and since we see in this report a proposed. section. which. nc doubt, will be adopted. that the Gov ernor is to hold his term for four years and be ineligible as his successor, or tf any office for year after his term ha' expired, he would not use this offlce, al under the present system a Governor might do, in the distribution of patron age to benefit himself in the future. A Governor would have no object in mak ing the appointment, except to get tht very best officer he possibly could, ane what we all desire to do Is to elevate as high as possible our future State government, not only in its suffrage but in its personnel. and in its admin istration. In what I say, l mean n' reflection at all upon any gentleman who has filled the office of Attorney General. On the contrary, many very able gentlemen have occupied that DO sition. Our present Chief Justice O. the Supreme Court and many otnel able gentlemen have held that position and 1 think, for the reasons l nave given, it will more certainly secure th' services of an able lawyer, and l. there fore. move to strike those words, anc if that Is done will offer substitute in proper language that that officel shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice of the Senate.
 MT. Fitts-The distinguished dele gate who has just taken his seat, makel the motion to strike out the words Attorney General for the express purpose, as he gives us warning! o testing the sense of this Convention upon a proposition looking. as he says to having the Attorney General Of th' State appointed by the Governor Therefore, addressing myself 10 tn' point upon which he says he desires t' An.t tha sanaa nf the Convention, and