The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-06-30
SUFFRAGE ARTICLE SUBMITTED
 TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Delegates Ctes, White, Dent and Harrison Presented Minority .leport Opposing Grandfather Clause Other |pmmitteemen Unanimous s--Lengthy Discussion of Proposal to Re-
 ducc Tax Limit

1 to by them with the precinct or ward in which the voter resides. and shall file | a like list with the Secretary of State. The Probate Judge shall prepare al- | phabetical lists of the voters in each beat and shall file one copy thereof with the Secretary of State.
 Unless voter become disqualified un- der the provisions of this article. any | one who shall register prior to the 1st day of January, 1903, shall remain an l elector for life and shall not be required to register again except in case of a change of residence. The certificate of Registrars or of the Probate Judge shall be sufficient evidence to establish such life regietration.
 Section 12 provides that after Janu- ary l .tsos. any applicant for registra- ton shall be required to state under oath where he lived during last five years, and the names of the employer or employers. and the name or names by which he was known during said five years. Any one refusing to an- swer these questions shall not be en- titled to vote.
 Section IS provides that in the trial of contested election only a defend- ant shall be allowed to withhold teeti- monv on the ground that 1t may in- crimlnate him.
 Section 14 provides that the LeEisla- ture may make laws not inconsistent with the Constitution to regulate elec- tione. but such laws shall be unifptm 1 throughout the State. and may provide | general registration law and "a vs reg ulating primary elections. but shali not make primary elections compulsory.
 Section 15-Le @islature may make laws regulating use of liquor at cleo tions.
 Section 16--Electors in all cases ex. cept treason. felony or breach of the peace are privileged from arrest at elections.
 Section iE--Returna for all civil cfIa- cers who are commissioned bv the Governor. except the Secretary Of State. Auditor. Treasurer. Commits sioner of Agriculture, Attorney General and Superintendent of Education shall be made to Secretary of stAts
 Section 1s-The poll tax is sl.5o on all male citizens over i2 and under 46. Such tax becomes payable October and becomes delinquent February next. but no legal process nor any fee or commission shall be allowed for the collection thereof.
 Section 19 provides that if any arti- clss shall be declared void by any court of competent jurisdiction the Legislature shall have power to rem- edy the defect in such section pointed out by such adjudication by a two- thirds vote of all the members oe each house of the Legislature. Provided that the other sections of the article unaf- fected by the decision shall remain un- changed. And upon a subsequent ad- judioation of such court the Legisla- ture shall in like manner have power | to remedy the defect.
 The Minority Report.
 The only minority report submitted was signed by former Governor Will liam c. Oates of Montgomery, Capt. Frank 8. White of Jefferson. Capt. S. H. Dent of Barbour. and Gen. George P. Harrison of Lee.
 The only difference between the two reports is on the section relating to what is called the grandfather clause" The minority members of the committe say this clause, which relates to descendants of soldiers, is in violation of the Federal Constitution as it undertakes by indirect means to abridge the right of certain citizens to vote. This is done by conferring the right to vote upon descendants of sol diers which class includes practically all white men and excludes practically ~ qualification bearing any proper re- lation to the capacity of the voter to understand and discharge the respon- | sibility of the elective franchise but fixes an arbitrary status depending solely upon his descent from an an- cestry over which he had no control.
 The minority goes into an argument to show that the clause establishes a permanent hereditary governing class which is undemocratic and un- American; that 1t is not in keeping with the dignity of an enlightened State; that 1t requires a lower stand ard for white men than for negroes; that it is impracticable of administra- tion owing to the impossihility of es- tablishing descent from remote ances- tors; that the honesty of the ballot can be secured without resorting to sub terfuge and finally because the com mittee shows it's own distrust in the scheme by leaving it open to the Legis- lature to repair the Constitution if 1t should be found to be in violation of the Federal Constitution.
 Taxation Considered.
 After the reading of the reports the Convention settled down to the con sideration of Section 4 of the Article on Taxation, which was under discus sion when the Convention adjourned Friday evening. This Section seeks to reduce the tax limit to 65 cents.
 MT. deGraffenreid of Hale. presented an amendment fixing the tax limit at 70 cents and a general debate followed. participated in by Messrs. deGraffen- reid of Hale Malone of Henry. Smith | O. Mobile. Judge Coleman of Greene, | Banks of Russell. Fitts of Tuscaloosa. Lowe of Jefferson. Wsakle'' If Lauder dale, Kirk of Colbert, Oates of Mont gomery, Rogers of Lowndes and Jones of Montgomery.
 Mir. Watts of Montgomery. was speaking against the reduction when the Convention adjourned.
 A number of the delegates went to Pensacola last night in a special car to spend Sunday on Pensacola Bay.
 A complete report of the proceedings yesterday Is published in The Adver-