The age-herald., 1901-09-03
Their Announcement Before the Convention Was Signal
 for Loud Applause
SIGNED MINORITY REPORT
The New Constitution Will Be Ready for Signing at Today's Session. Will Take Several Hours to
 Read It.
BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.

BY FRANK HARVEY MILLER.
 Montgomery, September 2-(special.)- The feature of today's session of the con. yentton were the declarations of Genera Oates and General Harrison that the, would support the constitution. Both an nouncements were received with cheers. General Oates and General Harrison had both signed the minority report O. the suffrage committee and there was some fear in the convention that they might not support the constitution. Cap. tain White, who also signed this minori- ty report, voted against the adoption oi the constitution last Saturday..
 This morning General Harrison arose to question of personal privilege and had read an article in the Atlanta Con- stitution which he said reporting him as voting against the constitution. At the time this vote was taken, said Gen. eral Harrison, was not in Montgomery. He ended by saying that if he had been present he would have voted for it.
 At the afternoon session General Oates made a similar announcement. He ex- plained why he had not been present when the vote was taken, said that he had carefully compared the old and new constitutions and that while the new was not as good as 1t might have been, 1t was better than the old and he had de- cided to support 1t.
 The constitution will be ready for sign ing tomorrow. It will take several hours to finally read it, and part of it would have been read today except that the en- rolling committee wanted time to ex- anime 1t twice so as to guard against any possible errors.
 Convention Opens.
 The eighty-irst days session of the constitutional convention was called to order by President Knox at 12 o'clock A prayer was offered by Rev. MT. Bancroft. Roll call showed los delegates present.
 MT. Case of DeKalb arose to a question of personal privilege. He said that under a misapprehension he had voted on Sat urday for the adoption of the consttu- ,tion. That there was so much confusion at the time that he did not know exact ly what was being voted on, and some one had told him 1t was measure to ex- pedite the work of the convention. Had he known what was being voted on ne would have voted no.
 The committee on journal reported 1t was correct.
 General Harrison of Lee then arose fl, a question of personal privilege. He sent up to the clerks desk and had read an article in the Atlanta Constitution saying H. k- 1~k% A@x FaafAN Na. tion meant that there might be opposl- tion to it. He stated he was on his way home at the time this vote was taken, and was not in the hall. It therefore sur prised him that any one should represent him as voting against It. He continued by saying he was a Democrat (applause,, and that while there were some features in it he did not like when the call was sounded for its adoption, they would find Harrison in the ranks. Cheers and long continued applause) He regretted having been absent, for If he had been here, be- lieving that the solution of the Democrat ic party depended on its adoption, live or de he would have voted for it. (Cheers.)
 More Personal Explanations.
 MT. Craig of Dallas arose to question of personal privilege. He had read a communication from B. B. Adkins, pres ident of the city council of Selma criti- cising the position he had taken as to the Selma tax limit and certain state ments he had made as ito the attitude of the city council of Selma on this ques- ton. MT. Craig said that he never inten- tionally misrepresented anyone and pro- ceeded to explain what he had said.
 Mir Espy of Henry arose and explained that he was absent Saturday when the 1A tk,.At tkxx@ was taken but that if he had been pres ent he would have voted for it..
 Mir Reese of Dallas then made some explanatory remarks as to the Selma city council
 The committee on harmony then report ed that the bond ordinance, and the St. Clair and Shelby County court house or dinances were being engrossed and that the constitution would not be ready to be signed until g o'clock tomorrow.
 The committee on schedule and expen- ses then reported several bills against the convention. Some were correct. they said. and others they had reduced as being excessive
 MT. Burns of Dallas arose to a question of personal privilege and corrected an error in the stenographer's report. ' Mir. De Graffenried of Hale moved to amend the report of the committee on scHeuuieS SD aS 10 provide that certain items be paid in full and not reduced. These were for desks bought by the doorkeeper for the use of the delegates under instructions from the convention.
 MT. Hefin, chairman of the committee on expenses explained that the committee had unanimously agreed not to pay more than was agreed on in their report. If the convention thought otherwise 1t could do so On his motion the De Graffenried motion was tabled.
 Mir. Lomax moved to amend the report by changing one item from SIT to s22 This was ruled out of order and the report of the committee was adopted.
 Several leaves of absence were then asked for and granted, after which the convention adjourned. having been In session one hour.
 Afternoon Session.
 The convention re-assembled at 3:3o o'clock with ninety-three delegates pres ent.
 MT. Eyster of Morgan. by consent, in- troduced resolution to have 100 900 copies of both the old and new constitution printed in parallel columns. for distribu- ton.
 Mir. Pitts of Dallas moved to exclude from the stenographic report the remarks